{news} Richard Duffee in Stamford Advocate

[David Bedell]

Note:  Richard will be at the Fairfield chapter meeting this Sunday, June 
11, 2006, 4 PM:
230 High Ridge Rd, Stamford (home of Pat Kane)
Directions: From Merritt Parkway, take Exit #35 (High Ridge Rd, Rte. 137).
Turn right off exit and go 2.3 miles.
#230 is on the right just after a small island/park; please park at 
roadside.

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Stamford Advocate
6/7/06

Stamford man might enter 4th District race

Mark Ginocchio
Staff Writer

STAMFORD—The state’s Green Party may turn to a Stamford man in an attempt to 
get on the ballot in the 4th Congressional District race.

Richard Duffee, 57, who moved to Stamford a year ago, will meet with party 
officials from the Fairfield County chapter this weekend to discuss his 
potential candidacy in the congressional race against U.S. Rep. Christopher 
Shays, R-Bridgeport, and Democratic challenger Diane Farrell.

If the party likes his pitch, Duffee could get the nomination at a 
convention later this month, officials said.

Duffee is a poet, writer and environmental lawyer who last year taught 
chemistry and environmental science at the Stamford Academy charter school.

Duffee’s top priority would be fixing the country’s “failed” foreign policy, 
he said yesterday in a telephone interview.

The Bush administration’s recent actions in Iraq and in other parts of the 
world have violated international law and have made the United States a 
“rogue state,” Duffee said.

The Bush administration is “digging a deep hole…they need to behave 
legally,” he said.

Duffee’s potential candidacy comes two months after Bridgeport resident 
Stephen Miller announced he was gathering signatures to run on the Green 
Party ticket.

Miller, 63, who promised to clean up what he characterized as campaign 
finance “corruption,” said yesterday he was dropping out of the race because 
of a lack of party support and media coverage.

“I couldn’t get the name recognition to win an election,” he said.  “I 
wasn’t going to run if I couldn’t win.”

A former Wall Street stockbroker and money manager with no political 
experience, Miller said he was “hanging it up” and would probably not pursue 
political office in the future.

Duffee is another newcomer to politics.  Born in Philadelphia, he has taught 
law, English and science in Chicago, Hudson Valley, N.Y., and India.

He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophical psychology from the 
University of Chicago; a master’s degree in English from State University of 
New York at New Paltz; and a certificate in international and environmental 
law from Pace Law School in White Plains, N.Y.

Most recently, Duffee taught high school juniors and seniors at Stamford 
Academy for four months before leaving in December.

Justin Cosell, assistant director of curriculum at Stamford Academy, said 
Duffee was “not a good fit here” and that was why he left.  School officials 
would not elaborate.

Duffee said he works independently as a writer of essays, poetry and 
fiction.

After viewing Duffee’s Web site, Green Party officials said they were 
intrigued by his potential.

“He seems very intelligent and well-informed on the issues,” said David 
Bedell, secretary for the party’s Fairfield County chapter.  “He brings an 
international perspective to the race.”

Duffee said he hopes to bring national attention to the party if he is 
nominated.  Although he doesn’t want to think of himself as a spoiler, he is 
concerned by Democrats who initially voted for the Iraq war rather than 
opposing it like many Green Party members.

“Third parties have always been marginalized in the U.S.,” he said.  “People 
always say we’re spoilers, but I don’t want to spoil anything.  I just want 
another set of ideas to be represented.”