2008 Candidate profiles

U.S. House of Representatives
5th District

Chris Murphy,

Democrat, incumbent

The Economy

I think we’re staring down the tunnel of the worst economic crisis since the 1930s. I’m as angry as anybody else that the government was letting Wall Street and the mortgage industry take such risks, that Congress didn’t see this coming. We need stricter regulatory checks.

Congress had to step in and create some stability where it didn’t exist in our banking system. Businesses from mom-and-pop shops to 1,000-person operations rely on credit to operate and make payroll. Also, these days everyone’s retirement funds are tied up in the stock market. So it was essential to pass the legislation.

But if I had to write it, it would have looked different. It’s a tourniquet, not a remedy. It should have done more to protect homeowners. There should have been tighter controls on CEO pay and golden parachutes.

Many freshmen did not vote but I did; I felt we had to act.

Iraq

The surge has proved that, even with more troops and less violence, the Iraqis are not willing to make concessions or take control of their government as long as we are there.  There is nothing we can do short of giving them a timetable.

I’m thrilled with the success of the surge but deeply troubled with the lack of political success.  As long as we’re there protecting them, there’s no reason for them to cooperate with each other.

Also, we have no more troops left; we’re breaking the back of our military. We can’t ask those men and women to do five, six tours of duty.

My reasons for wanting to get out are strategic and humanitarian.

 We won’t do 100 percent withdrawal, we’ll leave some troops there to train and work in counterterrorism. But we need to set a date and stick to it. Let the generals sort out the details, whether it’s 12 or 16 months. And the Iraqis will then make the political moves they have to make.

Fuel and Energy

In the short term, we have to make sure no one freezes in their home this winter. We’ve secured additional federal low-income heating assistance dollars for Connecticut, that was a huge victory for us. We are now getting $120 million for Connecticut. That’s double what we got last year, in an account that had been cut every year previously.

The state also made changes to Operation Fuel, so you can have an income of up to $60,000 a year and still qualify.  

But we’re still feeding the beast. This is a commodity we don’t produce: We use 25 percent of the world’s oil and produce 3 percent. OPEC, the foreign cartels, are pulling the strings.

Also, there is nothing to justify the price swings in the commodity markets  in the past seven to eight months, it was purely speculation.

Many of us want to limit the amount that, for example, pension funds can be invested in oil, because it’s pushing the prices up.

But it’s really about long-term focus; we must create incentives to invest in alternative energy. We need a regulation that says 20 percent of all energy should be renewable. We need a cap-and-trade system, one that lets companies trade pollution credits.

As for offshore drilling: “Drill here, drill now� is a slogan, not a policy. We can’t drill ourselves out of this. We can expand drilling in the Gulf Coast and Alaska and do limited offshore drilling, but we have to be realistic. It’s not a panacea, it’s a small part of a much broader strategy.

U.S. House of Representatives
5th District

David Cappiello,

Republican, state senator

The Economy

I’m completely opposed to the bailout as passed, it’s $700 billion of debt being foisted on us, our children and our grandchildren. My dad was a jeweler on Main Street in Waterbury for 45 years. He had ups and downs and no one ever said, “We’re going to bail you out.�

There was no real oversight, no one knows what’s going on. The president tried to push it through too quickly.

We need people who are willing to oppose not only the other party but also their own party. Nothing in that bill reforms Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

And the second version of the bill has pork: There’s a $126 million tax credit for NASCAR in it. It’s insane that this is how our government is run.

The old-fashioned Republicans are different from Republicans of today. I tend to align with the older style Republicans. I believe you need economic freedom to grow jobs. I have a libertarian streak.

I don’t go along to get along; I don’t do it in Hartford and I don’t plan to do it in Washington. I don’t think we should have people in government who just say, “Yes.� You do have to compromise, but you don’t have to go along with everything that comes up. The Patriot Act, Iraq, No Child Left Behind: People voted yes and then said, “We didn’t realize what we voted for.� You can’t keep saying that. There needs to be more thought.

It’s easy in an election year to make promises, but you need to fulfill your commitments before making any new promises.

