New London Day Endorses Joe Courtney

Close Call For Congress In 2nd District

Voters in the 2nd Congressional District are fortunate to have good options, but in the end the choice is a clear one.

The Day

Editorial

10/19/08

Voters in Eastern Connecticut once again face a propitious dilemma in choosing their representative in Congress - two highly qualified major party candidates.

The 2nd Congressional District incumbent, Democrat U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, has proved to be an unusually influential freshman congressman, thanks in part to his party gaining control of the House of Representatives in the 2006 election, but also due to his own initiative.

He secured a seat on the Armed Services Committee, no easy accomplishment for a first-year congressman and critical for a representative serving a district that is home to both the Naval Submarine Base and the Electric Boat submarine manufacturing plant.

Rep. Courtney fought to secure funding that will allow for two-a-year submarine production to begin in 2011, a year ahead of schedule. Rep. Courtney also secured $5 million for EB to start conceptual work on the next generation of submarines and $21.5 million for new submarine base construction, increasing the odds the base will not land on any future base closings lists.

The Iraq war was a major issue in the 2006 campaign, and while Rep. Courtney and the Democratic Congress did not bring an end to the conflict, it introduced the oversight that was lacking when the Republicans controlled both the White House and Congress.

The incumbent is an advocate for health-care reform and well-versed in its complexities. If he wins re-election and Democrats gain control of the presidency and increase their majority in the Congress, we would expect the 2nd District representative to play a role in framing legislation to finally assure all Americans have access to health-care coverage.

While Rep. Courtney opposed the $700 billion financial rescue package this newspaper only reluctantly endorsed, the congressman's opposition was principled. He objected because the rescue bill did nothing for struggling mortgage holders, a concern shared by Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Blair, a President Bush appointee. If returned to office, we would expect Rep. Courtney to continue pushing this issue.

Rep. Courtney is not seen as frequently at southeastern Connecticut functions as his predecessor, Rob Simmons - something we would like to see change if the congressman is returned to office - but he does appear well cognizant of the important issues facing this region. While the incumbent did not succeed in getting work started on the completion of Route 11, his office was instrumental in bringing together the local, state and federal agencies to better understand and begin working on the challenges that confront the long-sought highway project.

Normally such accomplishments for a first-year legislator would lead to a slam-dunk endorsement, but Rep. Courtney faces an impressive challenger in Republican Sean Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan is a retired U.S. Navy captain and a former commander of the submarine base in Groton. The graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy also has a law degree (as does Rep. Courtney), which Mr. Sullivan obtained after the completion of his Navy career.

A fiscal conservative, Mr. Sullivan appears prepared to make the tough choices the next Congress must confront if it wants to bring some sanity to out-of-control deficit spending. He is a strong voice for the need to develop a comprehensive energy plan that confronts that issue on all levels - both the development of renewable energy technologies and conservation techniques, but also increased domestic drilling and expanded nuclear plant construction. We urge Rep. Courtney to follow Mr. Sullivan's lead and find ways to build more nuclear plants, rather than focus on impediments to prevent it.

While the choice is not an easy one, on balance The Day considers Rep. Courtney to be the wiser pick on Election Day. If the incumbent can build on the success of his first term, he could prove to be a very accomplished congressman, especially considering he will almost certainly be working with the majority party. While we suspect Mr. Sullivan would prove an able lawmaker, that is not justification for firing a diligent, productive incumbent.

The Day endorses Joe Courtney for Congress

EDITORIAL: Re-elect Courtney in 2nd District, New Haven Register

EDITORIAL: Re-elect Courtney in 2nd District

New Haven Register

Editorial

10/20/08

A primary job of Connecticut’s 2nd District representative in Congress is protecting the U.S. submarine base and Electric Boat in Groton.

Democrat Joseph Courtney picked up that job when he defeated former Republican U.S. Rep. Robert R. Simmons two years ago. Like Simmons, he serves on the House Armed Services Committee. Courtney has pushed legislation that allocated $588 million for the construction of a second submarine annually and has moved up this construction schedule from 2012 to 2010.

His Republican opponent, Sean Sullivan, is even more versed in the need for greater submarine production. Sullivan, a retired Navy captain, was commander of the sub base during the last round of closure hearings. He has commanded a Los Angeles class attack submarine.

Aside from the need for more submarines, the pair agree on a few issues — the end of the ethanol mandate for fuel, a need for more nuclear power and quick withdrawal from Iraq. Both opposed the financial bailout plan passed by Congress.

Sullivan backs the odd idea of a U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and use of sea-based missiles to attack the Taliban. A withdrawal would leave the fragile regime in Kabul at great risk.

Sullivan opposes abortion, except to save the life of a mother. Courtney supports the far more humane position of a woman’s right to choose. Sullivan opposes federal aid for embryonic stem cell research, despite its potential promise. Courtney supports the research.

Courtney votes in lockstep with labor unions. He wants to throw out workers’ right to a secret ballot in union recognition elections. He voted against or opposed free trade agreements because they did not include provisions to protect American workers. Sullivan supports keeping the secret ballot and free trade agreements. The state’s economy and jobs depend on exports and free trade.

