New leadership has been elected to most of the top jobs in the city's police union, a year after the prior leadership negotiated a controversial contract with the Finch administration that bypassed raises for two years in exchange for no layoffs.

Bridgeport Police Union Local 1159 ousted Officer Frank Cuccaro as president and also replaced the union's vice president and treasurer in balloting earlier this month.

Of 10 leadership posts, seven are filled by new people, although some are longtime officials who've moved to different leadership spots. "I think a lot of it had to do with the contentious contract," said Cuccaro, who lost the presidency to Sgt. Charles Paris, a longtime executive board member.

The final election results were announced Nov. 9 at a general membership meeting of the union.

The new vice president is Officer Bernard Webb. As treasurer, Officer Brad Seely beat longtime incumbent Mike Rynich in a close race and Officer Rich Mercado remains secretary.

Elected to the Executive Board were Sgt. John Whalen, Detectives Chris Borona and Edwin Perez, and Officers Ricardo Lopez, Danny Gomez and Brian Pisanelli.

Borona, Gomez, Lopez and Pisanelli are new, according to Paris. The former vice president did not seek re-election.

Cuccaro said there was a high turnout for the election, with more than 300 of 415 union members voting.

Paris, who spent 12 years on the board, said he is familiar with union

business. He won by roughly 50 votes.

"I think the membership was looking for some change all around," he said.

Paris said that, although the membership passed the four-year contract in 2008 with a majority by 15 votes, "as time went on I think they thought we should've or would've gotten a better deal."

The pact gave no raises through June 2010 in exchange for no layoffs, but provides an 11 percent raise by the end of the four years. In the third year of the contract, which starts next July, officers get a 6 percent raise, followed by a 5 percent boost in the fourth and final year.

Cuccaro said it's tough to keep more than 400 people happy, no matter what.

"They were going to lay off 20 officers," he said. "The problem is, the people who weren't getting laid off didn't really care. It's a thankless job and I look forward to getting back on the street and doing some police work."

Last December, when the contract was before the City Council, Cuccaro called it "a hard sell" but "the best we can do given the national financial crisis."

Mayor Bill Finch had asked for concessions from all city unions in the face of a projected $20 million city budget deficit, and Cuccaro said then that the police union "played our part" in helping resolve the deficit.

The police union resisted the mayor's requests with public protests and a no-confidence vote, but the friction subsided with the resignation of Bryan T. Norwood as chief and the appointment of Deputy Chief Joseph Gaudett Jr. as acting chief in October 2008.

Gaudett, who as chief is not a union member, endorsed the pact, which saved the city money in the short run.

Cuccaro hopes to continue to have a hand in union matters.

"I'll help out the new board as best I can, because whatever they do will affect all 415 of us," he said.

Paris said the new team is still assessing matters, and is involved in discussions with the city on issues that include the city's re-opening of the cost of members' insurance package.

"There's a lot of things still to be determined," he said. "We're working on some things and so far, so good."