Jim Maloney
The Democratic Incumbent: Connecticut's 5th
Congressional District

Jim Maloney, a second term Democrat who represents Connecticut's fifth congressional district, will fight to keep his seat this year in a rematch against former Republican State Senator Mark Nielsen. Maloney won a narrow victory against Nielsen two years ago in what has traditionally been a hotly contested district.

The oldest of 10 children, Maloney was raised in Danbury. He currently lives in his hometown with wife, Mary, and their three daughters. After graduating from Harvard College and Boston University Law School, Maloney returned to his hometown to head Danbury's anti-poverty agency from 1974-78. He was elected to the state senate in 1986, representing the middle class towns of Bethel, Danbury, and New Fairfield. While a state senator, Maloney chaired the finance committee and built a reputation as a middle-of-the-road Democrat by worked on a family leave act, voting against creating a state income tax and supporting business tax cuts.

In 1994, after eight years in the state senate, Maloney challenged Republican incumbent Gary Franks for the fifth district seat in the House of Representatives. After holding the incumbent to a narrow margin of victory, Maloney ran again in 1996. Running on a moderate platform, Maloney won with 52 percent of the popular vote over Franks' 46 percent.

As a member of the House, Maloney built his record with a series of moderate stands. He supported tax cuts, the partial-birth abortion ban, and was one of only four Democrats to support a Republican bill to provide prescription drug coverage to seniors. He voted in favor of impeachment hearings against President Clinton, and co-sponsored a Brownfields bill that helped finance new construction on polluted factory sites, such as those in his home district. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Maloney brought home several military contracts, including a $483 million deal for Stratford-based Sikorsky in 1999 to build Comanche helicopters.

In 1998, Maloney faced a tough challenge from Mark Nielsen. During the race, Maloney was dogged by campaign finance scandals. In late 1997, Maloney's brother plead guilty to charges of violating federal campaign finance law. While a top executive in Smith Barney's Boston office, Maloney's brother solicited nearly $44,000 in campaign contributions for his brother's first congressional campaign in 1994. He then reimbursed those contributors, a violation of federal campaign finance law for which he later plead guilty.

Maloney is prepared for another competitive race this year, raising more than $1.2 million dollars. Having already received a visit by fundraising President Clinton, Maloney is fighting hard to keep his seat.