Stewart excluded from GOP debate

Gubernatorial hopeful not participating in hometown event

Erin Stewart will not have the homefield advantage at a Republican gubernatorial debate in New Britain on Wednesday, because she won’t even be on the field.

Stewart, 30, a New Britain native, two-term mayor and candidate for governor, has not met the fundraising requirement set by the state party in order to receive an invitation to the debate stage at New Britain High School — her alma mater, Class of 2005.

“I’m definitely disappointed that I won’t be able to participate, but I’m not surprised by it,” said Stewart, who is the only officially declared female candidate in a crowded field.

“It was made very clear to me from the first day that I entered this race, that I was not going to be allowed to participate in any of the debates unless I raised, quite frankly, a large amount of money in a very short period of time,” Stewart said. It’s not surprising. I don’t expect them to change the rules for me, but unfortunately that means we will have to take our message to other platforms.”

Only declared candidates who have raised at least $175,000 are eligible to participate in the GOP’s fourth debate, and while she made her campaign official last month, Stewart still has not raised enough money.

State GOP Chairman J.R. Romano maintained his stance on making an exception — there will not be one. Stewart knew the rules, he said. She was represented at the GOP meeting a year ago when the rules for debate participation were established.

“The candidates set these rules,” Romano said. “I’m just the referee.”

Stewart may not be participating, but that does not she is not trying to find a way to voice her opinions ahead of the debate. She plans to hold a pre-debate rally outside the high school.

“We’ll be standing outside of New Britain High School to rally to get me on the stage,” Stewart said. “My voice should be heard and my supporters and people that are supportive of my campaign believe that as well.”

“I think it’s wrong that she’s not allowed to participate,” said Tony Cane, chairman of the New Britain Republican Town Committee. “I can see why the chairman is excluding people, but it’s in her hometown. She’s popular in her hometown, and she’s a very

popular candidate in the state. She graduated from the high school where it’s being held.”

Stewart would not say how far short of the fundraising requirement her campaign is, but said funding totals will be released later this week once they have been finalized by her treasurer.

“It’s going to be a very promising number and it’s going to show we’re proving our doubters wrong,” she said.

State Sen. Toni Boucher, who is still exploring a run, also was not invited, though she did participate in the first two debates, in which exploratory candidates who had raised $75,000 were allowed.

Nine of the 10 invited Republicans have accepted invitations, which is the third of five debates the party is sponsoring. They are Mark Boughton, Mike Handler, Tim Herbst, Mark Lauretti, Peter Lumaj, Steve Obsitnik, Prasad Srinivasan,

Dave Walker and David Stemerman. Only Bob Stefanowski declined, citing scheduling conflicts.

Personal funds count toward the party’s entry requirement for the debates, which makes self-funded candidates like Stemerman, a hedge fund mogul, and Stefanowski, a former chief financial officer of UBS Investment Bank, eligible. Both skipped the first three debates, but Stemerman is expected to make his first appearance Wednesday.

The state Republican party scheduled one debate in each of the state’s five congressional districts. Wednesday’s will take place in the 5th District, which is represented by U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, a Democrat who announced Monday she will not run for reelection after news of a toxic workplace environment in her office broke last week.

Several of the men running for governor have asked for exceptions to allow Stewart and Boucher to participate, including Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, who offered to give his seat to the women at the last Republican debate in West Haven only to be told it was against the rules.

Republicans will hold their statewide nominating convention in six weeks at Foxwoods Resort Casino, with 1,300 delegates voting on party endorsements.

Candidates who get at least 15 percent of the vote qualify for the party’s August primary. Otherwise, they have to collect signatures from 2 percent of party members (about 9,600 registered Republicans) by early June to petition their way onto the ballot.

Stewart