Kevin Blacker, the critic of the Port Authority, challenged both career politicians – and the two-party system – in his run for Congress.
Blacker, a farmer and landscaper from Noank with a degree in soil science, has become closely involved in local politics over the past few years as he advocates against the State Pier project.
Joint venture partners Ørsted and Eversource will use the pier for the assembly and staging of offshore wind components needed for the construction of South Fork Wind, the first of three offshore wind projects State Pier is expected to serve. The project is intended to make New London a hub for coastal and clean energy production.
News broke in August that a federal grand jury had subpoenaed six years of port authority records as part of an investigation into the quasi-public agency. The port authority turned over the documents as part of an ethics probe to the Office of State Ethics and to the state attorney general’s office as part of its antitrust probe. The authority also provided information to the State Contracting Standards Board when that group investigated the procurement activities of the port authority.
If elected, Blacker, 36, of Noank, said he would use his voice as a congressman to “get some answers to what’s going on in a lot of federal investigations.”
“I’m going to call attention, there’s a huge problem there, it’s not practical common sense, it’s dishonest, and it’s harmful to the public,” Blacker said. “I didn’t see or hear Mike France doing anything. Even worse for Joe Courtney, he continues, supporting the project, gushing about how good it is.
“I think that because of how powerful the political players are involved there, nobody in mainstream politics wants to speak out against it,” Blacker added.
Blacker was charged two years ago, first with a felony, then downgraded to a misdemeanor, for vandalism after he painted street signs near the State Pier pink. The cases are still ongoing.
Courtney overheard Blacker’s criticisms at the State Pier. He downplayed Blacker’s presence in the race, saying the Green Party usually fields a candidate.
“I’ve met Kevin before, he’s a hard-working guy, a guy who’s very passionate about his beliefs, and I definitely respect that,” Courtney said. “An issue that has become his signature, which is the blocking of the offshore wind project, is contrary to the stated mission of the Green Party to protect the environment and fight climate change.”
While Courtney admits the plan was flawed at first, he said with accommodations made for the Cross Sound Ferry, a $750,000 annual allowance in New London, and other changes, the plan is on track.
“At some point its opponents have completely blocked it. I am for decarbonizing our energy system, so I support the project in its current form,” said Courtney.
In response to Courtney’s comments, Blacker said, “Both the FBI investigation and the Attorney General’s investigation into State Pier are no more intended to block offshore wind than I am.”
“I think offshore wind in its current form is a political solution to climate change. It gives guys like Joe something to talk about before he asks you for a donation,” added Blacker.
Priorities
The main criticism of Blacker is that he is a single-issue candidate. But in his interview with The Day, Blacker focused on positions on the economy, abortion, guns and other issues.
He said he prioritized “honest, common-sense government that serves the people, the public, not just the politically connected,” and challenged the two-party system. He called himself a “passionate supporter” of former third-party gubernatorial candidate Oz Griebel, who got nearly 4% of the vote in 2018.
Another priority for Blacker is unusual for a politician.
He said he wanted to “remind people that viable, well-staffed, local, independent newspapers are essential to the proper functioning of the American system.”
“One of the things I set out to do in the State Pier fight was to re-establish … the importance of the newspaper,” Blacker said. “The average citizen armed with the truth and a newspaper can do almost anything.”
Blacker said he would also focus on climate change, which is in line with the Green Party’s environmentally conscious platform.
“We need an energy source that is clean and renewable and non-polluting, but it has to be economically viable,” Blacker said. “It will require a combination of many small, common sense, practical solutions, but also some completely radical innovation.”
“We are not in a position without nuclear energy,” he continued. “The question is, what do you do with the garbage? This is dangerous. So far, boring, old technology. We can think of a better solution.
Spending on submarines
Blacker said the government needs to spend money more efficiently, especially when it comes to military spending.
“I think we have to look at military spending in terms of, a war in Iraq, a war in Afghanistan, sending support to Ukraine – what is the real motivation? With the amount of money we spend, is it wise this?” Blacker said.
Regarding Courtney’s record on military spending, Blacker said, “General Dynamics is one of his biggest donors. I think he’s serving them.”
Blacker believes part of the job of representing the 2nd Congressional District is securing submarine contracts, “If we need submarines…If we really need submarines in the interest of national defense.” But, he continued, “I will encourage some diversification of Electric Boat. I know there is interest in the manufacture of air components, finding something else that they can do.
On taxes, Blacker believes Connecticut is lame. He said his goal is to close tax loopholes for the richest citizens.
“This person is extremely rich and they don’t pay any taxes because they use this loophole and that loophole and avoid this and that,” Blacker said. “When working people like myself pay 30%, no matter what tax bracket we’re in, that’s not really fair.”
Abortion, guns, the 2020 election
Blacker said she is pro-choice: “I believe every pregnancy is unique, and I have more faith in the mother’s judgment than any government judgment.”
On the issues of guns and shootings, Blacker falls somewhere in the middle between Courtney’s support for stricter gun regulations and France’s fierce belief in the Second Amendment.
“I’ve shot before. I have guns. I was taught when I was young and I wanted to get a BB gun, I had to take a hunter’s safety course,” he said. “It’s something that needs to be handled responsibly because they have the potential to do a lot of damage. I have an open mind about guns.”
“When people talk about guns, the underlying issue is shootings and school shootings and gun deaths and suicides and domestic violence,” he continued. “In the near future… I will look for things that both sides can agree on. If you have committed certain crimes, you cannot own guns. Blacker also advocates for safer gun storage.
Blacker said he believes Biden has won the 2020 election. He said there is no issue with the increase in absentee balloting. But, “Is it fair? I don’t know.”
The Green Party candidate turned to one of his favorite targets, Deputy Secretary of the State Scott Bates of Stonington, when explaining his reasoning. There were reports of corruption at the Port Authority during Bates’ tenure as chairman from 2016 to 2019.
“I would have more confidence in the integrity of our elections if we didn’t have people like Scott Bates, who was caught lying to the legislature … as the Chief Operating Officer of the Secretary of State’s office,” Blacker said. “I don’t believe Donald Trump won, but I also don’t know what the whole truth is.”
‘Daily lessons in humility’
Blacker won’t sell stocks if elected, and he believes in term limits.
“Joe Courtney’s been there 16 years, Larson’s been there 30 years, DeLauro’s … been there 15 or 20 years,” he said. “Joe has had his turn, let the others have their turn.”
Blacker agrees with the attitude that he was an outsider who found his way into politics. He emphasized that as one of the biggest differences between him and the other candidates, apart from age – “I am younger than them, and a young person approaches the world differently than a people who are on the other side of the hill like them.”
“Farming is nothing but daily lessons in humility and problem solving,” Blacker said. “They are both career politicians. They had careers before this, but they made a career in politics. Joe is a lawyer, Mike is in the Navy. I have no experience in politics. My job is to cut grass, this is to make hay. Many risks they cannot take, because they depend on it for their jobs and careers.
s.spinella@theday.com
