The third debate for governor provided a twist in the form of Oz Griebel, the petitioning candidate for governor, making an appearance alongside the major party candidates for the first time.
Republican Bob Stefanowski and Democrat Ned Lamont were the only participants in the previous two debates in New London and New Haven.
Despite Griebel’s appearance on the stage at UConn’s Jorgensen Center, the debate provided much of the same comments and attacks from both Lamont and Stefanowski.
Stefanowski said of his Democratic opponent, “Ned Lamont is going to be Dan Malloy, 2.0.”
That theme from the Republican was present throughout the hour-long debate presented by UConn, and WFSB-TV.
Lamont repeatedly criticized Stefanowski for having yet to provide an details on how he plans to close multi-billion dollar deficits over the next two years while also planning to phase out the income tax over eight years.
“Bob is just making it up,” Lamont said. “If he just had a plan of his own, if he had a way to cut spending, if he had a plan to get this moving again, if he had a way to create jobs, he’d be talking about his plan and his ideas rather than constantly attacking me.”
Politics
The issue of bringing tolls back to Connecticut’s highways led to some meaningful conversation among the three candidates.Ned Lamont pushed his plan to toll out of state trucks, which he says would bring in $100 million annually to help fix bridges, roads, and public transit.
“It’s at least an honest plan,” Lamont said.
Stefanowski panned Lamont’s truck proposal, saying it would lead to full scale tolling of all cars passing through the state.
“Are you going to go through all of the problems to build the technology, get it through the legislature, get all of the approval and just tax heavy duty out of state trucks in the evening? Of course, not.” “You’re going to have 80 tolls on I-95.”
Stefanowski did not provide any plan to address congested highways and slower commuter trains.
Griebel, in effect, proposed a sort of middle ground when it comes to tolls. He proposed a pilot program for electronic toll collection in HOV lanes.
“We’re now in a situation where we’ve underfunded our transportation infrastructure where we’re having these asinine fights where Republicans can’t support a toll and the Democrat has to support it, regardless,” Griebel said. “This notion is not about tolls or cost. It’s about making sure you understand that the dollars you pay in the gasoline tax, or tolls, or the income tax are going into the services that you want.”
The issue of the moment, the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, was the major topic at the close of the debate. The candidates were asked whether Kavanaugh, who now faces multiple allegations of sexual assault, should be confirmed.
Lamont said he should not, while Stefanowski would not answer one way or the other, saying, “I’m going to pass on that. That’s a federal issue.”
Earlier in the debate, Stefanowski would not give President Donald Trump a grade for his performance as president, even though during the primary he gave him an, “A.” Lamont gave the president an F.
On the Kavanaugh issue, Stefanowski elaborated following the debate, saying, "I've got three daughters. I think any allegation of sexual abuse should be taken very seriously. They should be listened to and should be looked at and I trust that that's what's been happening in Washington over this week.”
Lamont said of Kavanaugh, "I don't think he should be approved and by the way, governors appoint Supreme Court Justices here in this state and you want to know where we stand on these issues. You want to know where we stand."