Sullivan opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants. Courtney has supported an immigration compromise. It is impossible to deport all of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants.

Despite our disagreement with Courtney on trade and labor issues, he has worked hard in his first term. He has paid particular attention to the needs of veterans in the 2nd District and backed student loan legislation that has made college education more affordable. He has our endorsement for a second term.

Area Democrats kick off campaign season, Villager Newspapers

Area Democrats kick off campaign season

Matt Sanderson

Villager Newspapers

9/19/08

BROOKLYN — “Come Together: A Democratic Celebration” took place last Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds to kick off the 2008 campaign season.

Congressman Joseph Courtney (DConn., 2nd District), a representative for the Sen. Barack Obama campaign, and many state elected officials and candidates turned out to promote the Democratic spirit.

The event was co-sponsored by Democratic Town Committees in Brooklyn, Eastford, Killingly, Pomfret, Putnam, Woodstock, Ashford, Canterbury, Hampton, Union and Vernon.

Drew Dionne, chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Town Committee, said between 160 and 175 people turned out for the event. “It was a very nice event,” he said. “It was very family-oriented.

It was more of a rally than anything else. There was plenty to do for kids.” Dionne said the event certainly “fanned the flames” of the Democratic spirit in this year’s presidential race between Obama and Sen. John McCain. Sue Woodward, chairman of the Woodstock Registrar of Voters, said it was well organized by Chris Pitts of the Canterbury Democratic Town Committee.

“All towns were asked to donate $50,” she said. Woodward said Courtney gave a speech as well as Nancy Wyman, state comptroller.

Day, League Of Women Voters Sponsor 2nd District Debate, The Day

Day, League Of Women Voters Sponsor 2nd District Debate

The Day

9/8/06

Democratic Congressman Joe Courtney and Republican challenger Sean Sullivan will debate the evening of Oct. 7 at the Garde Arts Center in New London. The 2nd District debate may also include Green Party candidate G. Scott Deshefy and Libertarian candidate Daniel Reale if they are certified by the secretary of the state for the ballot and meet the League of Women Voters' campaign criteria regarding broad public support, fundraising and other standards.

The Day and the League will sponsor the event moderated by Kiki Karpen of Darien, a veteran moderator for the League. WTNH-News Channel 8 is the broadcast partner. The length of the debate and the starting time will vary depending on how many candidates qualify. The starting time will be announced later.

The debate will be shown live on My Channel 9, WTNH's affiliate station, and will be rebroadcast several times on a schedule to be announced.

Editorial Page Editor Paul Choiniere of The Day, as well as a reporter for the newspaper and a reporter from WTNH, will ask questions of the candidates. The public also will be able to ask video-recorded questions through an advance program put together by The Day and WTNH.

Tickets for the debate will be available beginning today at The Day in New London, the Garde box office, the Waterford Public Library, the Groton Public Library and the Otis Library in Norwich. To better balance the distribution, no one may request more than four tickets.

The candidates' campaign staffs will be given a large allotment of tickets as well.

Election 2008: In campaign fundraising race, Courtney leads Sullivan, 9-1

Election 2008: In campaign fundraising race, Courtney leads Sullivan, 9-1

By MICHAEL GANNON

Norwich Bulletin

July 16, 2008

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney has raised more money in the last three months than his Republican opponent, Sean Sullivan, has during his entire campaign and has about a 9-1 cash-in-hand advantage, according to reports filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.

With 110 days until Election Day, Courtney was preparing to report having more than $1.43 million still in his campaign coffers. Sullivan’s camp is reporting $154,513.04.

Courtney’s campaign issued a statement saying it will report having raised approximately $335,000 in the second quarter of 2008 and approximately $1.845 million for the campaign.

Courtney’s exact figures were not available on the Web site of the Federal Election Commission, but a commission spokeswoman said Tuesday they were not due until midnight.

The freshman congressman used the occasion to state some goals if he wins a second term.

“There is far more work to be done, including developing a sensible approach to reforming our nation’s energy policies and strengthening our economy,” he said.

Sullivan, the former commander of the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in Groton, filed paperwork listing contributions for the quarter ending June 30 at $85,537 and a total of $319,057.10 in contributions for the campaign.

“I am pleased that the donations coming to support our effort are almost exclusively from individual contributors,” Sullivan said in a statement released by his campaign. “ ... and I am honored that they are responding to my call for energy independence, lower taxes and smaller, more economical government.”

By the numbers

Fundraising for the fiscal quarter ending June 30:

Joe Courtney, Democrat

Total contributions: $1.845 million.

2nd quarter contributions: $335,000.

Cash remaining: $1.435 million

Source: Joe Courtney for Congress.


Sean Sullivan, Republican

Total contributions: $319,057.10

2nd quarter contributions: $85,537.

Cash remaining: $154,513.04.

Sources: Federal Election Commission and Sullivan for Congress.