Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: JAN

Quick Words:

election-profiles-Andrew-Nunn

Full Text:

ELECTION PROFILE: State Assembly District 112 -- Andrew Nunn

BY JAN HOWARD

Democrat Andrew Nunn, 31, a life-long resident of Monroe, is hoping to win the

traditionally Republican 112th District House seat in the November 3 election.

The 112th District covers all of Monroe and Botsford and Sandy Hook in

Newtown. There is no incumbent in the race, as Republican state Rep William J.

Varese stepped down in July.

Mr Nunn, a marketing manager for Windhover Information, Inc., a Norwalk

publishing company, is a member of the Monroe Town Council.

He graduated from Fairfield College Preparatory School and Marquette

University. His wife, Dawn, works for Save the Children in Westport.

Mr Nunn said there are compelling reasons why he is better qualified than his

opponents for the position of state representative.

"I am the only candidate that has legislative experience as a member of the

Monroe Town Council, and the move to Hartford would be a logical path," he

said. "I have the experience of working on budgets, grants, coalition building

to get things done, and working closely with the selectman.

"I have a good working relationship with the selectmen" of the two

communities.

He also cited his business background. "I work with contracts, budgets, and

economic factors.

"I am a proponent of small business," he said.

Mr Nunn cited tax reform, excellence in education and educational funding, and

traffic problems on Routes 25 as key issues in the campaign.

The state needs to seriously propose tax reform, he said.

"Property taxes are killing us," he said.

He cited mandates from the state that are underfunded or not funded at all as

needing reform so towns will get their fair share of funding.

He said the state must be held accountable to its constitutional and fiscal

responsibilities to education, noting the Equalized Cost Sharing Grant is

severely underfunded.

Mr Nunn supports improvements to safety and sight lines on Route 25 as well as

some limited widening along the Monroe corridor.

He said the issue must be looked at from each town's perception.

Newtown does not want road widening, but wants spot improvements and turn

lanes, he said, while Monroe wants limited widening to preserve wetlands and

historic properties.

He said as state representative he would represent each community's interests.

"My family has a long tradition of community service," Mr Nunn said. As a

member of Monroe's Town Council and through conversations with residents, he

said, "I have seen the problems and challenges we face on a state level. I see

areas where there can be improvements."

He said the position of state representative "will be my number one priority,"

noting his company supports him in that commitment.

Mr Nunn has been endorsed by First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal of Newtown and

First Selectman Karen Burnaska of Monroe, the Connecticut Education

Association, Sierra Club, and the Association of Retired Teachers of

Connecticut.