Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-election

Full Text:

Candidates Hold The Hot Stuff At Pizza & Politics

(with photos)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The tables were nearly all filled at the Fireside Inn Tuesday night with

people hungry for some pizza and a little bit of good, clean politics, what

with Election Day right around the corner (Tuesday, November 3).

Newtown was not the place to be if you were looking for finger pointing and

name calling. This week's Pizza & Politics didn't inspire much contention. For

the most part, candidates gave parallel answers to straight-forward questions.

Comments and ideas were far reaching, ranging from the rights of patients vs

HMOS to overweight cops and their inability to do the job.

The race for the state senate seat in the 28th District has had its share of

mudslinging the past few weeks. At the Fireside, however, both Tom Ganim and

John McKinney appeared to have reached a kind of detente. They stuck to the

issues. Talk of tobacco lobbying, which has been the catalyst for attack ads

from both camps, never came up.

Other candidates on hand were State Rep Julia Wasserman (106th District) and

her challenger, Charles Noe of Bethel. District 112 hopefuls Pat Shea and

Andrew Nunn attended the event. However, Independent candidate Kenneth B.

Jones failed to show. Incumbent John Stripp of the 135th District, running

unopposed, was also there.

US Senate hopeful Gary Franks made a brief appearance, vowing never to vote

for a tax increase and to ensure that Connecticut receives more federal aid.

He left early, but not before taking shots at his Democrat opponent

Christopher Dodd. According to Mr Franks, only 20 percent of Sen Dodd's

campaign contributions come from Connecticut. The rest come from America's

power centers.

"I like to call him Broadway, Beltway, Hollywood Dodd," he said.

Mr Franks, who lost his seat in US Congress two years ago to Jim Maloney,

called Sen Dodd the most special interest representative in Washington.

"I'm in favor of campaign reform, while he has abused every element of it," he

said.

Mr Dodd was unable to attend the event. Also absent were US Congressman Jim

Maloney and his Republican challenger Mark Nielsen.

When it comes to the future of Fairfield Hills and Route 25, all the

candidates appeared in agreement. All of them were against an all-out widening

of 25 through Newtown. Most were in favor of spot improvements to preserve the

character of the town. When it comes to Fairfield Hills, Mr McKinney might

have said it best.

"The first thing I'm going to do is listen to Julia Wasserman," he said with a

smile.

Each candidate agreed that whatever ends up at Fairfield Hills -- whether it

be an educational facility, senior housing, research & development -- Newtown

needs to be part of the decision.

Not surprising, the Republicans credited Gov John Rowland for helping to

improve the state's economy.

Mr Stripp called for more local control, a more efficient state government and

payment from the state to towns for all unfunded mandates.

"I'll continue to fight for local control in zoning and education," he said.

Mr Ganim said Newtown and its surrounding towns are seeing a decrease in state

aid. He vowed to work to bring more dollars to Newtown.

That's a nice thought, Mr McKinney rebutted, but it is time that we worry less

about state aid and concern ourself instead with sending less money up to

Hartford.

"We need to control state spending so that we can put more money back into

your pockets," he told the audience.

Mrs Shea said she would like to rid residents of the state income tax, as well

as reduce the corporate and inheritance tax.

Mrs Wasserman also called for local property tax relief.

Mr Noe called for removing taxes on all cars valued at less than $20,000.

Mr Ganim is very serious about his efforts to get seat belts on buses. He also

wants to get tougher on drugs/weapons offenders on school campuses. The

Bridgeport attorney has also proposed a patients' bill of rights to ensure

people don't have to battle the health insurance companies -- just their

illness.

Mr Nunn has made the Route 25 widening a key issue in his campaign. A member

of the Monroe town council he decided to run for state office to give towns a

better voice in Hartford.

Mr Noe called for tax relief for the elderly and pledged to always do what is

in the best interest of the children.

Pizza & Politics is sponsored jointly each year by the League of Women Voters

and the Chamber of Commerce of Newtown.