[4] Mandanici "maintained an iron control of city politics until 1981, when he was narrowly defeated by Republican Leonard S. Paoletta after scandal rocked his administration.
"[2] In that election, "Mandanici was at the center of a federal investigation into corruption in Bridgeport City Hall.
"[3] From 1977 to January 1983, nineteen associates of Mandanici or administration officials were indicted on corruption charges, such as perjury, fraud, and misapplication of federal money.
[7] Mandanci Jr. was convicted in May 1983 by a jury in the U.S. District Court in New Haven of three charges of fraud in connection with a federal housing subsidy application that he had filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; he was acquitted on a fourth charge of lying to a bank officer.
His loss was attributed to the federal indictments as well as Mandanici's unpopular demand for a 50% pay raise, which the common council approved.
[12][13] In 1982, the state Elections Commission fined Mandanici $800 for establishing an illegal campaign committee and soliciting funds for it the previous year.
The fines were levied as part of an agreement with the Commission, absolving the parties of any intentional violation of the law.