Ferguson Picks Up Key Endorsements, Issues Final Position Paper

By John Voket

Republican challenger George Ferguson has picked up a couple of high profile endorsements for his race against incumbent 106th District Representative Chris Lyddy — from Connecticut’s highest ranking official, and the state’s leading business support agency. On October 27, Mr Ferguson announced that Governor M. Jodi Rell had issued an endorsement.

“This year, voters have many good candidates running for office who are committed to changing the status quo in the State Legislature,” Gov Rell said in a written statement. “I am endorsing George Ferguson in the 106th District because I am confident that he is the best choice for Newtown families who deserve to have someone represent their priorities at the State Capital.”

One day earlier, Mr Ferguson, who currently serves on the Legislative Council, received The Connecticut Business & Industry Association’s (CBIA) nod. CBIA is the state’s largest business organization, with 10,000 member companies.

According to the CBIA release, “Connecticut has lost more than 100,000 jobs since the beginning of the recession and is facing huge budget deficits.”

“Much of our economic future depends on what priorities our next governor and our new state legislators bring to the Capitol after the elections this fall,” said John R. Rathgeber, CBIA president and CEO. “George exemplifies the leadership needed to revitalize our economy and move Connecticut forward. He has the vision, experience, and commitment needed to make our state a better place for all Connecticut residents.”

The sentiments in these endorsements dovetail with Mr Ferguson’s strong advocacy for creating a more business-friendly climate in Connecticut, and his commitment to pursue that aim if elected. In his final position paper, which can be reviewed in its entirety at newtownbee.com, the Republican challenger poses a common sense approach to addressing Connecticut’s economic challenges: “Spend no more than you make; borrow no more than you can afford to pay back; and reduce the size and cost of Government.”

The GOP statehouse candidate’s position on business retention and recruitment is energized by the fact that almost 3,000 state businesses closed their doors in the first quarter of this year alone.

“Connecticut is down 103,000 jobs between March 2008 and December 2009,” Mr Ferguson stated. “As it stands now, our economy is stagnant and unemployment is within 0.3% of the record high set in the recession of 1976.”

He said that the steep downtrend is a result of the cost of doing business in Connecticut, which he states is the fifth highest in the country. Mr Ferguson plans to pursue a three-pronged approach to help businesses be competitive — and not impede business.

He seeks to establish a job creation tax credit for hiring people on the unemployment rolls, and hopes to dig right in if elected, reducing/eliminating business nuisance taxes. His third initiative would be to support tax credits for businesses that invest in Connecticut.

At the same time, Mr Ferguson pledges to help make the business of Connecticut’s government and agencies run more efficiently and cost effectively.

“Common sense dictates a review of business practices to see if they are still valid and efficient,” he wrote. “Structural change will allow government to operate more efficiently, be less costly and highlight agencies that are no longer appropriate and can be removed.”

The GOP challenger said state representatives should be looking at consolidating agencies, privatizing services, negotiating new contracts, and switching to defined contribution plans for new hires to help effect greater taxpayer benefits and savings.