An odder than expected political happening took place last Thursday at the Greenwich Country Club.

The spotlight during a Chamber of Commerce lunch was the race for the 4th Congressional District seat held 19 years by U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4, a Bridgeport resident.

Four are running. Two got to speak Shays and his most visible opponent, Westport Democrat Diane Farrell.

Two of the contenders were snubbed -- as in not being invited to take part in the political forum.

The two snubbed candidates Libertarian Phil Maymin and Green Party Richard Duffee didn't speak, but pitched their platforms to attendees in print. Taking advantage of a writing invitation by the Chamber of Commerce perhaps as balm for possibly hurt feelings the two given the cold shoulder submitted 350 words, the limit.

Maymin and Duffee pitches in ink were in the centerfold of the Chamber of Commerce October bulletin distributed at the luncheon.

Shays and Farrell also got to spend 350 words in print. Much of what those two wrote was repeated in actual speeches. Some of it was stump speeches put through the wringer again.

Their speeches were packed with barbs aimed at each other. The speeches also were bursting with political promises augmented by boasts of past achievements.

The print contributions from the candidates who were nowhere to be seen the day of the luncheon were riveting. The normally soft-spoken Maymin, a hedge fund guru who came to America from Russia when he was 5, started his print contribution to the forum sarcastically.

You will soon see, or have already seen, a replay of speeches from 2004, he wrote, referring to the forum spotlighting Farrell and Shays. It's not deja vu.

The Greenwich Chamber invited my two reigning party opponents to speak at a luncheon, with the same format, the same guests and, the same essential speeches, as you saw two years ago.

Though I will be debating them in at least seven public forums this month, your chamber chose to exclude me from this event. Instead, I was offered the opportunity to address you in 350 words.

Maymin expressed regret that he was not invited to appear before you, particularly because I am the only Greenwich resident and Greenwich business owner running to be your representative in Congress.

Main points made by Maymin:

* I am the only choice in this election for many voters who are otherwise disenfranchised because of the basic similarity between my two opponents. For example, I am the only choice for those who are pro-life, anti-war or against amnesty for illegal aliens.

* I believe abortion is a state decision, like murder or other crimes, while my opponents believe it is a federal decision.

* I am the only candidate who would not have voted to invade Iraq...

Green Party Duffy's pitch includes:

* Nuclear winter from accidental war and global warming from CO2 emissions threaten our physical security far more than terrorism.

* If we do not impeach (President George M.) Bush and (Vice President Dick) Cheney for defrauding Congress to invade Iraq, they risk setting off uncontrollable events by senselessly bombing Iran.

During the spoken segment of the forum the ladies before gentlemen rule was in force. Farrell got to speak first.

What she said Shays didn't hear. The rule was that he couldn't approach the podium until after she left the room. As expected, Farrell attacked Shays for his support of the war in Iraq. She reminded people the cost is not acceptable $250 million a day and more than 2,700 young American lives cut short.

She blistered the Republican Congress for not exercising oversight on the President Bush s war.

She claims the check and balance system is not at work in the federal government. She blames this missing in Washington due to Republicans controlling both the executive and legislative branches.

She maintains the government would be better run if Democrats controlled either the Senate or House of Representatives or both, as the Democratic National Party is trying to pull off in the Nov. 7 election.

Farrell also bashed the Republican leadership in Washington for making it impossible for small businesses to provide health insurance to workers. She claims nearly 60 percent working for small businesses have no health coverage.

I support healthcare tax credits and tax incentives so small companies can compete with large ones.

Farrell noted that Connecticut stands at the threshold of clean energy technology fuel cells in particular.

This is a way to create important skilled jobs, help break our dependence on foreign oil, and be on the cutting edge of a new industry before it is embraced by other nations.

It is much more difficult to accomplish these things when our federal government is working against us.

Not only have the Bush administration, the Republican leadership and our current representative Congressman Shays not made priorities of these concerns, but they have also chosen to spend the money that would have gone to important policies such as these, on a poorly conceived and executed war in Iraq.

Shays tooted a horn on behalf of the President s tax cuts a result, he contended, is a strong economy. The President is trying to make the tax cuts permanent because they help bolster the economy.

The incumbent congressman reported he has high hopes for a plan he hatched. It is called One Coast, One Future.

The initiative has $1 million in federal funding to get it off the ground. It brings together powers in Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford and other communities on Long Island Sound in the 4th Congressional District. Shays says the plan is a regional approach to address shared challenges. The Business Council of Fairfield County and the Bridgeport Regional Business Council are leading this innovative initiative aimed at fostering economic growth and job creation in our congressional district.

One Coast, One Future includes the following objectives:

* Comprehensive economic development plan.

* Marketing campaigns focused on development and housing opportunities.

* Growth strategy for healthcare jobs.

* JobsNet linking employer needs with employee skills.

* Marketing campaigns focused on cultural and entertainment opportunities, objectives.

The bottom line in all this, according to Shays: Greenwich has the opportunity to maintain its unique quality of life while participating in One Coast, One Future, bringing neighboring communities' strengths to bear for the common good.

I am grateful for the support of the business community in seeking solutions to regional challenges that will make each of our communities better places to work and raise a family.

Shays saluted Greenwich as one of our country's most desirable communities to live and work in.

But it still faces challenges, he reminded. Smart economic development, ability to meet growing transportation needs and leveraging federal support are all important to maintaining the quality of life to which Greenwich residents and business people expect.