BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — Snow removal following last week’s massive storm is a political issue in Bridgeport.

John Gomes, a former appointee of Mayor Bill Finch who challenged him for mayor in 2011, is using social media and word-of-mouth to urge city residents to attend a City Council public hearing on Tuesday evening to complain about what critics say was inadequate plowing.

The Connecticut Post reports (http://bit.ly/Xn97ZD ) that John Slater, chairman of the city’s Republican Town Committee, and other GOP committee members also are planning to attend the council meeting. The Republican committee has criticized Finch, a Democrat, over the handling of the clean-up in Connecticut’s largest city.

Elaine Ficarra, Finch’s spokeswoman, says he understands residents’ frustration and will review the storm response to determine how the city can improve.

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