Transportation, tax issues at top of Hartwell's agenda

John Hartwell arrived by train to the Democratic convention for the 26th Senate District to a crowd of 80 to highlight the problems of public transportation for the district on Monday, May 19.

"There's not enough service on this line and it's been that way for a long, long time," said Mr. Hartwell as he accepted the nomination to run against State Rep. Toni Boucher of the 143rd District for the seat.

The crowd was energized Monday night as it clapped and whooped for the candidate during his speech at Wilton's Trackside teen center. Mr. Hartwell is a strategy consultant to the financial services industry and lives in Westport; Ms. Boucher is the director of a nonprofit institute and lives in Wilton.

Rudy Marconi, first selectman of Ridgefield, nominated Mr. Hartwell and was caustic in his comments about the district's incumbent senator, Judi Freedman, who is leaving politics after 22 years as a state senator.

"I've had the frustrating, agonizing experience of working with the current incumbent for nine years," said Mr. Marconi. "In nine years, we have gotten nothing."

He said that while Ms. Freedman came to have conversations every year about priorities, those priorities were frequently ignored.

Ann Sheffer, who ran for state Senate in the district against Ms. Freedman in 1992, gave some advice to Mr. Hartwell in seconding Mr. Marconi's nomination.

"It's too big to go doorbelling. It's too small for TV," said Ms. Sheffer. "You need to be really organized and draw many volunteers."

She said Mr. Hartwell could win by listening to the voters to find out what they want, and that he would be bolstered what she felt would be a strong year for the Democratic Party.

"The Democratic slate we have this year, we have every reason to believe we can make the 26th a Democratic district," said Ms. Sheffer.

To a standing ovation Mr. Hartwell walked to the stage. He said his real world experience in business would be valuable to the constituents of the 26th District.

"They're looking for solutions, but not finding them," said Mr. Hartwell. He proposed goals for public transportation, health care, economic growth, and the environment.

In addition to getting more trains on the Danbury line, he said express buses and extending the line to New Milford were among the options that should be explored in public transportation.

He said health care "needs to be affordable" for small businesses and individuals. And he said it was wishful thinking that economic growth in the state can be improved by lowering taxes.

"We cannot simply slash taxes and slash our government and get along," said Mr. Hartwell. He said the property tax system instead needed to be made more business friendly.

The property tax system should also be geared towards helping the middle class, he said. He proposed a $1,500 tax credit for those who own homes in Connecticut and eliminating "the cliff" with the estate tax.

"It's really targeted at people who are buying their first home," said Mr. Hartwell in an interview Tuesday, adding it could be of use to those having economic difficulties and seniors as well. "We want to encourage home ownership."

The environment also needs to be protected, with avenues explored to get people out of their cars in order to improve air quality and projects that might affect the ground water better examined, he said.

"This election should be a conversation about where the state is going," said Mr. Hartwell.

He left the crowd with the promise that this was a winnable district and that they would win.

"We're going to take the heart of Fairfield County for the Democrats," said Mr. Hartwell.

© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers