Visconti for Congress

Setting the tone for his run for US Congress, Joe Visconti sprinted toward the stage in the West Hartford Town Hall auditorium to accept the nomination of the First Congressional District delegates at the district convention.

Bounding up the stairs to the stage he shook hands, greeted Convention Chairman Art Mocabee with a bear hug, and then launched into a spirited, upbeat, can-do acceptance speech that was interrupted by spontaneous applause, and received a standing ovation when he concluded.

The message was clear. It is way past time to put a Republican in Congress from the First District.

Introduced by state GOP Chairman Chris Healy, Visconti, a member of the West Hartford Town Council, was nominated by Ralph Capenera from Rocky Hill, who is running for the 9th district Senate seat. His nomination was seconded by Theresa McGrath of West Hartford, the Republican candidate for the 19th State House district.

The convention also was attended by town council chairs from throughout the district as well as delegates who made short work of the bumper stickers and financial donation forms available from campaign volunteers.

In his acceptance speech, Visconti emphasized the need to bring reform and responsiveness to Congress.

"Far too often the image we see of Congress is negative. It appears to be a place of unending bickering, manipulation and stagnation, all of which breed frustration and allow for missed opportunities. A place where values are compromised, progress and achievement are nullified and where equity and prosperity are marginalized.

"Our founding fathers fought and worked to build the first American Dream. What do our elected officials in Washington fight and work for today?

"They fight over the Spoils of Liberty and Freedom as they allow our futures to be ransacked by the well connected, and the fruits of our labor to be squandered on redundant bureaucracy, which is the number one product manufactured in America today.

"Shame on them!

When Visconti launched his announcement tour earlier in the month he was told at his first stop in Torrington that the incumbent congressman was unknown to the mayor, the public and even the media.

Visconti pledged to use the grassroots organizational skills he has accumulated in opposing corporate welfare and over-taxation in his home town, to putting the public's agenda first in Washington.

"Where in the Constitution does it say the lavish lifestyles and unnecessary projects pushed through by legislators beholden to lobbyists and pork recipients are to be paid for by taxing the creativity and honest labors of Americans?

"We do not send people to Congress to further their own agendas, we send people to Congress to represent the People’s agenda! Yet our representatives continue to pass the buck, look the other way and avoid their oaths of office as they saddle us with multi-billion dollar unfunded mandates which place our families and our futures at financial risk.

"Our inner cities and suburbs alike are under attack from criminals who follow no laws, regardless of how many are passed or the penalties they carry. We must not allow our families and communities to be held hostage by thugs.

"That has to end – and end very soon. Congress is disconnected, out of touch, and out of time. I intend to bring some old fashioned common sense to Washington and influence all those around me to do the same."

Visconti noted that he has been touring the district to visit all of the towns, and will continue his personal appearances in every town during the campaign. The next step in his campaign strategy is a fund-raising effort that will enable him to deliver his message to the voters throughout the district.