Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: JAN

Quick Words:

election-profile-Jones

Full Text:

ELECTION PROFILES: 112th District -- Kenneth B. Jones

BY JAN HOWARD

Kenneth B. Jones, 59, a resident of Monroe since 1961, is a petitioning

candidate for the 112th District House seat, which covers all of Monroe and

Botsford and Sandy Hook in Newtown.

Mr Jones is one of three new faces in the race, joining Republican Pat Shea

and Democrat Andrew Nunn in seeking the seat in the traditionally Republican

stronghold. Incumbent GOP state Rep William J. Varese decided to relinquish

his seat in this year's election.

Mr Jones has held no elected position. He has been in business for 26 years

and owns the Main Port Fish & Chips stores.

Mr Jones lists education, taxes, health care and senior citizen concerns as

key issues in the campaign.

He said a major problem facing all the schools in the state is the high cost

of education and the Sheff Vs O'Neill court decision and how the state will

respond to it.

He said busing increases the host town's student population as well as its

educational budget because the state does not fully fund the educational costs

of the additional students. Redistricting would require a Constitutional

amendment, he noted.

"It's a big mess," he said.

"I believe the majority of the towns want home rule," Mr Jones said, not

busing or redistricting.

He said his solution to busing or redistricting in response to the Sheff Vs

O'Neill mandate is state-funded charter schools, which can be established

anywhere in the state.

In an issues paper, Mr Jones said, "The grounds of Fairfield Hills would be an

excellent site to establish an elementary and secondary charter school."

Mr Jones said he is a strong advocate of reducing taxes. He is opposed to the

state income tax and would support legislation that would limit spending at

fiscal June 1998 levels until the tax is eliminated.

He said if the state income tax were eliminated, the state would reduce its

receipts by $2.5 billion. If all the committed tax reductions, such as for

reductions in corporate taxes, were eliminated, he said, the state would save

$2.6 billion. He said instead of the tax reductions, Gov John Rowland should

eliminate the state income tax.

Mr Jones supports limited widening for Route 25.

"As it is now, it's a safety hazard," he said, noting the need for turn lanes.

Mr Jones supports the Bill of Rights for Medicare HMOs that would prevent

penalties to doctors who help seniors with appeals procedures and would

guarantee notice if a senior's primary care physician withdraws from his/her

plan.

Mr Jones said he has been preparing for his run for office for over a year and

is "appealing to the unaffiliated voters" in the two towns.

"My position on the issues best qualifies me for state representative," Mr

Jones said. He said he is not attached to a political organization or

obligated to any special interest group.

"My special interest group will be the people of the district," he said.

Mr Jones said his experience in the ministry of Jehovah Witnesses helped

prepare him for the position of state representative.