Connecticut has the highest per capita debt in the nation. But teachers pensions are now fully funded, I worked for that. It took someone yelling about it and saying, “This is a big issue.�

Iraq

I don’t point the finger at anyone who voted for it, though I spoke out against the surge. We need to use this as a model of how not to respond when future issues arise, and make decisions more thoughtfully. We’re putting our men and women at risk.

It does appear as though the surge has begun to stabilize the region and I’m happy the president is beginning to withdraw troops. Now we need to start shifting responsibility over to the Iraqi leaders and we have to hand it over sooner rather than later.

Fuel and Energy

We need alternative resources. We need to wean ourselves off oil.

But we have to be conservative, encourage conservation and be greener. We need to put incentives in place for entrepreneurial ideas.

The ethanol mandate led to higher gas prices and then higher food prices because of the cost of fuel to farmers.

I support a tax break for hybrid vehicles. But why not one for lower-gas-use vehicles too? If someone comes up with a car that gets 70 mph, I think they should get a tax break.

We have to be realistic about our situation today. We have an oil-based economy; we need to do more offshore drilling.

It’s been 30 years since we had any  new refineries and offshore drilling rigs. Oil is available and it doesn’t have to take 10 years. This is one of the most serious crises we’re facing, we need to tap into our resources. We should never have to beg foreign nations for oil.

Connecticut Senate,
30th District

Andrew Roraback,

Republican, incumbent

How will you help boost
the economy for small
Northwest Corner towns?

Northwest Connecticut is a very desirable place to live and work. As such, the potential for economic development is excellent. We must make access to high-speed Internet available to all of the region to make sure high-tech business can be located anywhere.

We must do more to promote northwest Connecticut as a tourism destination, to strengthen the many businesses which benefit from visitors to the area.

Most importantly, Connecticut must take clear steps to demonstrate that it wants to be small-business friendly. One example of how we could do this would be to repeal the mandatory $250 Business Entity tax that every business in our state, no matter how small, must pay even if they do not make any money.

What is your vision
of Connecticut’s future?

My vision for Connecticut’s future is optimistic. Our state has a wonderfully diverse citizenry and a landscape that is so varied and yet so compact. Our collective challenge is to restore economic vitality to both our urban centers and our rural communities and to make sure that government meets its core obligations in the areas of education, health care, public safety and housing.

We have the human resources to succeed, and we must commit ourselves to these goals even as we work through the immediate financial pressures we all are facing.

Connecticut can grow and grow smartly. We must create an environment of opportunity in Connecticut that entices young people to stay in their home state and which strengthens the social fabric which binds us together as citizens of Connecticut.

How do we reconcile our desire
to increase affordable housing
with our desire to protect
open space and farmland?

The need for affordable housing in northwest Connecticut is increasingly critical. As school populations decline and socioeconomic diversity is put at risk, we must act now to ensure our communities remain healthy and strong into the future. A monolithic culture is unsustainable and natives of our region should not be forced to move away because of the absence of housing opportunities.

The state must be an active partner with the towns to create more affordable housing but should do so by financially supporting and rewarding towns that address this situation rather than punishing those that don’t.

The goals of affordable housing and land preservation are compatible and communities should work to identify both areas that are preservation priorites, as well as areas in village centers that are suitable for affordable housing.

What can be done to help Connecticut residents, especially those who are self-employed
or work at small businesses,
to afford health care?

Connecticut must explore the models used by other states to make health insurance accessible and affordable to all of its citizens. We should try to replicate those programs from other states that have succeeded and avoid repeating mistakes that have been made in other jurisdictions.

In order to control costs, we as a society must undergo a paradigm shift and begin focusing on disease prevention and promoting healthy lifestyles. Too much of our health-care dollar is spent on preventable diseases.

Connecticut cannot wait for Washington to act, as consumers, providers and businesses large and small struggle with health-care costs that are rising far faster than our ability to pay for them.

What will you do to help Connecticut residents afford heating oil and gas for their cars; and what steps can we take to encourage the use and development of green alternatives?

