{news} John Amarilios in Greenwich Time

Thu Oct 28 14:22:48 EDT 2004

http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/local/scn-gt-debate2oct28,0,3496521.story?coll=green-news-local-headlines

State candidates square off at debate

By Neil Vigdor
Staff Writer

October 28, 2004

>From mass transit and casino development to health-care reform and ethics, 
four state office hopefuls set the record straight on their agendas one 
final time last night at an election forum sponsored by the League of Women 
Voters of Greenwich.

Greenwich High School hosted the 90-minute question-and-answer session, 
which featured the candidates from the state's 36th Senate and 149th House 
districts.

State Sen. William Nickerson, R-Greenwich, seeks an eighth term in the 36th 
District, while Green Party candidate and bankruptcy lawyer John Amarilios 
of New Canaan aims to unseat him. The district also includes parts of 
Stamford and New Canaan.

In the 149th District, two-term incumbent state Rep. Livvy Floren, 
R-Greenwich, faces a rare challenge, from Stamford Democrat and Howard Dean 
disciple Kim Hynes. Backcountry and western Greenwich account for two-thirds 
of the district and North Stamford comprises the remainder.

All four candidates responded to questions from the nonpartisan 
organization, often agreeing on key issues such as the need to acquire more 
state and federal funding for Metro-North Railroad, the importance of 
preserving reservoir lands and the urgency of addressing rising health-care 
costs.

"Metro-North is the spine of the environment, the economy and our way of 
life in Fairfield County," said Nickerson, who is ranking member of the 
General Assembly's Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee. "It's inadequately 
funded."

Nickerson vowed to devote much of his next term to improving commuter train 
service and replacing aging rail cars, saying he would keep an open mind 
about increasing the state's 25-cent gas tax or ad-ding highway tolls to 
generate revenue.

His other priorities include medical malpractice reform, limiting state 
spending and fighting casino expansion.

On transportation, Amarilios called for an increase in the gas tax, tax 
breaks for owners of alternative fuel vehicles and economic disincentives 
for sport utility vehicle owners.

The challenger also called for regional oversight of public schools, 
universal health care and tougher enforcement of wetland regulations.

Amarilios presented himself to the audience of about 30 people as someone 
from outside the political establishment who is not beholden to special 
interests.

"I have not accepted one red cent from anybody for this campaign," said 
Amarilios, who ran unsuccessfully last year for first selectman of New 
Canaan.

In contrast, both Nickerson and Floren touted their legislative experience 
and said they have frequently demonstrated a willingness to cooperate with 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

Floren vowed to introduce legislation addressing the medical malpractice 
lawsuits and banning the use of pesticides on school and day-care facility 
grounds if elected to another term.

She supports a $350,000 cap on noneconomic damages malpractice victims can 
pursue through litigation.

Noneconomic damages refer to suffering-related claims and exclude lost 
salary due to malpractice.

Floren also reiterated her opposition to casino development, especially in 
Bridgeport.

"You think it's bad on I-95 and the Merritt (Parkway) now, forget it," said 
Floren, who serves on the General Assembly's Government Administration and 
Elections Committee. "It would be a parking lot."

Hynes similarly spoke against the proliferation of casinos. A New Haven 
native who worked for Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp., Hynes said she opposed a 
higher gas tax because of its potential effect on the middle-class families 
and their budgets, however. She called for more aggressive lobbying at the 
state and federal level for transportation funds.

Hynes also said she thought parent-teacher associations in wealthy areas 
should share resources with associations in less well-off areas, and said 
she supported the reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada, and 
universal preschool.

A grassroots supporter of Dean's White House bid, Hynes urged audience 
members follow in her footsteps, run for office and broaden the pool of 
candidates for office to reduce cronyism and impropriety.

"I believe we need to push for transparency in all levels of government," 
Hynes said.

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