Challenger Debicella Blames Himes For Failure Of Bridgeport Shipyard

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Against the backdrop of a vast empty lot at 837 Seaview Ave. in the East End of Bridgeport, Republican Congressional candidate Dan Debicella called the situation a travesty and placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of his opponent, Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Himes.

Bridgeport native and candidate for Congress Dan Debicella criticizes U.S. Rep. Jim Himes for his involvement with failed luxury yacht builder Derecktor Shipyards in Bridgeport.

Photo Credit: dandebicella

by Rob Sullivan

09/24/2014 5:00 a.m.

Debicella, who is challenging Himes in the race for the 4th Congressional District, chose to give his recent address in an empty lot that is infamous in recent Bridgeport history. It is the former home of Derecktor Shipyards, a shipbuilder specializing in luxury yachts and passenger ferries that went bankrupt in 2012.

When Derecktor opened for business in 2001, it was hailed by many as the key driver to a return to financial boom times for the city.

Decibella pointed out that Derecktor had received $3 million in government assistance in 2009, and then filed for bankruptcy in 2012 after also having filed for bankruptcy in 2008. The candidate said the company’s demise cost 300 jobs in Bridgeport.

“The timeline here is very clear,” said Debicella. “Jim Himes voted in 2009 to give Derecktor $3 million. In 2010, he tours the facility for a photo-op. Then just two years later, they go bankrupt for the second time in five years. Then later that year when asked about Derecktor, Himes denied he had nothing to do with it. “

Debicella linked the shipyard failure to low job creation in the state in the speech on Sept. 8.

“Derecktor Shipyards is a perfect of example of why Connecticut is 50th out of 50 in job creation,” he said. “Jim Himes thinks the way to create jobs in Connecticut is to give millions of taxpayer dollars to mega-yacht builders so he can take a photo op, while I believe it is to reform the tax code, help the long-term unemployed, and empower small business.”

The Republican challenger, a businessman from Shelton, has a degree in finance from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

“Creating jobs takes more than a photo-op,” Debicella said. “We need adults in the room in Washington. We need leadership that will stop with the photo-ops and talking points and put forward real solutions. That is why I have put forward a detailed plan to grow our economy and expand the middle class.”

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