I am very proud of the tremendous work that has been done by so many towns in northwest Connecticut  to promote energy conservation and to support the provision of power through renewable energy sources.

At the state level, we must commit to continued substantial funding of our Clean Energy Fund, which provides financial incentives to homeowners and businesses to make investments in energy conservation measures such as solar panels and the methane gas facility being considered in North Canaan.

Rebates and no-interest loans provided by the state for the purchase of energy-efficient furnaces should also be continued, as should the tax incentives we provide for the purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles.

Most importantly, we must make sure all of our citizens remain warm in their homes this winter by adequately funding our heating oil assistance programs for the winter.

Connecticut Senate,
30th District

Michael J. Renzullo,

Democrat, Winsted selectman

How will you help boost
the economy for small
Northwest Corner towns?

Economic development is high on my list of priorities. Property taxes rise, and will continue to rise because towns have few other sources of revenue.  We need to draw businesses to the region, and the sort of companies we can be proud of, like biotech and nanotech companies.  Solar energy is the future, and I would personally like to see a photovoltaic manufacturing facility.

We have everything we need to succeed in Connecticut. We can reduce our energy consumption dramatically— by up to 80 percent in some cases — and this is the path to prosperity.  When our energy situation is under control, everything else becomes possible.  

What is your vision
of Connecticut’s future?

I see Connecticut as a leader in stem-cell research, fuel cell and alternative energy, and universal health care.  

I see Connecticut with a thriving business climate, and high-paying high-tech jobs for our citizens.  I see an expanded mass transit system, including rail, bus and local light rail.

How do we reconcile our desire
to increase affordable housing
with our desire to protect
open space and farmland?

The affordable housing should come by rehabilitating our downtown areas, and upgrading existing housing stock. I am much more interested in redevelopment than I am in tearing down a mountainside for condominiums.

What can be done to help Connecticut residents, especially those who are self-employed or work at small businesses, to afford health care?

I believe that Connecticut should lead the nation by example, and establish a single-payer health-care system, providing universal health care for every citizen. This would drastically reduce costs, increase efficiency, and demonstrate that a system like this can work for all of America. Health care is a right, not a privilege.

What will you do to help Connecticut residents afford heating oil and gas for their cars; and what steps can we take to encourage the use and development of green alternatives?

We may provide assistance for heating oil in the short term, but the long-term solution must be to get off oil altogether. We should do this by increasing our use of geothermal heating systems, solar hot water, solar electric, wind, fuel cells, biomass and other alternatives.  

We need to immediately increase the efficiency of our buildings, and stop wasting our tax dollars paying for electricity, which is double the national average! We need to make more funding available for municipal and residential renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.  

State Representative
64th District

Roberta B. Willis, Democrat,

incumbent, unopposed

How will you help boost
the economy for small
Northwest Corner towns?

Housing is vital to our economy.  
The lack of affordable housing makes it harder to attract and retain employees. It also is a barrier for those who are interested in starting or expanding small businesses, the cornerstone of any small community.  The state needs to do more to support local efforts to develop affordable housing.

We also have existing economic foundations in our region that we can build on:  tourism, the arts and agriculture. In addition to their food production, there is an effort by some farms in North Canaan to develop energy generation from their agricultural biomass waste.  

  In 2005, I introduced legislation to create the Torrington-Winsted Enterprise Zone. Thus far, this legislation has brought in 12 new companies with six more planned; retained 622 jobs and added 435 new jobs. This bolsters our region’s economy.

An economic barrier for many in the Northwest Corner is access to high-speed Internet service.  Telecommuting is becoming prevalent in the rural towns and we have seen a rise in home-based businesses.  It order to compete economically, access to the Internet is a necessity.  I will continue my efforts to see our area served.  

What is your vision
of Connecticut’s future?

My vision is to make sure we are a place where our  families are economically secure and our businesses can thrive. According to a Connecticut public policy group’s research, over the last decade in Connecticut, incomes for the upper income group have risen 45 percent (seventh highest increase in the nation) while those for the middle-income wage earners rose only 5 percent ( the worst in the nation) and those in the lowest income group fell 17 percent (also the worst in the nation).  Connecticut can and must do better to reverse these trends.  We need to prioritize proven investments and policies that address this critical challenge.  

