Date: Fri 25-Oct-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Rotary-candidates-forum

Full Text:

Rotary Forum Runs Short Of Candidates

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

The Rotary Club of Newtown held its annual "Candidates Night" Monday at the

Fireside Inn, but few actual candidates showed up, taking some of the luster

away from the political event.

"In the past it's usually been very spirited," noted longtime Rotarian Ed

Osterman.

State Senator Fred Lovegrove and Rep Julia Wasserman did show up, as did John

Baptist and Bill Varese. This year's no shows included state senate hopeful

Tom Ganim, Charles Noe, and John Stripp.

"I was very disappointed that Ganim didn't show up," said the event's

coordinator Mike Snyder.

Mr Ganim, who was in town earlier in the evening for the opening of the

Democratic headquarters in Queen Street Shopping Center, said he had a

previous engagement in Fairfield. Mr Snyder said he was told Friday by a Ganim

representative that he would be there.

Fifth District Republican Congressman Gary Franks and his Democrat challenger,

Jim Maloney, were not invited this year.

Republican Mrs Wasserman of Newtown, who is being challenged for her seat in

the 106th House District this year by Charles Noe, discussed some of the work

the House has accomplished during the past year, including the welfare reform

bill recently enacted, which she said appears to be working. Under the bill,

those residents deemed employable are required to get a job within 21 months.

After that time, state assistance is revoked. But, as she explained, those who

do get a job are guaranteed by the state to receive medical benefits and

day-care assistance for two years.

She also noted that 24 charter schools have been established throughout the

state.

As for the future of Fairfield Hills, Mrs Wasserman said the bypass the Route

25 road through the Fairfield Hills property is scheduled to be built next

year, and she expects the bids to go out in December.

Mr Lovegrove expressed disappointment that his opponent, Tom Ganim, did not

show up, ending any hopes of a debate between the two candidates in the 28th

District. He called his last two years in office his best ones, because

Republicans had the majority in the senate.

Mr Lovegrove, a Republican, said welfare reform, a bill which he authored,

continues to work, as more and more people are finding jobs. The state has

saved about $166 million due to the reform, according to Mr Lovegrove. He

stressed that the reform bill is not meant to be mean.

"If you want to become self-sufficient, this bill is a dream-come-true for

you. If you don't, it's a nightmare," the incumbent said.

Mr Lovegrove has been blamed by Mr Ganim for establishing the "sick tax," a

tax currently being put on hospital bills, but the incumbent said he voted

against that bill. Rotarian and local attorney Robert Hall said he received a

call Monday morning from a woman in Birmingham, Alabama, calling on behalf of

Tom Ganim. She reportedly asked Mr Hall which tax he would most want to see

cut, the gas tax or the sick tax.

"I got the same call," replied Mr Lovegrove with a laugh. "She apparently

didn't make the connection between the Lovegrove she asked for and the

Lovegrove she was asking about."

"I said I wanted the sick tax cut, then she asked me what the sick tax was,"

he recalled.

As pointed out by Rotarian Bill Watts, a flier is currently circulating the

area put out by Mr Ganim, stating that Mr Lovegrove is anti-choice. Not so,

the state senator replied, explaining that in 1990 he voted for a state law

that "codified" the law established in Roe vs Wade.

Democrat hopeful Thomas Baptist of Redding is a conservation director for the

town of Greenwich and, if elected as a representative from the 135th District,

said he'll take a stand for the environment.

Though he noted there are no toxic waste dumps in the area, he pointed out

that Fairfield County does have some of the highest levels of ground level

ozone in the nation.

Mr Baptist, looking to unseat State Rep John Stripp, believes he can work with

the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to have it better work

hand-in-hand with business. He also told the Rotarians that his environmental

experience could help Newtown better deal with its current infrastructure

situation.

Speaking of infrastructure, one Rotarian pointed out that there has been

little work done in recent years to improve the state's infrastructure.

"I feel we need a form of mass transportation," Mr Baptist said. He said he

supports the idea of a monorail because it is clean, pollution-free and easy

to maintain. Mr Baptist said the construction of one mile of monorail is about

the same as one mile of highway.

Mr Baptist said he is very concerned about the integrity of government.

"It's illegal for a batter to give money to an umpire, but it's legal for a

lobbyist to give money to a politician on a committee in charge of regulating

that group's interest," he explained. "I will refuse to accept any money from

special interest groups."

As for jump-starting the economy, Mr Baptist, called himself a fiscal

conservative and said the government must reduce its expenditures.

Rep Bill Varese, the Republican incumbent from the 112th District, which

includes Sandy Hook and part of Botsford, is unopposed in his election bid.

The Monroe resident is seeking his fourth term in the House of Representatives

and is a member of the Banks Committee and the Judiciary Committee.

He spoke to the Rotary Club about his continued efforts to encourage

businesses to hire people. Mr Varese also pointed out the difficulty in

getting legislation through the House, where there the Democrats have a

majority, as opposed to the Senate, where the GOP is in control.