Date: Fri 27-Feb-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-Ganim-28th-District

Full Text:

Ganim Hopes For Better Luck In '98

(with cut)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Thomas G. Ganim believes 1998 may end up being his year. The Democrat came

close to having '96 be his year, but his all-out effort to beat State Sen Fred

Lovegrove came up short.

The Easton resident announced his candidacy for the 28th District senate seat

earlier this month, vowing to fight for cuts in the state gas tax, sponsor

legislation requiring smoke-free public schools, and mandate checks for family

and day-care providers.

Mr Ganim, 32, stopped by The Bee office last week to discuss his plans for the

campaign. He was joined by First Selectmen Herb Rosenthal.

Sen Lovegrove will not be seeking re-election this year. Mr Ganim will be

facing Republican John McKinney, also from Easton. A second Easton Republican,

John Pavia, dropped out of the race this week.

"I look forward to working with local elected officials such as Herb Rosenthal

on the state issues that are important to the people of Newtown," Mr Ganim

said. "I pledge to give the people of Easton, Monroe, Fairfield and Newtown an

honest, hard-working representative dedicated to the issues that impact their

lives."

Mr Ganim has received endorsements from Monroe First Selectman Karen Burnaska,

Fairfield First Selectman Kenneth Flato, and Mr Rosenthal.

Mr Ganim bid to unseat Sen Lovegrove two years ago was unsuccessful despite

spending tens of thousands of dollars on his campaign. His run for office was

marked by several aggressive television ads, which attacked Sen Lovegrove's

record. He ended up receiving 48 percent of the vote.

Mr Ganim, an attorney in his family's Bridgeport firm, is running in what is

considered to be a Republican District.