Fifth Congressional District Is Poised For A Three-Way Race

Connecticut’s Fifth Congressional District always proves to be a battleground in even-numbered years, and 2008 promises to follow in that tradition.

Incumbent Democrat Congressman Christopher S. Murphy is facing challenges both from Danbury Republican David Cappiello and from Canton human rights attorney Harold H. Burbank II, who is running with the backing of the Green Party.

Rep Murphy is currently serving his first term representing Connecticut’s Fifth District, which includes Newtown. He serves on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform as well as the Financial Services Committee.

On the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Congressman Murphy plays a role in investigating and proposing solutions to the nation’s most pressing issues, including the management of the war in Iraq, the implementation of Medicare Part D, and the need for open government. As a member of the Financial Services Committee, Rep Murphy plays a role in overseeing all components of the nation’s housing, insurance, banking, and securities industries.

Prior to his service in the US House of Representatives, Congressman Murphy served for eight years in the Connecticut General Assembly. He spent four years representing Southington and the 81st district in the House, and then spent four years representing the 16th Senatorial District, which includes the towns of Waterbury, Wolcott, Cheshire, and Southington.

While in the Senate, he served as the chairman of the Public Health Committee.

On August 18, 2007, Congressman Murphy married Cathy Holahan, a legal aid attorney who represents children in need in New Britain and Waterbury. He and his wife reside in Cheshire.

Republican David Cappiello a lifelong resident of Danbury. Elected in 1998, he is currently serving his fifth term in the State Senate representing Danbury, New Fairfield, Bethel, and Sherman.

Prior to his election to the state Senate, Mr Cappiello served two terms in the General Assembly.

According to his campaign website, during his tenure in the Senate, Sen Cappiello has been a leader in holding the line on excessive state spending. As the ranking Republican on the Appropriations Committee, he played a key role in shaping this year’s budget that invested heavily in health care, education, and energy reform without raising taxes.

He helped craft a tax credit program for businesses that creates jobs in Connecticut, and fought to protect Connecticut’s spending cap while still funding priorities such as the Teachers’ Pension Fund.

Sen Cappiello has also played a prominent role in addressing Connecticut’s health care crisis. He played a major part in the Senate Republican effort to expand ConnPACE, which provides prescription drugs for the elderly and disabled, and he successfully obtained State approval for Danbury Hospital to provide expanded, direct access to cardiac care for the greater Danbury area. And because of legislation written by Sen Cappiello and signed into law, all newborns in Connecticut are now screened for serious metabolic disorders.

He has served as a member of the Appropriations (ranking member), General Law (ranking member), Program Review and Internship (chairman) committees at the state level.

He and his wife Christine Ciarleglio have two sons, Jack Reagan and Jude Francis.

The third congressional challenger, human rights attorney Harold H. Burbank II, has been selected as Connecticut Green Party’s Fifth Congressional District candidate. Mr Burbank is supported by human rights activists Ralph Nader and Daniel Ellsberg, with whom he has volunteered for various projects.

Mr Burbank holds two degrees in international relations and a law degree. He was hired by then-Connecticut Attorney General Joe Lieberman out of law school and served under him as an assistant attorney general for Public Utilities and Public Works.

Subsequently he has served as Penobscot Indian Nation Director of Human Services (Maine), and Maine Assistant Attorney General for Child Protection. His professional public service work in Connecticut alone spans 20 years, including working in Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s Bridgeport-based Child Support Office.

Mr Burbank has been married to Winsted kindergarten teacher Marianne Burbank for 28 years. They live in Canton with their two teenaged children.