‘Nothing’ answer was unacceptable
I have conducted many political debates as a moderator or questioner, and often both, but no response more stunned me for its combination of arrogance and awkwardness than the one given last Wednesday by City Councilor Anthony Nolan, a candidate for the state House of Representatives.
My question noted the frustration New London Republicans face living in a strongly Democratic city. Many contend their views about reducing the size of government and cutting taxes are ignored by the Democrats sent to Hartford to represent them.
“I was wondering what you might say to them?” I asked Nolan, the first of the four candidates in the debate to take that particular question.
“Nothing,” was the Democrat’s oneword answer.
Nothing? Nolan couldn’t note that once elected he would represent all the people, regardless of party? Or say that he would be open to ideas about trimming government cost? Perhaps he could have pointed out that attrition has substantially trimmed the state workforce in recent years or that New London does have a Republican voice in Hartford in Sen. Paul Formica of the 20th District.
Instead, Nolan answered that he had nothing to say to those frustrated Republicans. In other words, they didn’t matter.
Co-sponsored by The Day and the League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut, the debate was held at the Science & Technical High School. The candidates are competing to fill the 39th House District vacancy created when former Rep. Chris Soto, a Democrat, resigned to join the administration of Gov. Ned Lamont. The election is Tuesday.
You can view the debate on theday. com. The question to Nolan begins about 22:30.
Not surprisingly, Kat Goulart, the Republican in the race, seized on the opportunity to say she was one of those frustrated Republicans and would be ready to attack state spending if elected.
A job of a state representative, she said, “Is to represent our city in Hartford and it is not to bring our own agenda. It is not to bring a party agenda or toe the line. It is to listen to what our constituents have to say.”
Later providing an example, Goulart said she is personally opposed to legalization of marijuana for recreational use, but would support it because, based on her campaigning, she has concluded a majority of New Londoners back legalization.
Green Party candidate Mirna Martinez, a Board of Education member, noted many people are leaving Connecticut and that its government has to find ways to run more efficiently. “I think there are a lot of issues on which we can overlap with Republicans.”
Petitioning candidate and school board member Jason Catala, who was a Republican until switching to a Democratic affiliation a few years ago to make winning easier, spoke of his fiscal conservative nature.
Given a chance to follow-up, Nolan offered a bit more than “nothing,” but not much more.
“When I vote and make decisions for the people of New London, I do it for everyone,” he said.
Granted, Nolan’s priorities are far different from those of most Republicans. He backs raising the minimum wage to $15, wants to pass paid family medical leave and seeks greater state education spending for poor urban cities such as New London. As the Democratic nominee, he is heavily favored and probably can win without Republican votes in this Democrat-dominated city.
But if elected, he should reconsider the idea of having nothing to say to frustrated Republicans. If he says something like, “What are your concerns?” Nolan might find that unaffiliated voters and even some Democrats share much in common with their Republican neighbors when it comes to the current state of our state. Paul Choiniere is the editorial page editor.