Choosing A Congressman

At the Pizza and Politics candidates’ forum in Newtown on October 23, Republican challenger to the incumbent Congressman Jim Maloney conceded that his opponent had made many friends in the Fifth District through his consistent and conscientious constituent service. But he went on to ask whether, in this day and age, good constituent service is enough. He suggested that it was important for a congressman to be representative of his constituents on the larger issues of the day. It’s a question that Mr Maloney has been able to answer convincingly.

Though he has been caricatured in Mr Nielsen’s ubiquitous attack ads as a back-slapping, big-spending, ultra-liberal old pol, we find that his positions on the important issues of economic development, the environment, education, and public safety not only represent the best interests of Newtown, they have benefited Newtown directly.

Mr Maloney has been honored by the Northeast Economic Development Association for his efforts on behalf of towns and cities in the district to encourage new development and rehabilitate old industrial sites for new uses. His Brownsfield Economic Revitalization legislation has significantly enhanced the ability of the federal Environmental Protection Agency to clean up hazardous wastes at old industrial sites through site assessments, grants, and loans to the private sector aimed at revitalizing the site and fostering economic development. The Brownsfield legislation is expected to play a key role in the reclamation of the Batchelder industrial site on Swamp Road in Botsford.

Mr Maloney helped write a Conservation and Reinvestment Act, which was enacted earlier this year. The legislation will direct $10 million to the state each year, enabling Newtown and other towns and cities in this fast growing part of the state to acquire open space, develop recreational facilities, and more effectively preserve its historical heritage. As it faces unrelenting residential development and the pending acquisition and development of Fairfield Hills, Newtown has an urgent need for this kind of federal funding.

Mr Maloney has also had a positive impact on Newtown’s public schools. He secured $178,995 in funding to help Newtown’s  schools upgrade their technological infrastructure.  Add to that $129,916 in 1999 and the same amount again this year in federal Increased Basic Education grants to help Newtown meet and exceed state standards in core academic subjects. He also secured for Newtown a $125,000 grant that has enabled the town to pay for a school resource police officer for Newtown High School.

And if you still need a reason to vote for Mr Maloney, just talk to a cop on the beat. He co-sponsored the COPS 2000 Bill, which has brought $405,000 to the district, enabling the towns to hire more community police officers. In addition, he got the Department of Justice to pay for eight bullet-proof vests for cops on the beat here in Newtown.

So when Mr Nielsen asks whether Jim Maloney truly represents the people of Newtown in Washington, DC, we can say without hesitation, Yes, he does! He’s been doing a good job for this town since he was first elected in 1996, and we think Newtown should go to the polls on November 7 and vote to keep him on the job.