http://kiewestbyforcongress.com Mon, 1 Mar 2010 09:20:00 EST Southbury, Conn.— Kie Westby announced today that Southbury’s First Selectman Bill Davis will endorse him in his 5th District congressional bid. <br/><br/> Davis said, “I’m impressed with his background and knowledge, and his ability to think a problem through. We think alike on a lot of issues.” Among those who are running for the Republican nomination, Davis called Westby the most “grassroots and small-business oriented.” <br/><br/> Davis was appointed as First Selectman in Southbury in 2008 to fill a vacancy. He later won that office in the 2009 election. He has also served on the Planning Commission for three decades, and was its Chairman for 19 of those years. Davis is the 4th generation of his family to own and operate the Southford Store, a general store and deli near the intersection of Routes 67 & 188. <br/><br/> Said Westby, “Bill has been a voice of reason in Southbury for many years, and his business is a fixture here. I’m delighted to have his support.” http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=17 http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=17 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:08:00 EST Southbury, Conn.— The Kie Westby for Congress campaign announced today that it was honored to have the twin endorsements of state House Republican Minority Whip John Piscopo and his mother, long-time community leader Barbara Piscopo. <br/><br/> “I’ve known Kie for a long time,” said Rep. Piscopo. “He’s a man of integrity. He’s honest, focused and conservative and for all those reasons I endorse him.” A strong advocate for fiscal discipline and the third-ranking Republican in the House, the 12-term representative has a district that includes Burlington, Harwinton, Litchfield and Thomaston. <br/><br/> His mother, Barbara Piscopo, also endorsed Westby, saying she’s known the candidate both personally and professionally for many years. “He knows the people of Thomaston and how they’re struggling. He knows that we can’t go into any more debt and we can’t support large spending bills. He sincerely believes this and I know he will follow through with what the constituents want.” Mrs. Piscopo is the widow of the late Patsy J. Piscopo, Thomaston’s First Selectman, who was the Republican nominee for Congress in 1970 and, later, the Deputy Banking Commissioner for the State of Connecticut. Along with her family obligations, which Mrs. Piscopo calls her “first priority,” the mother of five and grandmother of eight is active as a Deacon in the First Congregational Church and as a commissioner of the Thomaston Opera House. <br/><br/> “We are enormously gratified to have the endorsements of such stalwart community leaders. Both John and Barbara have tremendously distinguished records of service in the area,” said Westby. “I feel very privileged to have their backing in this race.” <br/><br/> Kie Westby is running for Congress in Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District. For more information about Kie Westby, please visit www.KieWestbyForCongress.com. http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=16 http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=16 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:23:00 EST “Last night the President offered several good steps to help our economy. Capital gains tax breaks for small business startups and a spending freeze on discretionary spending will take this country in the right direction. However, these steps are too small and are offset by other proposals in the President’s speech that hurt job growth. Voters in the Massachusetts election and in polls have resoundingly rejected some of these ideas. The American people are against government run health care, they are against more spending programs and they are against a comprehensive climate and energy bill, which is cap and trade by another name. <br/><br/> We need more tax cuts for families, investors and businesses. We need real, systemic and lasting spending cuts. The Democrats must stop saying no to Republican ideas for market-based health care reforms. Tort reform, expansion of health care tax credits and interstate competition will truly bend the cost curve. It will save businesses money, letting them create more jobs. And it will get more people insured. <br/><br/> I was disappointed by the lack of substance in the portion of the President’s speech that touched on national security. People have deep and legitimate concerns about the administration’s efforts in this area. Just a month after the near-disaster in Detroit, and following revelations that the would-be bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was interrogated for only 50 minutes before he was given his Miranda rights and clammed up, the President offered nothing to assure America that changes would be made. Nor did he address the Justice Department’s stubborn refusal to get the Khalid Shaikh Mohammed trial out of New York City and into a military commission. <br/><br/> I hope the Republicans will work with the President and the Democrats whenever fiscally responsible or pro-National Security ideas are on the table, and fight vocally against proposals that Americans have clearly said they oppose." http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=15 http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=15 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:56:00 EST At a Republican Town Committee “meet and