How do we reconcile our desire
to increase affordable housing
with our desire to protect
open space and farmland?

It can be done with good planning. They should not be mutually incompatible. The state must reward regional cooperation efforts, so that towns are encouraged to work and develop a plan that is guided by a coherent vision for their whole region.  

This means planning for affordable housing, protecting our farmland and open space. The state must provide new incentives and tools for municipalities. The state should make strategic investments in affordable housing and the preservation of priority properties guided by our towns. And the towns must develop planning and zoning regulations at the local level to promote development decisions that maintain the character and quality of life of each municipality.  

What can be done to help Connecticut residents, especially those who are
self-employed or work at small businesses, to afford health care?

In the absence of a national program, we need to address how Connecticut can move forward to ensure our citizens have access to quality health care, including dental and mental health care. We need a universal health-care system, which may mean that we have to develop a diversified coverage system in Connecticut.

How can we afford to ensure that everyone has access? “How can we afford not to do it,â€� is the question we should be asking. Uninsured residents cost the state hundreds of millions in direct and indirect spending.  The state of Connecticut spends about $600 million on direct health-care costs for uninsured residents every year. The cost is also covered by our hospitals and doctors, and through our insurance premiums. So we’re paying now.  

  We need to start by reconsidering the health-care pooling bill, which would have allowed municipal, non-profits and small-business employees to join the state employee plan.  This proposal was passed by the Legislature but vetoed by the governor because she believed that it would adversely affect our present rates for state employees. A review of such plans in other states has not revealed this—California saw a $40 million decrease in the cost to the state.  

What will you do to help Connecticut residents afford heating oil and gas for their cars; and what steps can we take to encourage the use and development of green alternatives?

Connecticut already offers financial incentives and educational programs to encourage homeowners, businesses and towns to support renewable energy to lessen our dependence on foreign oil, protect our environment and stabilize energy costs.  In 2007, we provided tax incentives to encourage residents to drive fuel-efficient cars and we created a sales-tax exemption for home energy conservation products.  

We need to encourage more green building construction. Starting in 2009, our state will require large projects in both the private and public sectors to meet the silver standard under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).  

  In 2008 we increased the benefit levels for fuel energy assistance for residents. More low- and middle-income families will be able to be reached this winter. There is also benefit assistance and low-interest loans for weatherization, furnace repair and replacement. While these are all commendable steps in the right direction, more needs to be done to reduce our consumption and bring down our costs.

State Representative
63rd District

William O. Riiska, Democrat

How will you help boost
the economy for small
Northwest Corner towns?

First, regional efforts to promote economic development will help us to compete in a global marketplace.  Second, we must control the cost of doing business by maintaining a fair and consistent tax and regulatory system and by addressing major costs like energy and health care.  Third, we must maintain our skilled workforce through focused programs in secondary schools, vocational schools and local colleges, including programs pursued in cooperation with manufacturers and institutions.  Expediting the creation of a nursing program at Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Winsted would yield more immediate results, both in workforce development and downtown revitalization. As chairman of the northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce’s Government Relations Committee, I have long been an advocate for these and other initiatives to help our small businesses.

What is your vision
of Connecticut’s future?

People often cite the high quality of life as a major draw for our state, as a recent northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce survey substantiated.  My vision is a Connecticut, and especially a northwest Connecticut, that capitalizes on innovative thinking, a skilled workforce, a rich cultural heritage and unsurpassed natural beauty to maintain that quality of life into the future. Part of that vision is reducing our towns’ reliance on property taxes, especially to fund education. This year, our major concern will be balancing the state budget; I will work to protect our area in that process.

How do we reconcile our desire
to increase affordable housing
with our desire to protect
open space and farmland?

