Roraback Tells Esty To Stop Taking Money From DEEP-Regulated Corporations

Republican Andrew Roraback, who is running against Democrat Elizabeth Esty in the 5th Congressional District race, issued a statement Wednesday, calling on his opponent to stop taking campaign donations from corporations regulated by the state agency headed by her husband.

Esty’s husband, Dan, is commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

“Given what we’ve seen at the Republican National Convention this week, it’s no wonder Senator Roraback wants to change the subject,” said Esty’s spokesman, Jeb Fain, calling Roraback’s tactics “shameful and dishonest political gimmickry from a career politician.”

“While Elizabeth is running a campaign about creating jobs, defending women’s rights, and protecting Medicare and Social Security, Senator Roraback is resorting to the same old politics of desperate, misleading attacks.”

Roraback says Esty has solicited and accepted thousands of dollars from executive and corporate leaders in the power generate industry, including those who work for Northeast Utilities. He uses a February $2,500 contribution from James Hagedorn, the chief executive officer of Scotts Miracle Grow, to prove his point.

Roraback said the contribution was made after he announced his intention to introduce legislation outlawing the use of fertilizers containing phosphorus on established lawns. Roraback is currently a state senator and says the bill he sponsored was legislation in which the DEEP played an active role.

“Equally troubling is that according to published reports, my opponent has received more than two-thirds of her campaign donations from out-of-state donors,” Roraback said.

Roraback says more than 80 percent of his total contributions are from Connecticut donors.

As of the latest campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission, Esty had $857,550 on hand, and Roraback had $148,247. Overall, Esty had received $1.59 million in contributions, while Roraback had received $572,680 in contributions.

Fain said Wednesday that Esty is proud of the support she’s received, including the energy and environmental leaders who have invested in her campaign.

“Elizabeth’s supporters in the environmental and energy fields recognize her knowledge, her strong record, and her hard work on these complex issues,” he said.