The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Dita Bhargava says let’s debate
Signaling she is not backing down, Democratic state treasurer hopeful Dita Bhargava on Monday challenged her party’s endorsed candidate Shawn Wooden to five debates ahead of the August primary.
“Democrats are fired up and ready to go,” said Bhargava, a former Wall Street portfolio manager from Greenwich. “What better way to tap into that energy than a series of debates that drive to the heart of the issues that they care about?”
Bhargava suggested one debate in each of Connecticut’s five Congressional districts, the same format that candidates for attorney general are planning for their forums. Each treasurer debate should center on a different topic, Bhargava said, like pension investment strategy, restoring Connecticut’s cities, women’s issues, suburban and rural concerns and college affordability.
“I am eager to participate in events that help us to reach voters and let them know just how important this election is to the people of Connecticut,” said Wooden, a finance lawyer and former Hartford City Council president, in a statement on Monday. His campaign did not respond to requests to clarify whether these events included Bhargava’s proposed debates.
Bhargava placed third at the Democratic state convention, after Wooden and Hartford lawyer Arunan Arulampalam. Arulampalam withdrew his candidacy on May 29 in favor of party unity. Later that day, Wooden asked Bhargava to meet, she said.
Saying avoiding a primary was better for the party, Wooden asked Bhargava to end her bid, too, Bhargava said. He also said he was the candidate who could win in November. Bhargava disagreed.
“It seems that Democratic unity has become a euphemism for denying voters a choice,” she said Monday. “What kind of message would it send to women if I accepted the message he was making, my male opponent, of stepping out of race?”
Wooden characterized his request to other media as a routine political gesture last week.
Bhargava, who explored a run for governor before choosing a treasurer’s bid, is the only female candidate in the race. Republicans will see a primary between endorsed candidate Thad Gray, a retired investment executive, and challenger Art Linares, a state senator from Westbrook.