Jasper McLevy

It took the now-legendary Jasper McLevy a long time to become mayor of Bridgeport. A roofer by trade, McLevy first ran for mayor in 1911 on the Socialist Party platform, when he challenged Clifford Wilson. McLevy didn't win.     In 1933, twenty-two years later and still running as a Socialist, Jasper McLevy was victorious in winning the office of Mayor of Bridgeport, an office he would hold for 24 years, winning re-election 11 times.     As Mayor of Bridgeport, Jasper McLevy was known for his honest governing. His term became known for streamlining some city offices, instituting the civil service system for city employees, starting a city trash collection rather than utilizing private contractors, plus other city improvements.