Malloy: Justices face tough scrutiny ‘only if they’re gay’

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is getting closer to nominating another candidate to be the next chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court.

He told reporters in the State Capitol on Tuesday the upcoming nominee, replacing Associate Justice Andrew J. McDonald, who was defeated in a close vote in the state Senate last week, will be a sitting state judge.

“I’m looking at a crosssection of folks,” he said. “The Constitution states that the governor will nominate. I don’t anticipate, nor am I looking for, a delay in that nomination.”

Malloy last week blamed politics, a personal animus toward him and a degree of homophobia in lawmakers’ opposition to McDonald who continues to serve on the high bench, but would have been the first openly gay chief justice in the country if he had been confirmed.

Asked whether he would anticipate another tough political fight over his next candidate, Malloy responded, “There shouldn’t have been one to begin with.”

Asked if any nominee will face scrutiny similar to McDonald, Malloy replied: “Only if they’re gay.”

Joe Ganim has cash

Joe Ganim, the Bridgeport mayor and a Democratic candidate for governor, is reporting he has raised nearly $525,000 for his campaign, and has around $333,000 in cash on hand.

The details of his contributions will be included in a campaign finance report to be filed April 10 with the State Elections Enforcement Commission. Ganim — who was re-elected mayor in 2015 after serving a seven-year federal prison sentence for public corruption — is ineligible for the state’s public campaign finance program, which bars convicted felons from receiving public money for campaigns.

“Our fundraising has clearly surpassed expectations and shows the strong support our campaign is generating from Democrats who want a candidate who will build a new Connecticut economy that works for everyone — not just the few,” Ganim said. “That begins by making our cities once again engines of economic growth. We are not going to tax or cut our way out of the state’s fiscal mess. To rebuild our state’s finances, we need to grow our economy and create good-paying jobs for everyone who wants to work.”

Stewart short $70,000

Only Republican candidates who have officially declared their candidacy for governor and raised $175,000 were invited to a debate in New Britain on Wednesday.

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart missed the mark by about $70,000. She has raised just over $105,000 since she first began exploring a run for the top office on Jan. 29.

“I have been both surprised and overwhelmed by the enthusiasm out there and the way that has translated into contributions,” Stewart said. “When I first announced on Jan. 29, some of my competitors said that I wouldn’t be able to raise the money. Well, we have certainly proven them wrong and have set a record pace toward reaching the public financing thresholds. We are on track to get there by the Republican State Convention in May.”

Candidates must raise $250,000 in contributions of $100 or less to qualify for the state’s public campaign financing program. Stewart said all of the money she has received count as qualifying contributions.

Stemerman has a plan

David Stemerman, a hedge-fund millionaire from Greenwich, unveiled his plan for the state’s pension system and economic stability should he be elected in November.

“The most important responsibility for our next governor is to save Connecticut from a financial crisis — a crisis that threatens our families, our jobs, and our state employee’s retirement security,” Stemerman said. “No career politician or labor leader has been willing to talk honestly about these problems.”

Stemerman will make his first appearance in a Republican debate Wednesday in New Britain alongside eight of his competitors.

Malloy