Debicella Wins 4th District GOP Nomination
In his victory speech, Debicella says he is ready to capture the 4th District from incumbent Jim Himes.
Videos
Dan Debicella cinched the Republican nominee for Connecticut's 4th Congressional District in a three-way race Tuesday night.
"Tonight is a vote of confidence that there is a better way," Debicella said, accepting his party's nomination at the Norwalk Inn and Conference Center. "The November election now offers a clear contrast between Jim Himes and myself."
Debicella, 35, won the first GOP primary in 40 years with 60 percent of the vote. That compared with 24 percent for Rob Merkle and 15 percent for Rick Torres.
He carried Ridgefield's Republican voters with 775 votes; Merkle earned 615 and Torres 190.
Long considered the frontrunner, Debicella enjoyed early backing from the Connecticut Republican Party.
Come November, the two-term state Senator will face incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim Himes, who is running for a second term. If Debicella wins, he will reclaim the seat formerly occupied by Republican Christopher Shays (a seat which Shays had been in since 1987).
"Tonight is just the starting line to make sure America gets back on the right track," Debicella said. "This election is the future of our country. Let's take our country back."
Debicella was born in Bridgeport. His father, Cal, was a police officer and his mother, Maggie, was a secretary in the federal judicial system. Debicella was the first in his family to attend college. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and earned an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.
At times the race for the GOP nomination proved pugnacious. Candidates and their campaigns raised questions about endorsements, past college incidents and voting records. Now Debicella looks forward to working with his former adversaries.
"I really believe at the end of the day we're not that much different. I look forward to meeting with them and sitting with the campaign staffs," Debicella said.
Going forward, the Debicella campaign has a lot of work to do to defeat Himes, said John Hetherington, (R-125).
"We have to figure out a way to make them closer," said Hetherington. "I think the mystique the Democrats had for Obama is over."
Jason Perillo, Debicella's campaign manager, echoed the sentiment.
"There is no time for time off," Perillo said. "We have a full slate of events and are very focused on the 17 towns of the district."
That work includes weaving together ideas and strategies from both the Merkle and Torres campaigns. Both campaigns secured enough signatures to petition themselves onto the ballot. That reflects a strong grassroots movement, said Rob Merkle.
"It was the first time for many who got involved," Merkle said at a campaign party at the Stamford Brewing Company. "They wanted to believe in someone. It's been transformative for me, in an extremely positive way."
ccdemuth
10:01 am on Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Congratulations, Dan Debicella, on your decisive primary victory yesterday. Anyone who wants to support Dan can do so here: https://debicella.blue-swarm.com/donate/.
Building a new majority in the House of Representatives is the most direct route to bringing balance to a government that is spinning out-of-control on spending, taxes, and regulation. The incumbent Jim Himes clarified where he stands – with us when he visits Fairfield County but with Nancy Pelosi when she needs his vote in Washington.
Dan has a different set of values – he is running for Congress “to restore the values of free enterprise and individual liberty to Washington. Fairfield County families want practical solutions on the economy, healthcare, and transportation. I will use my background as a businessman and a State Senator to implement new ideas to get our economy growing again and create jobs for our families.”
ctc
8:40 am on Friday, August 13, 2010
Dan Debicella has repeatedly sided with insurance companies over the people of Connecticut, voting against nearly all senators to deny coverage for prosthetics, hearing aids for children, and treatments to help cancer patients find bone marrow donors. In 2007, Debicella was one of four senators to side with insurance companies against deaf children. In 2008, he was one of two votes against requiring coverage of bone marrow treatments designed to expand the National Bone Marrow Registry that helps match cancer patients with donors. In 2009, he had the chance to side with the people over the special interests - but he voted no again.
Dan Debicella has the worst environmental record of any Connecticut state senator in the past decade, according to Connecticut's League of Conservation Voters. Southwest Connecticut knows we have to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by supporting alternative energy development, which will lead to green collar jobs to fuel our economic recovery. Southwest Connecticut also treasures the Long Island Sound and all the natural wonders that surround us. We can't afford Dan Debicella, a state senator who is too far out on the wrong side of environmental issues.
ctc
8:41 am on Friday, August 13, 2010
Dan Debicella voted to deny emergency contraception to victims of rape, then downplayed the importance of his vote. The facts speak for themselves: In 2007, Dan Debicella was one of three senators to vote against a bill requiring all Connecticut hospitals to offer emergency contraception to rape victims. It's one thing to vote against this measure, but look at how he defended his position: when his 2008 opponent called him out on his vote, Dan Debicella said, "On the rape bill, all I did was vote against a bill allowing morning-after contraception to be issued to victims." That attitude is just wrong, and we can't let it go to Washington.