The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Gov. hopefuls spar over debates
Lamont pushing Stefanowski for 5th head-to-head
Bob Stefanowski, the Republican nominee for governor who avoided his party’s five debates in the run-up to his primary win two weeks ago, has committed to four debates before November 6, Election Day.
But Ned Lamont on Tuesday pressed Stefanowski to attend an additional debate, scheduled for September 5 in Hartford.
Stefanowski, the Madison corporate executive, has agreed to debate Lamont on Sept. 12 and 26; and Oct. 18 and 30. Stefanowski, who has praised President Donald Trump, has focused his campaign on the promised elimination of the personal income tax, if elected.
But he has had few public appearances and has not yet released a daily schedule, instead depending on a multimillion-dollar TV-ad campaign.
“While Ned Lamont is on the record saying he would continue Gov. Malloy's failed policies that have bankrupted our state, as governor, I pledge to pursue policies that promote growth, ease the burden on hard-working taxpayers, bring jobs back to our state and revitalize the Connecticut economy,” Stefanowski said in a statement accompanying the list of debates he would attend.
Lacey J. Rose, Lamont’s communications director, said Tuesday that Stefanowski’s refusal to attend the September 5 appearance is problematic.
“We question Mr. Stefanowski's strategy to avoid questions about his slashand-burn, ‘voodoo economics’ approach that would raise property taxes and slash education,” Rose said in a statement. “He's had 10 months to prepare — why won’t he debate on September 5th?”