Date: Fri 23-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-pizza-election

Full Text:

Politicians Lining Up For Local Pre-Election Forum

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Interested in getting a first-hand look at this year's political candidates?

Many of those up for election in November will be in town Tuesday night for

the annual Pizza & Politics Night.

The event, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and League of Women Voters, is

the only joint public forum in Newtown for this year's candidates. The doors

open at 6 pm and dinner is served 30 minutes later. The candidates take the

stage at 7:30 pm. The cost is $8 per person, $5 for students and seniors.

"This is a unique year with everything that's going on in Washington. We don't

really know how this will affect the election," said Judy Holmes, an organizer

from the League of Women Voters.

Organizers say they are expecting a big crowd, unless everyone is turned off

by politics this year.

This is also an unusual year in that several new political faces are scheduled

to field questions from the audience. Republican John McKinney and Democrat

Tom Ganim are both vying for the 28th District state senatorial seat vacated

by Fred Lovegrove, who opted not to seek reelection after serving since 1982.

That campaign appeared to heat up last week when Mr Ganim criticized Mr

McKinney for his past work for US Tobacco.

With departure of incumbent Republican State Rep Bill Varese from politics,

the race for the 112th state congressional seat also features three new faces.

Republican Pat Shea, Democrat Andrew Nunn and petitioning candidate Kenneth B.

Jones. All are expected to be at Pizza & Politics Tuesday night.

Of course, US Congressman Jim Maloney of the Fifth District and his Republican

challenger Mark Nielsen will be on hand as well. This week's debate at the

Portugese Club in Danbury between the two featured Mr Nielsen firing shots at

the incumbent on the issue of taxation. Nielsen claims he cuts taxes, while

Maloney raises them.

Two years ago, Gary Franks was unseated by Mr Maloney and many felt it was

because he appeared out of touch with his constituents. Pizza & Politics was

one of several stops Mr Franks failed to make. This year, he was the first to

RSVP as he looks to unseat longtime Democrat incumbent Chris Dodd of the

United States Senate. Mr Dodd had not responded to his invitation at press

time. However, organizers expect him to show.

Of course, State Rep Julia Wasserman will be there next week as she looks to

retain her 106th District seat. Despite being on the ballot, Independent

candidate Charles Noe has been up in the air about whether he is actually

running. He had not been invited as of earlier this week, Mrs Holmes said.

John Stripp, who is running unopposed in the 135th District, has also said he

will attend.

Each candidate will have the opportunity to make a two-minute opening and

closing statement with questions from the audience in between.