Jason Bartlett, the Democratic challenger, has asked that Republican incumbent Hank Bielawa (R-Redding) return contributions that were made to his campaign by Northeast Utilities and United Illuminating.
"He needs to return that money," the Bethel resident said earlier this week, adding that accepting the contributions represents a conflict of interest with residents of Bethel and Redding.
"I find that to be totally irresponsible," he said.
"After receiving campaign contributions from both NU and UI as recently as January 14, 2004, Mr. Bielawa failed to co-sponsor a bill that virtually every other legislator in our area and in Fairfield County found important enough to sign," Mr. Bartlett said in a press release. "If Mr. Bielawa was unwilling or unable to adequately represent the interests of Bethel and Redding residents regarding possibly the most important issue affecting the area in three years, how can he be trusted to represent and protect their best interests on other issues?"
The legislation Mr. Bartlett was referring to is Public Act No. 04-246, which "establishes a presumption that transmission lines with a capacity of 345 kilovolts or more located adjacent to residential areas and certain land uses be buried underground, an issue of extreme importance to area residents," he said.
Mr. Bielawa said that his decision to accept contributions from NU and UI in no way reflects his stance on the power-line project, adding that he testified in front of the state's Siting Council in opposition to the 345,000-volt line.
The incumbent said that he also voted for greater consideration by the Siting Council on the potential effects that electromagnetic fields would have in residential areas and near schools.
Mr. Bielawa also said that he has written to the Siting Council to ask that its members have more consideration for residential areas when putting in transmission stations.
"What has Mr. Bartlett done?" he asked.
"To suggest that I could be compromised is ridiculous," Mr. Bielawa added. "Everyone who knows me knows I'm beyond reproach."
Mr. Bielawa suggested that Mr. Bartlett divest himself of contributions he has gotten from special-interest groups, including unions and political action committees (PACs).
"None of my PACs are trying to put transmission lines through our communities," Mr. Bartlett said, adding that there is nothing wrong with his getting support from unions.
"Labor has a role in terms of protecting wages, standard of living and the health and safety of workers," he said.
So far, Mr. Bartlett has raised around $25,000 or $26,000 for his campaign, and Mr. Bielawa has raised about $23,000.
There has been talk of public debates between the two candidates, but none have been scheduled as of press time.
Mr. Bartlett said that his campaign sent Mr. Bielawa a letter recently urging him to take part in three debates-one in each town in the 2nd District.
Mr. Bielawa said he wrote a letter back saying that he agreed to take part in the debates but didn't receive any further information.
Mr. Bartlett noted that when he later saw Mr. Bielawa in public and again challenged him to debates.
"He nodded he would have three debates," the challenger said.
The Bethel Jaycees said its organization would be willing to sponsor a debate,
Mr. Bartlett said he has agreed to it, and it appears that Mr. Bielawa will, too.
"I have no problem debating him," he said.
Both candidates said that they have been spending time knocking on doors and holding events in an effort to get to know the constituents of the 2nd District better.
Mr. Bielawa said that many of the people he has spoken too are concerned about education and taxes.
"Those are major issues," he noted.
Mr. Bielawa said that during his time in office he has voted against every tax increase.
"We need to have relief for citizens," he said, adding that he is also proud of the fact that he has been able to bring money back to the towns he represents.
This includes bringing more education funding and money for the reconstruction of Putnam Park.
He has also helped to get Bethel grants for sidewalk repairs, among other things.
Mr. Bielawa said he takes pride in the fact that he has been able to help the residents of Bethel, Redding and Danbury whenever they have needed him.
"I've also been able to represent and help my constituents when they have problems," he said, adding that he has also written legislation that would change the affordable housing laws so that they would favor towns more.
In the weeks leading up to the election, Mr. Bielawa intends to keep campaigning door to door, send out mailers and hold events to get his points across to people and to get to know them.
Oct. 19, a wine and cheese event will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Although he has enjoyed campaigning and meeting new people, Mr. Bielawa said that it takes a lot of time and can be tiring.
"Campaigns are always long, and it takes a lot of time and effort," he said.
As with Mr. Bielawa, Mr. Bartlett has also been spending a lot of time in the community getting to know people and listening to their concerns.
"We've been out knocking on doors," he said.
One of the events that Mr. Bartlett recently held was a meeting in Bethel with Democratic House Majority Leader James Amann and Martin Looney, the majority leader of the Senate Democrats.
Among the issues discussed were bringing more state aid to the area, increasing educational funding and education insurance.
Mr. Bartlett ran for the same seat against Mr. Bielawa two years ago. Although he lost, he believes that that campaign has helped him during this one.
"People remember you and you have a base of support," he said.
One of the differences between this campaign and the previous one two years ago is that the Democratic town committees in all three towns of the 2nd District put their support behind Mr. Bartlett when it came time for nominations.
In the previous campaign, Mr. Bartlett had to go against Bethel resident Jerry Spillane to get his party's support.
The challenger also has some other campaign events By B.J. O'Brien
Staff Reporter
With Election Day not too far off, things are starting to heat up in the race for state representative in the 2nd District, which includes Redding and portions of Bethel and Danbury.
Jason Bartlett, the Democratic challenger, has asked that Republican incumbent Hank Bielawa (R-Redding) return contributions that were made to his campaign by Northeast Utilities and United Illuminating.
"He needs to return that money," the Bethel resident said earlier this week, adding that accepting the contributions represents a conflict of interest with residents of Bethel and Redding.
