Date: Fri 01-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-pizza-election

Full Text:

Candidates Square Off A Pizza and Politics Forum

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

State Senator Fred Lovegrove and challenger Tom Ganim came face-to-face to

trade barbs Tuesday night at the annual Pizza & Politics Night at the Fireside

Inn.

The two candidates, who for weeks have been tossing verbal jabs at one another

from a distance, met for the first time since Newtown's Labor Day Parade in

early September. The event, attended by about 100 people, was sponsored by the

Newtown Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters.

Also on hand was Jim Maloney, the Democratic candidate vying for Republican

Gary Franks' 5th District US Congressional seat. He was joined by Libertarian

candidate Walter F. Thiessen, Jr, and Concerned Citizens party member Rosita

Rodriguez.

Absent from the event was the incumbent, Gary Franks, who, according to Mr

Maloney, has attended only one of 31 forums this election season.

Republican State Representative Julia Wasserman of the 106th District joined

her Independent challenger Charles Noe, while State Rep John Stripp of the

135th District traded shots with Democratic challenger Tom Baptist.

Republican William Varese was also on hand, though he is being unchallenged to

retain his seat in the 112th District.

Lovegrove vs Ganim

Fred Lovegrove, seeking his eighth term in the 28th District, has been the

target of his opponent's massive television and radio advertising campaign,

which has challenged his alleged political shortcomings. Tuesday night he shot

back, calling the ads "absurd."

"I have not had the resources to rebut your personal attacks," he told Mr

Ganim. Calling the Ganim campaign a "gimmick," Mr Lovegrove stared down his

opponent during most of the 15-minute debate.

Mr Lovegrove has said throughout the election that his decision to vote

against casinos in Bridgeport was the only reason his opponent decided to run.

He reiterated that sentiment again Tuesday night.

Not so, Mr Ganim responded, saying he decided to run against Mr Lovegrove

because he has seen a lack of leadership in the district.

"The reason I'm in the race is because we need a senator that's in touch with

the people," he said. "You have failed to bring state aid to this district,

while wealthier towns are receiving increased aid under your watch."

Mr Ganim also pointed out that 75 percent of the money Mr Lovegrove received

for his campaign came from out-of-district contributions and PAC money.

However, according to Mr Lovegrove, the money he has spent this fall is just a

drop in the bucket compared to what his opponent has spent. On several

occasions, Mr Lovegrove has questioned Mr Ganim's fundraising practices,

appalled at the $500-a-plate he charges at fund-raising events.

Mr Ganim questioned Mr Lovegrove's vote on the assault weapons ban and said

his opponent has reinvented his position on women's issues, first saying he

was pro-life then reverting partially back the other way.

Mr Ganim has based many of his attacks this fall on Mr Lovegrove's decision to

vote against cutting the gas tax twice. The incumbent responded, saying it was

the Democrats who raised the tax in the first place.

"I voted for a $200 million tax cut. My opponent said he would have voted to

repeal it," Mr Lovegrove said. "I was responsible for putting together the

welfare reform bill, my opponent said in his mailing that he would have voted

against it."

"That may have been a gimmick, but so is your whole campaign," the incumbent

senator added, "You can't have it both ways Mr Ganim."

No Show For Franks

Jim Maloney of Danbury called Mr Franks' record on the environment one of the

worst among Connecticut legislators and pointed out that it was the incumbent

who voted against the Family Leave Bill. The only problem, according to Mr

Maloney, is that Mr Franks can't answer to any of these statements because he

never shows up for any of the scheduled forums.

"I'm here. I want to be here working with Newtown," he said.

Mr Maloney, who announced he will also be on the Reform Party ticket, said

he's built his reputation on having a strong concern for education and being

fiscally responsible.

Mr Thiessen said he's found government to be ineffective and has even proposed

abolishing the Internal Revenue Service. In a recent poll, the Libertarian

said 42 percent of those people asked said they'd be willing to bid farewell

to their favorite federal service if it meant the elimination of the income

tax.

Mrs Rodriguez, a pro-lifer, said Congress is too locked up in special

interests. She wants smaller government and more parental involvement in a

child's education.

Stripp vs Baptist

Concerned about ballooning property taxes, Tom Baptist has vowed to help

reduce the large number of unfunded mandates in the state. He promised to be

reduce the income tax by being tough on spending, and, if elected, vowed to

address the integrity of government, which he sees being tainted by gifts and

money from the companies it regulates.

Mr Baptist, calling his opponent "pro-gun" for voting against the Assault

Weapons Ban, said Mr Stripp is not tough enough on crime.

Mr Stripp, however, said rather than eliminate guns, he would rather see a

data bank set up where those seeking to purchase a gun must clear the system.

If they are listed in the data bank as a criminal they can not buy a gun, he

said.

Mr Baptist said he was in favor of the ban.

"Guns are not part of the answer. Guns are part of the problem," he said.

Mr Stripp, said the once floundering Connecticut economy is starting to turn

around and asked voters to send him back to Hartford.

"We're starting to make some real changes," he said.

The incumbent, who called himself a proponent of letting decisions be made

locally rather than in Hartford, said the recent welfare reform bill was tops

in the country. In defense of his decision to vote against the proposed gas

tax decrease, Mr Stripp said "you can't reduce one tax and increase another."

Wasserman vs Now

Julia Wasserman asked to be sent back to Hartford to ensure that education and

the future of Fairfield Hills Hospital is monitored, equal access to health

care is guaranteed and home health care is expanded.

Her challenger, Charles Noe, said he's concerned about the future of "our

children," calling for better education and drug enforcement.

As for reducing crime, Mr Noe said more police officers are needed on foot

patrol. In fact, he wants more police all together, explaining that several

police officers have told him they'd be able to make more drug arrests if they

had the resources.

Mrs Wasserman said she's like to take the other approach and reach America's

youth through education before they actually commit the crimes.

Varese Unopposed

Bill Varese believes Connecticut's economy is on the rise.

"We've been successful in bringing in more jobs to the state, a commitment

that the Republicans made," he said. "I think we are succeeding in bringing

the state back into a solid frame."

Mr Varese stands by his vote on the income tax cut, saying he was opposed to

the income tax in the first place.

"I'd rather get a dollar for a dollar here then send the dollar to Hartford

and get 10 cents back on the dollar," he said.

As for the future of Fairfield Hills, Mr Varese said he thinks it would make a

great college campus.