Full Text:

McKinney Will Seek GOP Nod In 28th

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Newtown Republicans gathered in front of Edmond Town Hall Tuesday to show

their support for John McKinney, who was there to announce his intention to

seek the GOP nomination for the 28th District State Senate seat.

The seat in Hartford became wide open two weeks ago when long-time senator,

Fred Lovegrove, 58, announced he would not seek reelection to a ninth term. Mr

Lovegrove, who has held the seat since 1982, underwent prostate surgery

earlier this week (see related story). He was diagnosed with prostate cancer

last month and immediately decided not to run again.

Another Republican, John Pavia, a 34-year-old attorney from Easton, has also

announced his intention to run.

Democrat Tom Ganim, 31, has also expressed interest in another run at the

state senate, but has not yet formally announced. Mr Ganim, also an attorney

from Easton, put up a tough campaign against Mr Lovegrove in 1996, before

losing in a close election.

Mr McKinney's stop in Newtown was part of a day-long trip through the

district, which, in addition to Newtown, includes Fairfield, Monroe and

Easton.

"I am running because the people of our district deserve a senator who will

work hard, listen and lead," he told the crowd of more than 20 supporters.

The candidate is the son of the late Congressman Stewart B. McKinney, who

represented Connecticut's Fourth District from 1971 to 1987. From his father,

Mr McKinney said he learned "the importance of public service and of giving

back to your community." Stewart McKinney died in 1987.

A resident of Fairfield, Mr McKinney, 33, is an attorney with the firm

Cummings & Lockwood. He graduated from Fairfield Prep in 1982 and received his

BA in political science from Yale University in 1986. He attended law school

at the University of Connecticut, where he graduated with honors in 1994. Upon

graduation from law school, Mr McKinney clerked for Justice Richard N. Palmer

of the Connecticut Supreme Court.

The candidate currently serves on Fairfield's Ethics Commission and the Senior

Citizen Advisory Committee.

Mr McKinney and his wife, Megen, have a son, Matthew, who will turn two on St

Patrick's Day.