Working Families Party leader Maria Pereira is in control of the Bridgeport Board of Education, and she knows it.

That’s right, the leader of a local political faction is in control, not the chairwoman of the board itself, not the duly elected members of the board, not the elected leaders of the city and certainly not the people.

It’s not as if she hides that fact, either. Pereira delights in her iron-fisted control of the Board of Education, and flexes her muscle whenever she finds dissent.

Consider the following comment, left by Ms. Pereira on a Youtube.com video. The video is of Bridgeport parent and school district employee Linda Francis, speaking in favor of a charter school application earlier this month:

“She is not a ‘product’ of the Bridgeport Public School system,” Pereira wrote of Francis. “She is from NY and has resided in Bridgeport for approximately 2 years. She holds a position in a Bridgeport high school through a consultant that is funded by the Bridgeport Board of Education. Well, at least for now.”

You read that correctly. Pereira threatened Francis’ job because she had the gall to be in favor of a charter school.

That’s “1984” territory right there. Pereira fancies herself the thought police, and knows that, thanks to a successful coup d’état and continued strong-arm tactics, she can have anyone fired who disagrees with her viewpoint.

Ms. Francis, take note — should you lose your job, you may have a lawsuit on your hands. “Disagreeing with Maria Pereira” is not a valid cause for termination, and thank God for that. If so, most of the world would be out of a job.

Thankfully, Ms. Pereira’s closed-mindedness is not representative of the rest of Bridgeport. Another user, identified as “Happy Joy,” came to Ms. Francis’ defense:

“I don’t know what you’re a ‘product of’ but heck I can not wait to see people that are truly reasonable take your place. Here you are showing your true colors, threatening a parent because she spoke in favor of a charter school.”

I could not have said it better myself.

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