Redistributing Tears Constituents and Incumbents in ’02 Election
WASHINGTON – John Votto, the Chief Executive Officer at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, lives in the 5th congressional district, represented by Democrat James H. Maloney. But his campaign contributions are going to Republican Nancy Johnson, from the neighboring 6th district. “She’s always been a hospital-friendly person,” he said. “I’ve worked with her, and she understands the issues.” But he quickly added, “It’s a tough issue because I have nothing against Maloney.”
It may be even tougher next year if Maloney and Johnson are thrown into the same district in the November general election as a result of the reapportionment that will cost Connecticut one of its six House districts.
But that’s just one of the possible outcomes of the redistricting review now before the Connecticut General Assembly. Another scenario would require Johnson to face Christopher Shays (R-4th) in next year’s Republican primary. And that could create a problem for some Republican voters.
Not for Francis Quealy Jr., however. A Shays constituent and a lobbyist for the American Association of Life Underwriters, Quealy donated $750 this past quarter to Johnson because of her legislative work on health care and insurance. “She’s very familiar with the life insurance issues,” he said. “She’s got a real deep working knowledge of our issues.
“I’m a Republican, but I would vote for her even if she were a Democrat. I plan on donating $1,000 by the end of the year.”
According to a staff member from Connecticut State Senate Speaker Moria K. Lyons (D), who is a co-chairman of the Connecticut General Assembly Redistricting Commission, the nine-member group has until Nov. 30 to pass a plan for the new congressional districts. If the deadline is missed, the State Supreme Court finalizes the plan.
The U.S. Constitution requires that districts be equal in population and that the number of congressional seats each state has must be determined every 10 years in light of the decennial census. After the 2000 Census, Connecticut has lost one seat because the state has lost population relative to other states. Every state must redistrict every ten years, but a Connecticut Redistricting Commission must consolidate six congressional districts into five, which they are in the process of completing.
“The next couple of days, we’ll get a sense where we want to go, but Mr. Maloney will probably be running against Nancy Johnson or Chris Shays,” said Connecticut State Senate Minority Leader Louis C. DeLuca (R) who is on the nine-member redistricting commission.
The Federal Census Bureau in 2001 showed that the Connecticut population grew slower than the rest of the United States, which resulted in five congressional seats each with a population roughly of 680,000, one fewer than today.
Jeff Nicholas, the first selectman for the town of Bethlehem and an attorney in Waterbury in Torrington, testified at a state reapportionment committee hearing on July 17. He said that in his testimony, one of the goals should be “to keep experienced and influential people in the delegation.” He said, “the delegation without Maloney or Johnson would be detrimental to the state.”
Nicholas said that if next year’s election is against Maloney and Johnson, he would pick Maloney. “I support Jim Maloney. I contributed to his campaign and held fundraisers on his behalf. He’s been proactive on different issues such as armed services and financial reform.”
“Well, it’s going to be a tough decision. I was hoping to see them do away with the other part of the district on the other end of the state. I support both of them [Maloney and Johnson],” said Richard Velky, a Woodbury resident and constituent of James Maloney.
Velky said that if he had to vote between the two incumbents, he would have to examine the primary issues of each candidate. “Healthcare is a very important issue for my family. That might be the swaying vote.”
In 1988, when Johnson became the first female member of the Ways and Means Committee, healthcare and insurance industries started to contribute to her election campaigns. When she was appointed Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health in 2001, she has been the top recipient for industry donations. Her main pieces of legislation help improve healthcare coverage and Medicare and restore and secure Social Security.
Johnson’s top five industry donors are related to healthcare, which include Health Services/HMOs and Health Professionals. In the 2001-2002 election cycle, Johnson is the top congressional recipient for the pharmaceutical and health care product industry, which is18th highest contributing industry to a Congressional Campaign receiving $81,000. She was a top recipient for Hospital and Nursing Home Industry, receiving $64,445 from the 28th largest contributing industry in Congressional Campaigns.
Maloney said his campaign fundraising strategy is to “raise an equal amount of personal contributions and PACs. I expect that will continue.” For the first six months of this election cycle, Maloney has received $110, 752 from individual contributions and $252, 337 from PAC contributions.
Maloney has raised record-breaking amounts of money for his past campaigns. According to reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission, the 2000 Maloney campaign raised $2,106,499.80 for the election, whereas Johnson raised $1,583,962. Maloney’s fundraising figures was $315,000 more than the Connecticut House record established by Johnson in 1998.
Maloney has broken his own fundraising record for the first six months of the new campaign cycle (2001-2002). He has raised more than $364,000, exceeding last year’s record by $100,000.
As a member of the House Financial Services Committee and House Armed Services Committee, Maloney’s main legislative goals pertain to fund education, provide tax relief, and secure job stability for small businesses and defense contractors.
Even though Maloney’s top five industry contributors which include building trade unions, transportation unions and defense aerospace companies have donated $116,767, Johnson’s $334,434 in top five healthcare donors are almost three times more than the top five contributors that donate to the fifth district incumbent.
Craig Taylor, the Campaign Director for Johnson, said that the redistricting has not had a significant change on fundraising for next year’s election. “When you’re in a leadership position, while you’re limited by district, you’re appeal and influence goes beyond its borders,” said Taylor.
Taylor said that because the districts have not been drawn, he would have to change how to approach the media aspect of the campaign, which he described as “a shot-gun approach as opposed to a focused rifle approach.”
“Obviously one of the things under this circumstance is cast a wider net,” Taylor added. He said that the campaign work is focused to get background on towns and what towns are a benefit.”
Losing one the congressional seats would tip the scale of party leadership for the Connecticut Representatives. Right now, there are three democratic representatives (Rosa DeLauro (3rd), John B. Larson (1st), Maloney) and three republican representatives (Johnson, Shays, Robert B. Simmons (2nd)). If Maloney runs against Johnson or Shays, the victory of next year’s election would determine the party leadership for the delegation. On the national level, the Republicans have leadership in the House of Representatives from their seven-seat majority.
“I don’t think that anyone who is an incumbent looks forward to running against any other incumbent, Maloney said. “We face an inevitable situation. My goal is to be prepared for any circumstance.”
