Convicted ‘Moses’ seeks redemption – and his old seat

He called himself the Moses of his people.

He pleaded guilty to three felonies for accepting a bribe, evading taxes and using campaign contributions for personal expenses.

He served more than four years in federal prison and in a halfway house.

And now he’s back.

Democrat Ernie Newton, one of the most colorful characters and quickest quipsters at the state Capitol, is seeking redemption in a run for his old state Senate seat in Connecticut’s largest and poorest city.

He shocked some Bridgeport residents in May when he won the Democratic Party’s convention endorsement in the race — part of the long road back for the convicted felon who resigned his seat in disgrace and pleaded guilty in 2005.

He is in a three-way primary in a bruising battle of bare-knuckle Bridgeport politics against the 76-year-old incumbent, Sen. Edwin A. Gomes, and state Rep. Andres Ayala Jr. Gomes, a pro-union Democrat, has served in the Senate since Newton’s departure.

Not only is Newton in the race, but he also has received more than $80,000 in public money under state law to run his campaign. Some residents are outraged that Newton is receiving public financing, but he has the same total as his two opponents, who have also received public money after raising the necessary $15,000 in private contributions.

With his fiery speeches, Newton is known to some as more of a preacher than a politician, often peppering his quotes with references to God and the Bible. He said the most important thing that constituents said to him after he returned from prison was that they had prayed for him.

“People say, ‘How can an ex-felon run? He broke the trust of the people,’” Newton said. “Well, wait a minute. Jesus had 12 disciples. They was always breaking the commandments, but Jesus always forgave them.”

At 56, with 17 years of experience in the Legislature, Newton says he has now turned a corner and is moving ahead.

“Once a man admits he’s sorry, he should be able to move on,” Newton said.

But former state Rep. Chris Caruso, who is supporting Gomes, said that Newton had his chance to represent the district.

“This election is not a referendum on Ernie’s personal redemption,” Caruso said. “It’s about the people of Bridgeport and their hopes and desires and future. He’s trying to make it about his redemption. As hard as he tries to make it, it’s not that. I wholeheartedly believe people deserve a second chance, but not for public office.”

As Newton campaigned door to door recently on his home turf on Bridgeport’s east side, he walked the streets where he grew up — and virtually every person who came to the door said they would vote for him.

In the homes off busy Connecticut Avenue, Newton heard the personal stories of some of the down-and-out residents who were home in the afternoon. Brian Smith told Newton that he has had trouble at times getting a job because he still has a felony charge on his record.

“I got arrested 12 years ago for $50 of weed,” Smith said. “I ain’t got in trouble for 12 years.”

After speaking to Newton and his supporters, Smith said he was surprised that he could get his voting rights back under a new state law. And he said he would vote for Newton in the primary.

“I will vote for anybody who will try to help the felons,” Smith said.

Back at Newton’s headquarters on Barnum Avenue in Stratford, Newton’s friend Charles Coviello Jr. fired up the volunteers who were wearing identical red and white T-shirts with Newton’s name emblazoned across the front. Newton is running in the 23rd District, which covers much of Bridgeport and a sliver of Stratford along the city’s border.

“You have a future because of Ernie Newton because there was a time when ex-felons couldn’t vote!” Coviello told the crowd of about 50 supporters. He led the crowd in chants of “Jobs! Jobs!” and “Ernie! Ernie!” before finishing with “Redemption! Redemption!”

Newton’s campaign is the latest chapter in a long-running saga that culminated in his sentencing for accepting a $5,000 bribe, avoiding taxes and using more than $40,000 in campaign contributions to pay for car repairs, personal cellphone calls and other expenses.

Senior U.S. District Judge Alan H. Nevas criticized Newton at the sentencing for saying during his high-pitched resignation speech that he was “the Moses of my people.”

“I don’t think there’s any reference in the Bible,” Nevas said during the sentencing hearing, “that as God led his people for 40 years in the desert that he ever took money from them.”

ckeating@courant.com