Republican East Lyme First Selectman Paul Formica's late leap into the Second Congressional District campaign to challenge incumbent Democrat Rep. Joe Courtney will likely present voters an excellent choice between two accomplished elected officials. We expect Mr. Formica, after winning the nomination at the convention, to prevail over businesswoman Daria Novak of Madison in the GOP primary challenge

Both Mr. Formica and Rep. Courtney are effective public servants who champion programs and policy over ideological dogma. Both are inclusive in their approach; promoting dialogue and compromise to achieve their goals. Both are moderates within their respective political parties. Rep. Courtney legislates from the center left while Mr. Formica tacks center right in managing the civic affairs of East Lyme.

East Lyme is a town that works. Pride in the school district is a municipal mandate. Republicans and Democrats spar regularly, but also seek out sensible, affordable solutions. Paul Formica is a civic leader who fosters collaboration.

Rep. Courtney has distinguished himself well in his three congressional terms and in his previous service in the Connecticut legislature. He communicates his stance on the issues he cares about and sets about building consensus for his position among his fellow lawmakers, an increasingly difficult job in a highly partisan Washington.

With the incumbent considered a strong favorite, this campaign is unlikely to attract the outside political action committee money subverting our election process at the presidential level and in tight Senate and House races. The result should be an intelligent, substantive debate about our national direction; though Rep. Courtney's big fundraising lead will certainly work to his benefit.

Rep. Courtney and Mr. Formica are creatures of local and state governments. The insane partisan divide that paralyzes national government has not yet infected our local body politic.

A sense of shared common purpose between Republicans and Democrats is repeated in many of the towns in our region and throughout Connecticut. Politics at the municipal level, and to a lesser but still significant degree at the state level in Hartford, is a balancing act between what's desired and what's possible. Success requires consensus be achieved by meeting somewhere near the middle.

Washington, in contrast, has lost its middle. Moderates like Rep. Courtney or Mr. Formica are an endangered species in Congress. Ideological purists deride attempts at collaboration. The left and right seek to marginalize moderates if not outright chase them from office.

Ideology is now manufactured by special-interest spending and spread through slick television advertising. The rarefied air breathed by Washington's political class is contaminated by the sludge served up from these moneyed interests. Public policy making for important issues like health care, financial reform and energy is stained with lobbyists buying legislation that once was achieved by debate and compromise.

And now, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court, the cancer of uncontrolled special-interest spending has infected our national elections. The wrong-headed Supreme Court decision regarding Citizens United in 2010 opened floodgates of unregulated money to poison this election cycle.

The country craves candidates for public office who can offer wise guidance, shared sacrifice, and steadfast leadership. We expect to see such a campaign from two capable, serious, dedicated candidates like Mr. Formica and Rep. Courtney. (Though, ironically, should the election turn competitive the PAC money will pour in.)

Unfortunately, at the highest level of leadership, voters will witness a frivolous $1 billion mud fight instead of a campaign befitting the presidential office. President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney, along with their aligned Super PACS, are already spending recklessly to advance ideological issues and character assassinations of little public consequence.

America is better than this. The times cry out for sober, enlightened public debate. Here in the 2nd Congressional District we have a chance to hear that type of campaign from Rep. Courtney and Mr. Formica. Our fervent desire is for these two capable men to engage in an extended issue-oriented discussion of the very critical economic challenges confronting this country.