greet” held last Thursday at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, members expressed some concern about party unity, with several Republicans competing in the 5th District race. One member asked if the candidates would abide by the 11th Commandment, Ronald Reagan's call for solidarity among party members. <br/><br/> Westby promised to do just that and later said, “We may disagree on certain things, but we all need to agree on one thing and that's to follow Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment for Republicans: don't tear each other down.” <br/><br/> Westby called for every Republican seeking the nomination for the 5th Congressional District to join him in sticking to the issues and in fully supporting the winner. “Because it's not about us. It's about the people we want to serve. Candidates everywhere should demonstrate that they care more about solving those issues than about advancing their own careers.” <br/><br/> Westby’s Republican Town Committee schedule for the remainder of this week includes stops at Plymouth on Tuesday, January 26, starting at 7 p.m. at the Thomaston Savings Bank; Newtown on Wednesday, January 27, 7 p.m. at the Town Hall; and Cheshire on Thursday, January 28, 7 p.m. at the Cheshire Senior Center. Westby will also attend the Terryville Rotary meeting at the Terryville Diner on January 27, which begins at 12:30 p.m. <br/><br/> Next month, all are invited to meet the candidate at his Hometown Campaign Kickoff event. The party will be held on February 13th, from 3-5 p.m. at Carlito Restaurant in Thomaston. Honored guests will be Barbara Piscopo and Rep. John Piscopo. Tickets are $50 each. For more information about Kie Westby, visit kiewestbyforcongress.com. For tickets, call Carolyn Achee at 860-689-3583. <br/><br/> http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=14 http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=14 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:32:00 EST Southbury, Conn.— Kie Westby, who is running to defeat the 5th Congressional district incumbent, said on Wednesday that he is encouraged to see the Republican field so wide open. <br/><br/> As he makes his rounds through the 41 towns in the district, Westby said, “Voters will have ample opportunity to listen to and exchange ideas with the candidates and decide who will best represent their interests in Congress.” <br/><br/> Westby said, “It’s good to see lots of interest in this seat. The voters of the 5th Congressional district deserve a full menu of choices and they should be allowed to select the candidate who will best represent them.” <br/><br/> Another factor not to be overlooked in the race, said Westby, are the independents. About 45% of the 5th District’s registered voters are unaffiliated. Recent national polls show independents favoring the Republican over the Democrat on the generic ballot, but Westby said that what voters of all stripes really want are leaders in Congress who will address their concerns about the economy, the national debt, the growth of government and national security. “This coming election year will belong to candidates everywhere who can demonstrate that they care more about solving those issues than about advancing their own careers.” <br/><br/> He cites as an example the recent health care bill passed by the House, and its Senate version currently under debate. “It is alarming to many people,” said Westby. “And for good reason. The bill is supposed to solve the problem of the uninsured, but instead it will raise health insurance premiums through hidden taxes. It will put the government between the patient and the doctor and lead inexorably to rationing of care. Worst of all, it will be a long-term fiscal nightmare for this country, a new entitlement that we simply can’t afford. <br/><br/> “If we don’t stop this bad health care bill now, then it will fall on the next Congress to turn it, and many other fiscal messes, around. I’m running because I do believe our country wants to turn things around and I’m going to help make it happen.” <br/><br/> Among other stops in the near future, Westby has plans to speak at the Harwinton, Goshen, New Fairfield and New Britain Republican Town Committee meetings. http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=13 http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=13 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:52:00 EST A fundraiser will be held for Kie Westby on Saturday, November 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the home of Dr. William and Shelley Tylec in Waterbury. For details and to RSVP, please contact Carolyn Barbour Achee, at 860-689-3583 for details. http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=12 http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=12 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:51:00 EST Kie Westby announced on Wednesday that the Southbury Republican Town Committee members have voted unanimously to support his bid to unseat the 5th District Democratic Congressional incumbent next year. <br/><br/> Westby, a Thomaston attorney and a resident of Southbury, entered the race against Christopher Murphy in October. One of Westby’s strongest supporters on the committee is John Bucciarelli, a retired army officer, homeland security expert, author and Southbury businessman. <br/><br/> Bucciarelli said, “Kie is in tune with the needs of the 5th District and will carry our voice to Congress. It's important to have