Date: Fri 04-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-State-Senate-election

Full Text:

Newtown Seen As Key In State Senate Race

(with head shots)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Two young men have been popping up around Newtown this summer, looking to make

a positive impression on residents.

Democrat Tom Ganim and Republican John McKinney, both attorneys, are competing

head to head in a closely watched campaign for the state Senate's 28th

District seat, which covers Fairfield, Easton, Newtown and parts of Monroe.

The race appears to be wide open, according to local party leaders. For the

first time in 16 years, former senator Fred Lovegrove will not be celebrating

on election day. He stepped down this past February due to an illness.

Republicans are hoping they can continue to hold on to the seat they have

maintained for so long. They are very high on Mr McKinney, of Fairfield, who

is making his first run at political office.

"Things are going great. I'm getting a great response. Every day and night I'm

out there," Mr McKinney said this week.

Democrats, on the other hand, are excited about the prospect of trying to beat

someone other than the invincible Mr Lovegrove. Mr Ganim of Easton tried in

vain to unseat the former senator two years ago. His hard-nosed campaign

included numerous television commercials and a huge fund-raising effort, which

allowed him to spend a reported $230,000. However, he fell short come election

day. His name has become quite well-known, though, and he's hoping to use that

to his advantage.

Mr Ganim was unavailable for comment this week.

Ask anyone involved in 28th District politics and they will tell you how

decisive Newtown can be on election day. Fully aware of that fact, both Mr

Ganim and Mr McKinney have been making the rounds. Both men were seen at the

town's transfer station/dump last Saturday morning.

"Newtown is obviously a priority to John," noted Karen Blawie, Mr McKinney's

campaign coordinator for Newtown. "He's been walking and shaking hands and

getting around town. We cannot afford to lose that seat."

Supporters believe McKinney has Fairfield "buttoned up."

The Republican said his party's record of making tough decisions on how to

spend the state's money is something it can be proud of; much unlike the

Democrats who succeeded in increasing the state budget by 30 percent during

the late 1980s, he said. Keeping in line with Gov Rowland, Mr McKinney plans

to hold the line on budget spending and work hard for quality education.

Despite his lack of political experience, Mr McKinney has politics in his

blood. His father, the late Stewart B. McKinney, was the US congressman who

served the Fourth District from 1971 to 1987.

Mr McKinney has taken a leave of absence from his law position at the Cummings

& Lockwood law firm. His wife, Megen, is due to give birth three days before

election day.

Tom Ganim is anxious to join his brother Joe (the Bridgeport mayor) in public

office, and his supporters believe this is his year.

"Tom made a good showing in the last election and did not lose by that many

total votes. He got to be known and his visibility in Newtown will be even

greater in this election," noted Newtown's Democratic chairman Earl J. Smith.

Democrats say they need to turn around the results of 1996 when Mr Ganim lost

by more than 1,000 votes in Newtown. The race was much closer in the other

towns.

Mr Ganim is said to be well versed in the issues affecting Newtown, having

helped out Herb Rosenthal and Joe Bojnowski during their campaign for the

Board of Selectman a year ago.

Both candidates say they hope to run above-the-belt campaigns. That may be

easier to do this time around since neither candidate has a public record to

defend.