Bridgeport Business Leader Confident Mayor-Elect Joe Ganim Has Turned Over A New Leaf

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Some city leaders in Bridgeport who have known Mayor-elect Joe Ganim for years hope and believe he'll keep to the straight and narrow path when he returns as mayor next month.

Ganim, who served as mayor from 1991-2003, served seven years behind bars for bribery. He was elected again last week.

Paul Timpanelli, who heads Bridgeport's Regional Business Council, has had numerous meetings with Ganim. Timpanelli said he's confident Ganim's pay-to-play days are over.

"The most important thing that he hopes to do differently is to behave differently, in terms of his own character," Timpanelli told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau.

Timpanelli said growing jobs in Bridgeport is the primary goal. He noted that Ganim is committed to setting up an office of public integrity, which Tampanelli believes will build confidence as Ganim takes office Dec. 1.