hometown support and that's what Kie received in the unanimous vote of the Southbury Republican Town Committee. The campaign is long and we are confident that Kie's efforts will gain momentum in the coming months.” <br/><br/> Another committee member praising Westby is Southbury business owner Mark Lancor, who said, “The thing about Kie is he really understands the Constitution and the liberties that our forefathers gave us. <br/><br/> “He’s willing to tackle the hard questions to bring both the state and Washington back to the core beliefs of our founders, which are fiscal responsibility, small government and individual responsibility.” <br/><br/> Lancor added, “I don’t think Kie is going to ‘yes’ Washington just to gain the favor of lobbyists. That’s not where Kie’s coming from.” <br/><br/> Westby, who is an active member of the Southbury Republican Town Committee, offered his appreciation for the committee’s support and offered congratulations to those who ran in last Tuesday’s election. “The hard work of Southbury Republicans really paid off on Tuesday,” he said, “It was a clean sweep for the Republican slate and that’s really a big win for our town.” <br/><br/> http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=11 http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=11 Mon, 5 Oct 2009 09:45:00 EST Thomaston, Conn.—Today Southbury Republican Kie Westby formally declared his candidacy for Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Democrat Christopher Murphy that expires in 2010. <br/><br/> A 24-year veteran of the Marine Corps Reserves with JAG certification, Westby is presently an attorney with a law practice in his hometown of Thomaston. Westby said he is running to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington and to fight for limited government and private sector solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems. <br/><br/> “Congress owes an absolute duty to the tax payer to spend tax revenues wisely and not waste the taxpayers’ money on frivolous pork barrel projects,” said Westby. “Taxpayers need to get value for their dollar from the government.” <br/><br/> Westby said, “Service, commitment and principles—the theme of our campaign—means being responsible to your constituents, rather than special interests. It means crafting bills that are understandable to the legislators who must vote on them, as well as to the average citizen, who has a right to review bills in their final language before a vote. And finally, it means respecting the traditions upon which our country is founded, including individual liberty and free markets. <br/><br/> The critical issues Westby will address during the campaign, and if elected, include fiscal responsibility and lower taxes, energy independence through development of alternative sources along with traditional natural resources, market-based health care reforms and strong national security. Westby believes that the across the board tax cuts and investment tax credits proposed by John F. Kennedy in the 1960s and Ronald Reagan in the 1980s is the best remedy for our current economic recession and high unemployment. <br/><br/> Term limits, a balanced federal budget, a simplified flat tax system and sensible market regulations are among the policies that Westby supports. In Congress, Westby said he will advocate for small business and the free enterprise system, saying “It’s the best way to insure prosperity and opportunity for everyone.” He also believes that Congress has become a quasi-aristocracy, with seemingly appointed-for-life politicians who reward special interest groups, the same special interest groups who help keep them in elective office. Westby said he is appalled that Congress would vote itself a raise when working families and small businesses are struggling to survive. <br/><br/> “No one should think of being a Congressman or a Senator as a lifetime position. For one thing, they should have some private sector experience, as I do. Certainly twelve years in office—2 terms for a Senator, 6 for a Congressman—is enough.” <br/><br/> Westby would bring private sector experience and a long record of service to his country and his community to Washington. The son of a Thomaston milkman turned letter carrier, Westby was the first his in family to graduate from a 4-year university. A graduate of Wesleyan University in Middleton, Conn., and Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, Westby has been a member of the Connecticut Bar since 1979. He is a retired Major of the Marine Corps Reserves, where, as a JAG (Judge Advocate General) and a Desert Storm volunteer, he provided legal advice and credit counseling to returning Gulf War veterans. He has been an active Rotarian since 1983, and was named a Paul Harris Fellow, the Rotary Club’s highest honor, in 2001. He has served on the Thomaston Republican Town Committee, the Board of Education, Planning and Zoning, and, more recently, the Southbury Republican Town Committee (since 2007) and the Republican State Central Committee (since 2008). <br/><br/> He has owned his own law practice in Thomaston since 1990. He resides in Southbury, with his wife of 27 years, The Rev. Laura Westby, a Senior Pastor at the First Congregational Church of Danbury. The Westbys have two daughters, Sarah, a 2nd-year student at Brooklyn Law School, and Rachel, a sophomore at Ursinus College. http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=10 http://kiewestbyforcongress.com/index.php?p=post&id=10