Westport News - Listening and Leading Tour Makes Stop in Westport

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Westport News - Listening and Leading Tour Makes Stop in Westport

Jim Himes of Cos Cob, a Democratic candidate in the 4th Congressional District, brought his "Listening and Leading Tour" to the Westport Public Library on Sunday. About 80 people attended the event.

Assuming he bests Lee Whitnum, another Greenwich resident, in the Democratic Primary on Aug. 12, Himes will face long-term Republican Congressman Christopher Shays in November. According to the Himes campaign, fund-raising has been going well and it appears he'll be able to raise enough money to compete with Shays if he survives the primary challenge from Whitnum.

Former Westport First Selectwoman Diane Goss Farrell made two strong runs at Shays but lost both times, the last time by some 7,000 votes in 2006. Increased dissatisfaction with the Bush Administration and Congress, combined with increased Democratic voter registration in the district, should make for another hard-fought campaign in the 4th Congressional District.

Shays is now the only Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives from New England and some pundits believe Barack Obama will sport significant coattails in the November election.

Himes opened the meeting with a statement during which he outlined his major action points. "We haven't been served well by our leadership in the country and this district," he said.

Should he represent the district in Washington this fall, Himes said his three primary concerns would be energy policy, universal health care and education.

Regarding energy problems, Himes said Connecticut must increase efficiency, promote alternatives and institute a carbon cap and trade regime. He is concerned that people on fixed incomes may be freezing in their homes this winter.

Himes called it an abomination that 47 million Americans have no access to health care and noted that the U.S. is the only developed country in the world without a universal health-care system. Many people are one disease away from bankruptcy, he said. He believes we need to put more emphasis on prevention.

Himes also believes U.S. cities are a national crisis and noted that four out of 10 students in Bridgeport don't graduate. Himes is an ardent supporter of education. "Education is the whole ballgame," he said.

Himes said the Middle East is a mess and paraphrased Lt. Gen. William E. Odom, director of the National Security Administration under Ronald Reagan, saying that Iraq is the single biggest strategic error the country has ever made.

He also said the transportation system needs fixing and that he would seek a seat on the Transportation Committee if elected.

"We need to get serious about coming together to solve tough problems," said Himes. "We are Americans and we are back."

Regarding Christopher Shays, R-4, Himes said, "I don't believe Chris Shays is a bad guy." Himes does believe, however, that Shays has failed in three ways: the Iraq War, the economy and congressional oversight of the Bush Administration.

Himes said Shays said he would support a timeline in Iraq during the last campaign and then voted against one. He also believes Shays has gone along with the Bush Administration on economic matters.

"Chris Shays is a senior member of the Oversight Committee. This particular administration has run amok. He should have said, 'This is not right.' "

After his opening statement, Himes fielded questions from the audience which ranged from health and the environment to energy, Metro-North, lobbying, predatory practices by big business and the Middle East. One attendee wanted to know if he was tough enough to really take on Shays.

Regarding the Middle East, Himes said he believes the U.S. has ignored Afghanistan, ignored Pakistan and empowered Iran. He thinks we should start withdrawing troops gradually tomorrow. "We should start small and tell them to get their act together," he said.

Himes urged registered Democrats to visit his Web site at www.himesforcongress.com, and the Web site of his opponent, www. leewhitnum2008.com, and to come out and vote in the Democratic Primary on Tuesday, Aug. 12.

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