Ladies of Liberty Meet The Candidates

Pam Discko, founder and head of Trumbull’s Ladies of Liberty, a conservative women’s political organization, sponsored a meet the candidates forum for Republicans who will appear on our ballots in November to an audience of about 40 people, most senior citizens, at the Community Room at the Trumbull Library on Thursday morning.

The candidates were Steve Obsitnik, running for the House of Representatives from the 4th Congressional District against two term incumbent Democrat congressman Jim Himes; Dave Rutigliano, running for the 123rd State House District seat being vacated by T. R. Rowe and against Tom Christiano; and Chadwick Ciocci, running for the 22nd State Senate seat held by Democrat Anthony Musto.

First Selectman Tim Herbst and representatives T. R. Rowe and Tony Hwang put in cameo appearances. All three expressed their support for the candidates, with Herbst saying “if you’re concerned about the direction of this country vote for these conservative candidates and join with me helping to get them elected.”

Steve Obsitnik

Obsitnik led off. He is a Stamford native, a Westport resident, a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy and a “serial entrepreneur.” He is President and CEO of Quintel, a company that designs and produces cell towers capable of hosting many more antennas than towers in use today. This technology cuts in half the number of towers required to serve a community. Quintel, he said has global sales and manufactures its products in the U.S.

He is a first generation American who inherited much of his belief system from a German grandfather who came to this country speaking little English, became an entrepreneur and built a business Ronald Reagan recognized as the U.S. Small Business of the Year in 1982.

Obsitnik pinned the $5 trillion deficit on Congressman Himes, and characterized him as “a Goldman Sachs salesman.” He said their difference was that between “salesmanship and leadership.”

Obsitnik teaches entrepreneurship at Sacred Heart, which he called “a career.” He added that government should get out of the way and “people should create their own future,” invoking here the costly impact of bureaucracy and regulation.

He asked “where do we go from here with our national debt of $16 trillion, a $5 trillion deficit and an aging workforce.” His answer is that we must overcome a culture of dependency that effects even young people, who, he opined “have the same opportunities as my grandfather.”

Dave Rutigliano

Dave Rutigliano followed. As the owner of six restaurants – including the Southport Brewing Company in Southport – he described himself as a “chef entrepreneur.”

Rutigliano said that Governor Malloy “balanced the budget on Fairfield County,” and added “our problem is in Hartford.”

He cited the recent legislation that raised the state’s minimum wage, and called Connecticut unfriendly to the small businessman. As chair of the Connecticut Restaurant Association’s Legislative and Government Relations committee he led opposition to that bill. He believes it is now “super expensive to take a shot on a young person,” then noted that Connecticut is the leading state in the loss of 18 to 34 year olds.

Chadwick Ciocci

Chad Ciocci, a 25 year old, five term Trumbull town councilman took his turn. He started quickly, “I’m running to bring sanity back to Hartford.” He asked, rhetorically, why “eight percent unemployment is good news,” and called it a “human tragedy every liberal politician must answer for.”

He charged that the Musto-Malloy tax increase must be repealed... we need to create growth and balance the budget (so we can) create jobs.”

“Jobs have to remain the number one priority” Ciocci said.

While his two fellow candidates spent most of their time diagnosing problems – and employing well tested ideas and phrases – Ciocci was both bold and articulate. He offered two proposals he plans to push if elected. One is encouraging high school students to graduate in three years, then splitting the average cost per pupil saved with the school district (he used the figure of $14,000, saying the student could apply his $7,000 “toward tuition or starting a business”).

He echoed Obsitnik, noting that “education creates jobs,” then followed with “free people are capable of governing themselves, including making education decisions.”

His second proposal was to amend the state’s Constitution to make Siting Council members elected. Ciocci said he entered local politics fighting the cell tower at the police station. He said these “unelected bureaucrats can throw unwanted projects in your backyard... they should be elected for four year terms.”

Ms. Discko closed, thanking the candidates and telling the gathering how important it is for them to vote for them.  She said “you have to be vigilant overseeing your government... this nation’s success is our responsibility... and we must preserve our freedoms for future generations.”