Date: Fri 26-Jul-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

politics-Stripp-Baptist

Full Text:

Baptist Will Again Challenge Stripp

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Democrats in the 135th District unanimously nominated Thomas Baptist to run

against incumbent State Rep John Stripp at their convention in Redding last

Thursday evening.

Mr Baptist, who lives in Redding and is the conservation director for the town

of Greenwich, will make his second bid for the seat. He lost to Rep Stripp by

nearly 2,000 votes in 1992.

Lisa Schwartz, delegate to the convention from Newtown, said Mr Baptist is an

excellent candidate.

"He has an extensive list of credentials," she said. "First and foremost he is

an environmentalist. He has a degree in Natural Resources Conservation from

UConn and is working on a master's in environmental science at the University

of New Haven."

Mrs Swartz said Mr Baptist also pledged to make the interests and issues of

small towns more prominent in Hartford.

Republicans nominated Rep Stripp early last week to run for a third term

representing the district which includes Easton, Redding, the northern part of

Weston and the 3-A voting district in Newtown.

In the 106th House District convention at Edmond Town Hall last Thursday

evening, the Democrats once again could not produce a candidate to contest

incumbent Republican State Rep Julia Wasserman. Mrs Wasserman, who lives on

Walnut Tree Hill Road in Sandy Hook, will be running for her fourth term. She

easily defeated independent candidate Diane Benedetto of Bethel in the 1994

election for the district which includes Newtown's first and second voting

district and Bethel's third district.

The Democrats also were unable to mount a candidate against incumbent

Republican William Varese in House District 112, which includes Newtown's 3-B

voting district and Monroe.

In previous conventions, the Democrats tapped Thomas G. Ganim of Easton, an

attorney and brother of Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim, to oppose Republican

State Sen Fred H. Lovegrove who is seeking an eighth term representing the

28th District towns of Newtown, Monroe, Fairfield and Easton.

Incumbent Republican Congressman Gary Franks was confirmed as his party's

candidate at the Fifth District convention in Waterbury last Saturday. He will

be opposed by Danbury Democrat James Maloney, who was uanimously endorsed at

his party's convention in Wolcott last week. Mr Maloney, who served four terms

as state senator from the 24th District, has been practicing law since he came

up 12,000 votes shy against his Republican opponent two years ago.

In caucuses to select justices of the peace, the Newtown Democrats renominated

Charles B. Brown, III, Joann Connor, Roger B. Connor and Deborah O. Stiewing

for another two-year term. George Blatin was tapped to replace Beth Ann

Fetzer. The Republicans nominated Carolyn H. Downing, Lilly Goosman, Edward L.

Lucas, Barbara A. O'Connor and Lillian S. Stricker to serve again. Although

all names will be on the November ballot, the candidates are unopposed.

This year five additional justices of the peace also will be elected. These

candidates must have been unaffiliated or members of independent parties since

May 1, 1996. Applications to become candidates will be available at the town

clerk's office after August 1. Five applicants will be selected by lottery to

be on the ballot.