The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
GOP hopefuls on same page
Four Republican candidates attack Malloy, agree on nearly every issue in debate
NEW HAVEN — They called it a debate, but there was little dissent among the four Republican candidates for governor who took the stage in New Haven Monday.
The candidates agreed across the board: Connecticut has a serious financial problem starting with pensions and ending with income taxes, they’re pro immigration as long as it’s legal, tolls are bad, President Donald Trump is welcome in Connecticut (though none would say if they want him to campaign for them), the state needs pension reform and everyone hates Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
“I would welcome Donald Trump to come here anytime he wants,” said Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, the party-endorsed candidate for governor. “The fact of the matter is this is a Connecticut problem caused by Democrats. We need focus on the most hated politician in the state of Connecticut and that’s Gov. Malloy.”
“The Democrats want to make this about Washington because they don’t want to talk about their failure,” echoed former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst.
So what distinguished Westport tech entrepreneur Steve Obsitnik from Greenwich hedge fund mogul David Stemerman, and the businessmen from Boughton and Herbst?
Obsitnik was the only one who didn’t wear a tie, Stemerman — the only candidate who’s never run a campaign before — seemed the most uncomfortable on the debate stage and Herbst attempted to take the toughest tone. Boughton and Herbst were more conservative in their support of a casino in Bridgeport, while the businessmen said they’d gladly support private sector growth and negotiate with the state’s tribes.
Stemerman cited an economic plan he released last month and alluded to comprehensive ideas for infrastructure improvements, even floating the idea of a high-speed ferry to Manhattan.
“Connecticut has a wonderful location between New York and Boston,” Stemerman said. “What we need is outside the box thinking to solve these problems. The debate in Hartford is all about “yes” or “no” to tolls and we need fresh thinking.”
Obsitnik touted his military experience as well as his work on development of Siri, saying he’d like to see Connecticut become a hub for technology development.
“How do we inspire people do build jobs and engineer again?” Obsitnik said, again citing his five-step plan to create 300,000 jobs in eight years.
The debate was organized by the Connecticut Realtors Association and WTNH. Boughton is the endorsed GOP candidate for governor, Herbst and Obsitnik both qualified for the ballot at the state Republican convention last month, and Stemerman, the only candidate who hasn’t officially qualified for the ballot, submitted 20,000 signatures to registrars of voters this week, more than double the requisite 9,000.
Petitioning candidates Bob Stefanowski, a businessman from Madison, and Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti also received last minute invitations, but declined in order to focus on the last hours of their petition drives before signatures are due Tuesday.