Ridgefield News
November 7, 2000

Maloney Wins!

Maloney Wins Reelection By Wide Margin

Popular Congressman Has Strong Support In Ridgefield

Democratic town chairman Jim Diamond (left) and First Selectman Rudy Marconi outside East Ridge Middle School, where both voted today.

Nov. 7 -- Jim Maloney won his bid for a third term in the U.S. House by a convincing 53% to 44% margin today. In heavily Republican Ridgefield, the popular Congressman repeated his strong 45% performance of two years ago, despite an all-out effort by the national Republican party to unseat him.

Jim Diamond, Ridgefield Democratic chairman, said, "Jim Maloney got strong support from Ridgefielders today. We're delighted about his reelection, and we're proud of the hard work so many Ridgefielders - Democrats, Republicans, and independents - put in to help ensure his victory tonight."

The Ridgefield DTC Chair added, " It was part of the Nielsen strategy to gain huge margins in Ridgefield and the other towns around us, since these towns have Republican pluralities. This strategy failed, however, as our campaign kept Jim Maloney close enough in these towns. Republican and unafilliated voters crossed over to vote for Jim Maloney, recognizing that he is an independent minded Congressman. I said during the campaign that Ridgefield voters would remember the awful representation we had before we elected Jim Maloney and that we would do everything we could to send Jim back to Washington, and that's exactly what happened."

Democratic school board member Mary Pat Devine greets voters outside the Parks & Recreation center. Democratic volunteers manned Ridgefield's polling places through the day and into the evening.

Noting Maloney's strong 45% showing in heavily Republican Ridgefield, Diamond noted, "Maloney scored a slightly higher percentage of the Ridgefield vote than did Al Gore, which is quite unusual. This large plurality across the District removes the speculation that Jim Maloney is a targeted Representative. I don't think future potential opponents will be able to convince donors that Jim can be beat."

Addressing the negative tone that underlay Republican Nielsen's campaign, Diamond said, "I think that voters across the district rallied to vote for Jim Maloney and his record of constituent service, but they also rejected the Nielsen negative television advertisements. Quite frankly I don't think the Nielsen campaign used all of that national Party money wisely. The "puppet" televison ad was in very poor taste and he ran it so early in the race before voters had a positive image of Nielsen--what a colossal mistake this was."

Maloney supporters campaigned into the evening. From left: Jessica Strom, mom Judy Strom, and friend Kip Denoyer.

A bright, crisp fall day greeted voters today for historic Election 2000. Democratic Registrar Cindy Bruno reported that turnout was heavy at both Parks & Rec and at East Ridge Middle School. There were reports of lines of 30 waiting voters when the polls opened at 6:00 AM. Traffic continued to be brisk to heavy throughout the day. Maloney supporters were out in force all day, phoning voters from Democratic headquarters, and greeting folks at the polling places, as these enthusiastic campaign workers did outside East Ridge this evening.

Young Stephanie Denoyer proudly carries her Maloney sign outside the East Ridge Middle School polling place.

Democratic town chairman Diamond said of the efforts of Gore-Lieberman-Maloney supporters, "I am proud of the scores of new volunteers who came out to work in this campaign. I am especially proud of the number of Ridgefielders who crossed Party lines to vote for Joe Lieberman for Senate."

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