Bridgeport’s newly elected City Council adjourned its first meeting on Monday without choosing a leader.

The council has 20 members, all Democrats. A candidate needs a majority of them (11) to win the presidency.

Jeanette Herron got 10 votes, and current council president Aidee Nieves got eight. Two members repeatedly refused to vote without giving a reason.

According to the council rules, members are only allowed to abstain from voting if they have a conflict of interest. The two non-voting members said they did not have one, but still refused to choose a candidate.

So Mayor Joe Ganim (D) said they would move on.

“We don't have a council president. We'll move on to the next item on the agenda, which is the appointment of the city council standing committees,” Ganim said to protest fr

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