Affordable housing and open space preservation are not mutually exclusive and both are necessary to maintain the quality of life in northwest Connecticut. I will support initiatives to increase affordable housing, especially in village and in-town areas. The Norfolk Planning and Zoning Commission, of which I am vice chairman, is working on such regulations. I will support the preservation of open space as part of development projects, the use of farm, forest and open-space property tax classifications, private efforts such as through land trusts, and state programs to purchase farm and forest land for preservation and to purchase conservation easements.  

What can be done to help Connecticut residents, especially those who are
self-employed or work at small businesses, to afford health care?

We all hope and expect that the new president and Congress will have health-care reform on the top of their agenda. Connecticut’s response may depend on the national response. In the meantime, I will continue Connecticut’s efforts toward expanding coverage for self-employed people and small businesses. I have long been an advocate for mental health issues, having served for many years on the board of a local mental health agency. Mental health issues are pervasive and are debilitating for the individuals and families involved and are costly for society as a whole.  They deserve more attention from our government.

What will you do to help Connecticut residents afford heating oil and gas for their cars; and what steps can we take to encourage the use and development of green alternatives?

With gas prices down to $2.60 per gallon, we must avoid complacency by remembering (a) the pain we felt several months ago when we thought prohibitive prices were here to stay and (b) that the global market place will not reward inefficiency and wastefulness.

In contrast to our response to high prices in the 1970s, I will encourage energy conservation, public transportation and rail service to decrease demand, and initiatives to increase supply. We also must recognize the opportunity for innovative companies in our area that are working on alternative fuel and energy technologies. With respect to heating prices, we should continue the existing heating assistance program.

See Page A1 for a full story on Riiska as a write-in candidate.

State Representative
63rd District

John Rigby, Republican

How will you help boost
the economy for small
Northwest Corner towns?

We need to create a pro-business legislature in Hartford and shape Connecticut into a state that attracts new businesses. State government is tasked with fostering business growth and keeping companies in Connecticut. We can start by eliminating the $250 per year Business Entity tax. We must reduce corporate taxes and offer companies affordable electricity.

Connecticut is losing 18- to 34-year-olds at a rate higher than any state in the nation. Let’s offer young people a “Learn Here, Live Hereâ€� program, where a graduate from a Connecticut  community college or university can have their state income tax deposited into a savings account for a down payment on a first home. This program will boost the housing market and ensure a supply of capable workers.  

What is your vision
of Connecticut’s future?

 Connecticut is a great place to live, work and raise a family but we can do better. I envision Connecticut as a state that attracts and retains young people with an abundance of jobs and reasonable housing. I see the state as a place where retirees choose to settle because their pension income is not subjected to tax and their property taxes are affordable. Connecticut can be home to thriving companies that provide our citizens with jobs that offer health benefits.   

How do we reconcile our desire
to increase affordable housing
with our desire to protect
open space and farmland?

 Many district towns are lacking sufficient affordable housing units. Smart Growth strategies must be employed to protect against sprawl. We have a responsibility to maintain and promote the rural nature of our open space and farmland. By creating housing units in close proximity to town centers, we encourage alternative transportation, including walking and bicycling.

What can be done to help Connecticut residents, especially those who are
self-employed or work at small businesses, to afford health care?

Connecticut is fortunate in that only 6 percent of residents over the age of 18 lack health-care benefits. A complete overhaul of our health-care system is unnecessary. Governor Rell is on the right path with the Charter Oak Health Plan. The plan allows for individuals to obtain health coverage with a monthly premium of $75 to $259 depending on household income. The creation of more jobs within the state will also help the uninsured obtain benefits.

What will you do to help Connecticut residents afford heating oil and gas for their cars; and what steps can we take to encourage the use and development of green alternatives?

 The Legislature must address the gross receipts tax on gasoline. The amount of this insidious tax rises with the wholesale cost of gasoline — the higher the price of fuel, the more tax consumers pay at the pump. The Legislature must cap the wholesale price of fuel used in determining the tax. This reform will provide real savings to consumers. Connecticut must provide tax incentives to homeowners and businesses for the use of green alternative energy including fuel cells, solar, hybrid vehicles and biodiesel.