10/29/08 Greenwich Citizen Endorsements

Two More Years for the Incumbent

Republican incumbent Christopher Shays has faced some stiff competition in the last three elections to keep his 4th Congressional District seat.

2008 is no different. Democrat Jim Himes has put a lot of money, effort and time into his run to unseat Shays. Some polls proclaim the race a dead heat or others have given both candidates an edge at one time or another.

We did not endorse Shays in 2004 and 2006, primarily because of his stance on the war in Iraq and we felt he had lost touch with his constituents, but as the district and the country now confront serious issues - uppermost, the current economic climate - we believe that Shays' re-election is a must.

Shays has been criticized by Himes as being too entrenched in Washington politics after having served in Congress for 21 years. We, however, see that as an advantage. The experience Shays has in the U.S. Congress is exactly what the country and the 4th District needs to emerge from these frightening economic times.

Shays considers himself a moderate Republican - and we tend to agree with his assessment.

Our Choices: Camillo, Frantz

Locally, there are two contested races in the 2008 election. Republican Fred Camillo and Democrat Ed Krumeich are vying for the seat in the General Assembly's 151st District being vacated by Claudia "Dolly" Powers. In the 36th Senatorial District, either Republican Scott Frantz or Democrat Mark Diamond will fill the seat held for the past xx years by the retiring William Nickerson. Two Greenwich state representatives are running unopposed, Livvy Floren, R-149, and Lile Gibbons, R-150.

The Camillo-Krumeich race has been punctuated by an avalanche of letters supporting each candidate. The Greenwich-born and bred Camillo, 46, is seemingly indefatigable, serving on a volunteer basis with more groups than any two people - Board of Parks and Recreation, Greenwich Council of Boy Scouts, Babe Ruth League baseball, Greenwich Baseball Federation, Republican Town Committee, of which he is a former chairman.

Krumeich, 58, similarly, has been active on many fronts through the years, most notably with the Board of Estimate and Taxation, Board of Social Services and the Representative Town Meeting. Two years ago, he lost to Powers by just 132 votes.

Both would serve Greenwich well. We endorse Camillo because he is committed to .....

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