The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Trading jabs in first debate
Lamont, Stefanowski joust inside, their supporters do so outside
NEW LONDON — The name calling started less than three minutes in to the first debate between the candidates for governor, Republican Bob Stefanowski and Democrat Ned Lamont.
While Lamont used his opening statement to profess his love for Connecticut and call the state’s fiscal crisis a bipartisan problem, Stefanowski used his 30 seconds to reiterate an attack that has been his go-to thus far on the campaign trail: comparing Lamont with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
”Dan Malloy has absolutely ruined this state and the economy,” Stefanowski said. “Ned Lamont is going to be worse.”
The debate at the Garde Arts Center in New London was the first head-to-head matchup between the candidates, drawing a rowdy crowd and a lot of backand-forth banter between the two.
The first half of the debate focused primarily on the state’s economic woes, tolls, crumbling foundations and prison reform. While panelists attempted to draw out specifics from Stefanowski about his plan to eliminate the state income tax, the details he offered were few and far between, though he answered nearly every question by referencing his plan
and comparing Lamont with Malloy.
Lamont took only one direct shot at Stefanowski’s relationship with President Donald Trump, drawn into it after a question about the state’s crumbling foundation crisis prompted Stefanowski to say the state needs a better relationship with Washington.
”There’s no question you have a very close relationship with Donald Trump,” Lamont shot back, before saying he would bring insurance companies, banks, the state and maybe even Washington to the table to address the problem.
”Maybe I’d send Bob Stefanowski down to talk to the Trump administration,” Lamont quipped.
Stefanowski, who has little debate experience having skipped most of the pre-primary forums as well as the first debate on Sept. 5 following the Aug. 14 primary, was relatively unflappable during the hourlong contest Wednesday.
On questions regarding the legalization of marijuana, immigration, prison reform and the opioid crisis, he repeatedly turned his answer back to the state income tax, and praised the Trump administration’s
economic policy.
“Under my administration, we’re going to make it like it was when I graduated from high school in 1980,” Stefanowski said. He later took a line from the playbook of his pre-primary rival, Tim Herbst, who has been helping Stefanowski prepare for the debate, saying he’s going to “declare a fiscal state of emergency.”
On the legalization of recreational marijuana, Lamont said he would “absolutely legalize,” citing Connecticut’s neighboring states and a potential revenue stream for the state. Stefanowski said he is not opposed to the idea — and he favors medical marijuana — though he would like to see an impairment test put in place first.
Lamont said he would continue Malloy’s policy of sanctuary cities, while Stefanowski said he doesn’t think the state can “pick and choose which laws it enforces.” He argued that as governor of Connecticut, he won’t need to focus on social issues.
“We need to stop talking about things other than the economy and what we’re going to do about it,” Stefanowski said, before launching into a story about a meeting Malloy had with General Electric prior to the company’s departure from the state.
“By the way, the question was about immigration,” Lamont said when it was his turn to answer.
“When it comes to immigration, America is much stronger for the diversity we have here,” he said.
Still, Lamont and the panelists continued to press the Republican candidate for further details on his economic plan — specifically what he would cut to make up for the roughly $10 billion in revenue the state would lose from his plan to eliminate the state income tax.
Stefanowski’s response never became more specific, relying instead on his pledge to introduce zerobased budgeting.
“It’s just poppycock,” Lamont said. “And look, I’m OK with zero-based budgeting, but this is not GE. If you have a losing division, you can’t just sell it or get rid of it. This is social services.”
Tensions between the camps of Stefanowski and Lamont reached a head before the gubernatorial candidates ever made it to the stage.
Dozens of members from the state’s public employee unions rallied in front of the Garde Arts Center for two hours in support of Lamont, while Stefanowski’s supporters rallied across the street.
By 6 p.m., at least one fight had broken out, drawing state Republican chairman J.R. Romano and Lori Pelletier, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, into the scrum as they attempted to de-escalate the situation.
When one side shouted, “B.S. Bob,” the other responded with, “Retread Ned,” ultimately summing up the discourse between Stefanowski and Lamont, who just days after the primary dubbed each other, “Trumpanowski” and “Ned Malloy.”
The New London debate is known for attracting a lively crowd ahead of divisive political debates.
Sponsored by the New London-based newspaper “The Day” and WTNH Channel 8, the Wednesday debate marks the first headto-head match-up between Stefanowski and Lamont, who have been trading insults online and in advertising since the Aug. 14 primary.
Stefanowski and Lamont are slated to participate in four more debates prior to the November election.
Independent candidate Oz Griebel was not invited to participate in Wednesday’s debate despite a plea to the Texas-based parent company of WTNH, which set the parameters for participation.