A Bridgeport Superior Court judge has ruled in favor of Mayor Joe Ganim in a lawsuit brought by a member of the city's Board of Education.

The board member, Maria Pereira, claimed that Ganim acted illegally when he filled two vacant board positions.

Judge Barbara Bellis said the mayor had the power to fill empty positions because the board failed to appoint replacements within 30 days.

Ganim says he had no choice but to act. Pereira says the ruling will hurt the children of Bridgeport.

"We already know that these board members appointed by Joe Ganim are completely controlled by Joe Ganim, and he appointed members who don't come to meetings," she says. "So someone would have to tell me how this is good for 21,000 public school children."

Pereira says she will most likely appeal the ruling.