"I find that to be totally irresponsible," he said.
"After receiving campaign contributions from both NU and UI as recently as January 14, 2004, Mr. Bielawa failed to co-sponsor a bill that virtually every other legislator in our area and in Fairfield County found important enough to sign," Mr. Bartlett said in a press release. "If Mr. Bielawa was unwilling or unable to adequately represent the interests of Bethel and Redding residents regarding possibly the most important issue affecting the area in three years, how can he be trusted to represent and protect their best interests on other issues?"
The legislation Mr. Bartlett was referring to is Public Act No. 04-246, which "establishes a presumption that transmission lines with a capacity of 345 kilovolts or more located adjacent to residential areas and certain land uses be buried underground, an issue of extreme importance to area residents," he said.
Mr. Bielawa said that his decision to accept contributions from NU and UI in no way reflects his stance on the power-line project, adding that he testified in front of the state's Siting Council in opposition to the 345,000-volt line.
The incumbent said that he also voted for greater consideration by the Siting Council on the potential effects that electromagnetic fields would have in residential areas and near schools.
Mr. Bielawa also said that he has written to the Siting Council to ask that its members have more consideration for residential areas when putting in transmission stations.
"What has Mr. Bartlett done?" he asked.
"To suggest that I could be compromised is ridiculous," Mr. Bielawa added. "Everyone who knows me knows I'm beyond reproach."
Mr. Bielawa suggested that Mr. Bartlett divest himself of contributions he has gotten from special-interest groups, including unions and political action committees (PACs).
"None of my PACs are trying to put transmission lines through our communities," Mr. Bartlett said, adding that there is nothing wrong with his getting support from unions.
"Labor has a role in terms of protecting wages, standard of living and the health and safety of workers," he said.
So far, Mr. Bartlett has raised around $25,000 or $26,000 for his campaign, and Mr. Bielawa has raised about $23,000.
There has been talk of public debates between the two candidates, but none have been scheduled as of press time.
Mr. Bartlett said that his campaign sent Mr. Bielawa a letter recently urging him to take part in three debates-one in each town in the 2nd District.
Mr. Bielawa said he wrote a letter back saying that he agreed to take part in the debates but didn't receive any further information.
Mr. Bartlett noted that when he later saw Mr. Bielawa in public and again challenged him to debates.
"He nodded he would have three debates," the challenger said.
The Bethel Jaycees said its organization would be willing to sponsor a debate,
Mr. Bartlett said he has agreed to it, and it appears that Mr. Bielawa will, too.
"I have no problem debating him," he said.
Both candidates said that they have been spending time knocking on doors and holding events in an effort to get to know the constituents of the 2nd District better.
Mr. Bielawa said that many of the people he has spoken too are concerned about education and taxes.
"Those are major issues," he noted.
Mr. Bielawa said that during his time in office he has voted against every tax increase.
"We need to have relief for citizens," he said, adding that he is also proud of the fact that he has been able to bring money back to the towns he represents.
This includes bringing more education funding and money for the reconstruction of Putnam Park.
He has also helped to get Bethel grants for sidewalk repairs, among other things.
Mr. Bielawa said he takes pride in the fact that he has been able to help the residents of Bethel, Redding and Danbury whenever they have needed him.
"I've also been able to represent and help my constituents when they have problems," he said, adding that he has also written legislation that would change the affordable housing laws so that they would favor towns more.
In the weeks leading up to the election, Mr. Bielawa intends to keep campaigning door to door, send out mailers and hold events to get his points across to people and to get to know them.
Oct. 19, a wine and cheese event will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Although he has enjoyed campaigning and meeting new people, Mr. Bielawa said that it takes a lot of time and can be tiring.
"Campaigns are always long, and it takes a lot of time and effort," he said.
As with Mr. Bielawa, Mr. Bartlett has also been spending a lot of time in the community getting to know people and listening to their concerns.
"We've been out knocking on doors," he said.
One of the events that Mr. Bartlett recently held was a meeting in Bethel with Democratic House Majority Leader James Amann and Martin Looney, the majority leader of the Senate Democrats.
Among the issues discussed were bringing more state aid to the area, increasing educational funding and education insurance.
Mr. Bartlett ran for the same seat against Mr. Bielawa two years ago. Although he lost, he believes that that campaign has helped him during this one.
"People remember you and you have a base of support," he said.
One of the differences between this campaign and the previous one two years ago is that the Democratic town committees in all three towns of the 2nd District put their support behind Mr. Bartlett when it came time for nominations.
In the previous campaign, Mr. Bartlett had to go against Bethel resident Jerry Spillane to get his party's support.
The challenger also has some other campaign events coming up, including three coffees that will be held Sunday evenings.
Mr. Bartlett noted that Bethel's Democratic Committee will be opening a headquarters on Greenwood Avenue in Bethel near the Food Bag Oct. 4 at 6:30 p.m. During this time, citizens will be able to meet Mr. Bartlett and other members of the Democratic ticket.
"We're going to try and do a few more issue forums," he added when discussing other future events.
coming up, including three coffees that will be held Sunday evenings.
Mr. Bartlett noted that Bethel's Democratic Committee will be opening a headquarters on Greenwood Avenue in Bethel near the Food Bag Oct. 4 at 6:30 p.m. During this time, citizens will be able to meet Mr. Bartlett and other members of the Democratic ticket.
"We're going to try and do a few more issue forums," he added when discussing other future events.