The Fifth District Fight Will Come To Newtown

By Steve Bigham

One of the nation’s most widely publicized congressional races is taking place right here in the Fifth District. Democratic Congressman Jim Maloney and Republican challenger Mark Nielsen are waging a campaign that is not shying away from negative campaigning, as seems to be the trend in other races this year. The fight in the fifth has already had its fair share of mudslinging.

The Chamber of Commerce is hoping to bring the fight to Newtown for a night of  Pizza and Politics next month.

“The two candidates have tentatively agreed to meet on [Monday,] October 23 at Pizza and Politics. The format of the forum is still being decided,” noted Alan Clavette of the Chamber of Commerce.

Details are still being worked out, but Mr Clavette said he does not expect there to be a debate between the two men.

The event takes place just two weeks before the election will be held, at the Fireside Inn, and organizers expect a large turnout.

“We may fill the place so we’re probably going to be selling tickets beforehand,” Mr Clavette said.

In the Fifth District, Danbury and Waterbury are the two key towns, but both candidates will tell you how important Newtown is. Two years ago, Congressman Maloney narrowly defeated Mr Nielsen and Newtown was a microcosm of that; Mr Maloney defeated Mr Nielsen by just 100 or so total votes.

Both candidates have accused the other of various campaign violations. The most recent Nielsen allegation states that Mr Maloney has “engaged in a systematic money laundering scheme” using his old state legislative campaign committees – including one dating back to 1988 – to funnel tens of thousands of dollars into his congressional campaigns. On Monday, Mr Nielsen personally filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission in Hartford.

Mr Maloney has denied the allegations and, along with the Democratic Party, struck back, filing a complaint that Mr Nielsen has received “undisclosed, excessive, and illegal in-kind contributions.”

“The Nielsen campaign is getting a sweetheart deal from a campaign contributor who is charging less than 25 percent of fair market value for rent on Nielsen’s campaign office,” noted John Del Cecato, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. That office is located in Watertown, which is located in the 6th District.

A Democratic spokesman called it an “illegal” deal that makes a “mockery” of federal campaign laws.

This week, Mr Nielsen said the allegations are false.

Despite the mudslinging, some observers are calling the Maloney/Nielsen race “democracy at its best.”