Deshfey for Congress (Norwich Bulletin

Lebanon man becomes 3rd candidate in 2nd District race
Dec 28, 2007 @ 04:02 AM
By MARISA MALDONADO
Norwich Bulletin
Lebanon, Conn. -
A Lebanon resident Thursday declared his candidacy for the 2nd Congressional District on the Green Party ticket, saying he is an alternative to established political parties.

G. Scott Deshefy, a retired supervising environmental analyst for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said he sent his papers to the Federal Election Commission Dec. 20. He joins incumbent U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney, D-2nd District, and Republican Sean Sullivan of Ledyard as candidates for the seat in 2008.

Deshefy said his 25 years at the DEP, where he headed the Underground Storage Tank Enforcement Program, give him the experience to tackle environmental problems and stand up to corporations. As a third-party candidate, he said he can make decisions independent of corporate influences and Republican and Democratic leadership. Deshefy said he will not accept campaign donations from corporations.

“Not being a part of the two-party system, I won’t have to curtsy to any of the party leaders in terms of what their agenda might be,” Deshefy said. “I can do what’s best for the nation, what’s best for the second district of Connecticut, and not what’s best for the Democrats or Republicans getting re-elected.”

Brian Farber, a spokesman for Courtney, declined to comment on Deshefy’s announcement. Sullivan did not return a call Thursday afternoon for comment.

Courtney, a first-term congressman, defeated three-term Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons by just 83 votes in 2006. Sullivan, a retired Naval officer, works for the Norwich law firm Brown Jacobson and is a former commander of the Groton submarine base. He is making his first bid for elected office.

This is the first time the Green Party will have a candidate in Connecticut’s 2nd Congressional District, said Tim McKee, a member of the party’s national committee.

He said the party nationwide has had 230 people elected to city and county positions.

In Windham, Jean deSmet was elected first selectman in November, ousting incumbent Democrat Michael Paulhus.

Reach Marisa Maldonado at 425-4255 or mmaldonado@norwichbulletin.com


PROFILE: G. Scott Deshefy
Age: 55.

Political affiliation: Green Party.

Residence: Native of Montville, lives in Lebanon.

Occupation: Retired supervising environmental analyst, state Department of Environmental Protection.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; master’s degree in zoology, Clemson University.

Other experience: Montville Board of Education member, 1982-87; board chairman 1985-87.

Family: Wife, Nancy; daughter, Alea.

Web site: www.newmenu.org/deshefy4congress_ct

GREEN PARTY DEBATE SET JAN. 13 with Nader!

Green Party Presidential Debate scheduled for Jan. 13
According to the Alameda County (CA) Green Party, there will be a Presidential Debate on January 13, 2 p.m. in San Francisco. Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney, Elaine Brown, Jared Ball and Kent Mesplay are all listed.

The California Primary on February 5 will include all five of these candidates as well as Kat Swift of Texas, and Jesse Johnson of the West Virginia Mountain Party, which affiliated with the Green Party (US) this summer. In most states, delegates to the GPUS Presidential Nominating Convention will be selected by state convention or other internal methods such as balloting, but in four states (Arkansas, California, Massacheustss,, & Illinois) and DC there will be a state run primary. California, which will likely control between 20 and 25 percent of the delegates at the national convention, is the big prize and the race to watch. A Green Debate in San Francisco is very appropriate.

Whether the debate will be televised live or recorded for re-broadcast remains to be seen. At any rate, if you are in the San Francisco Area this is an event that is NOT to be missed!