Date: Fri 03-Nov-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

Mooney-election-profile-

Full Text:

James Mooney Election Profile

with cut:

B Y A MY D'O RIO

Retired state police captain James M. Mooney of Partridge Lane said he

constantly fights the impression that he drove up and down the state highways

for a living.

Mr Mooney, a Republican who is running for the Board of Selectmen as First

Selectman Robert Cascella's running mate, said he managed large budgets,

supervised sizable staffs and oversaw building projects. He was a commanding

officer for the statewide Narcotics Task Force from 1984 to 1989.

In fact, after retirement in 1992, he worked as a reorganization consultant

for a few companies.

In short, Mr Mooney, 53, said he does what a good selectman does: administrate

and lead.

Mr Mooney, who is the University of Bridgeport's campus security director, has

been too busy with his career to run for an office until now. He has worked,

however, on the previous campaigns of Mr Cascella and former state

representative Mae Schmidle. He has also served as the chief of the Newtown

Volunteer Ambulance Association.

Mr Mooney has also been a long-time observer of town issues and has a good

idea of what his role should be as a town leader.

Mr Mooney opposed erecting the Connecticut Exposition and Performing Events

Center in Old Hawleyville, but wants to push economic development. The

exposition center, he said, would have placed a heavy burden on town services.

He admits the center would have boosted business for hotels and restaurants,

but most of those are in Bethel and Danbury, said Mr Mooney.

Mr Mooney is still interested in developing Old Hawleyville, but mainly along

the Route 6 corridor. He also envisions economic development opportunities

along Commerce Road.

The FDIC is holding four acres at the end of Commerce Road. Mr Mooney

advocates buying the acreage, extending Commerce Road into Fairfield Hills.

Then, he suggests acquiring the 25 acres the state owes the town to make an

industrial park.

Fairfield Hills is another big topic with Mr Mooney. He wants to see multiple

uses of the property and advises that the town act aggressively. He said he

could see a municipal center and the playing fields preserved for recreational

use.

He also suggests the state donate a good chunk of the land to the state's

farmland preservation program, which would maintain the aesthetic quality of

Fairfield Hills and protect the aquifer.

Mr Mooney envisions high-quality office space there. He said if it is done

well, it could be a success even though there is already a glut of office

space in Connecticut.

Furthermore, he said the town should consider trying to get some of Fairfield

Hills for affordable housing.

Mr Mooney also thinks the Board of Education consider one of the buildings for

a school.

Mr Mooney said he does not yet have an opinion about the proposed school

projects, which have an estimated cost of nearly $30 million. He said he is

reserving judgment until all facts and designs have been presented. "I do know

that to be anything but pro-education in Newtown is political suicide," he

said.

To gain his approval, the school projects must be necessary. "I don't think we

can support nice-to-haves," he said.

Mr Mooney said he will not try to tell residents how they should vote on the

building projects, but he will try to educate them about the financial

effects.

Mr Mooney said his main purpose, if he is elected, is to support Mr Cascella.

He said he agrees with Mr Cascella's platform, and they work well together.

Mr Mooney said he envisions being a close adviser to Mr Cascella, someone who

can "shut the door and tell Bobby" what he really thinks.

"Then we reach a consensus and go out as a team," he said.