Meet Jim
Photo by Annie Watson
He decided to run for Congress three years ago because he wanted to help bring change to Washington and a common sense, fiscally responsible approach to the many problems of the day. He is working at it, but change does not come easily.
Jim has worked tirelessly to get the economy back on a path of growth and opportunity, has listened hard to his constituents, and has accumulated the most independent voting record of any Member of Congress in New England. He serves as a member of both the House Financial Services and Homeland Security Committees.
An Appreciation for Quality Education
Jim was born in Peru in 1966 to American parents. After his parents divorced, he returned to the United States with his mother and sisters. He attended public schools in his hometown. As a student, Jim also worked in the local drug store, hardware store, and pizza place,
and started a business refinishing wooden floors.
Jim excelled in his studies and gained a genuine appreciation for the incredible value of quality education. Jim was admitted to Harvard University, and after completing his undergraduate studies there, was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, where he earned a Masters degree.
Jim and his wife Mary started their family in Cos Cob, where their two daughters, Emma and Linley, both attend the local public schools.
A Tradition of Service
Wanting to put his knowledge to work helping local communities create jobs and overcome difficult economic challenges, Jim left a career in business to lead the non-profit Enterprise Community Partners in the Northeast. There he arranged financing for the construction of thousands of affordable housing units, creating jobs and high-quality
affordable housing in the greater New York metropolitan region. Jim’s work also helped foster the adoption of new green techniques to spur energy efficiency and reduce utility costs.
Jim has long served as an active community leader. He was a Commissioner and then board chairman of the Greenwich Housing Authority, and then a member of the town’s Board of Finance. Jim has served as former chairman on the board of Bridgeport-based Aspira of Connecticut, which promotes educational achievement for Latino youth. He has served on the advisory board of Family Assets, Inc., and is currently a board member of the Fairfield County Community Foundation.
A Record of Accomplishments
Jim is proud to have helped bring about meaningful change in Washington in his first term:
• Jim helped pass the Recovery Act, which included the largest middle-class tax cut in history. It is also providing more than $236 million in major infrastructure improvements in the 4th District, including $30 million for Metro North improvements to the New Haven line. Overall, the Recovery Act is providing $300 million for Connecticut highways, $137 million to develop mass transit in the state, and $784 million to support Connecticut schools and educators. Over two years, the Recovery Act will create or save an estimated 41,000 Connecticut jobs.
• Jim helped to pass comprehensive health care reform, to bring quality affordable health care to every citizen, eliminate insurance company abuses, reduce insurance costs and protect Medicare beneficiaries.
• Jim co-sponsored and helped to pass legislation restoring “pay-as-you-go” - PAYGO - provisions as an important step toward reestablishing fiscal discipline after the previous administration turned budget surpluses into huge deficits.
• Jim helped craft Wall Street reform legislation that ensures there will be no future taxpayer bailouts of failing private firms, and establishes strong, workable protections against the excessive risk-taking that has so undermined our economy.
• Jim also supported and helped to pass the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) that expands access to affordable college education, increases Pell grants and redirects tens of billions of dollars in unneeded subsidies for banks and private lenders to instead help students and their families.
With a proud record of achievement in his first Congressional term, Jim looks forward to continuing the fight on behalf of middle-class families throughout the 4th District, and working to help the economy grow and help our small businesses create good jobs.
Download Jim's whitepaper on being an independent voice in Congress.