Maloney Makes His Reelection Run Official

By Steve Bigham

Calling himself a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of a guy, US Congressman Jim Maloney (Fifth District) announced his candidacy for a third term in office Monday morning in front of Bethel Middle School.

At his announcement, Mr Maloney outlined his plans for this district should he defeat Republican challenger Mark Nielsen. Among them: higher standards in education, a tax relief plan for families and improved health care, including “guaranteed coverage through Medicare.” In addition, he said, the nation needs leaders who will be fiscally responsible and who seek to avoid “voodoo economics,” or schemes to help improve the current Social Security situation.

The burly congressman from Danbury made a plea for more bipartisan politics on Capitol Hill.

“We need to worry more about getting things done and less about political theatrics,” Mr Maloney said to a rousing applause from supporters.

The Democrat finds himself in a rematch with Nielsen, the former state senator from Danbury, who gave the incumbent a run for his money during the 1998 congressional race, losing to the incumbent by just 2,343 votes. Mr Nielsen was nominated as the GOP candidate last week at The Fireside Inn here in Newtown.

On Monday, Mr Maloney, one of ten children, made his announcement standing alongside his wife, Mary, three daughters, Adele, Anna, and Ellen, and father-in-law, Thomas Draper, MD, of Newtown. And it is the family that sat at the focal point of his speech.

“My only purpose in Congress is to serve the families of the Fifth District,” he said. “This job is not about being seen on the Washington television talk shows. It’s about getting up every morning and finding ways to make a real difference for each person and family in this district.”

Mr Maloney is working to pass a $10,000 per year, per child tax deduction so parents will have a better opportunity to send their children to college. In another pro-family move, Mr Maloney is looking to gain approval for a plan that would provide families with a $2,000 per child deduction.

Mr Maloney’s sister suffers from breast cancer, and the congressman has come to the aid of thousands of women in the district who are fighting breast cancer. According to a press release, he has secured $175 million in funding for breast cancer research and is one of a select few members of Congress nationwide to receive a 100 percent rating from the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

“Far too many women still receive inadequate treatment for breast cancer and other curable diseases. That’s not good enough – we need to fight and defeat this disease,” he said.

Mr Maloney believes his record speaks for itself and hopes his honest, no-nonsense approach will continue to appeal to the Fifth District voters.

“With Jim Maloney, what you see is what you get. I’m a hard-working guy who calls it like I see it and works to get things done,” he said.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal was also on hand for the announcement. Mr Rosenthal said Mr Maloney has been extremely responsive to the residents of the Fifth District. Selectman Joe Bojnowski was also present Monday.

“He has always been very good about taking care of problems. I remember one family had a post office problem. They didn’t like where their mailbox was. Sure enough, he took care of it,” Mr Rosenthal said. “He is very receptive. He’s in touch with me on town issues and always has suggestions as to where he may be able to help.”

Recently, Mr Maloney helped resolve a dispute between area EMTs and Danbury Hospital, convincing the state’s attorney general office to become involved.

Mr Maloney also made announcement stops in Waterbury, Meriden, Shelton and Weston.