R. Nelson “Oz” Griebel, a longtime business executive, officially declared his candidacy for governor Thursday by saying he will think big, talk straight, and take decisive action.<\/p>\n
Griebel, 60, has served in a variety of key positions but has never held elective office. He has gained a reputation for leadership as the former chairman of the state’s Transportation Strategy Board and president of the MetroHartford Alliance for the past nine years.<\/p>\n
“Why run at 60 years old after being in the private sector all these years?” Griebel asked rhetorically in an outdoor announcement under the state Capitol’s north portico.<\/p>\n
As the snow fell a few feet away, Griebel said that the answer is that the state needs leadership in a difficult time.<\/p>\n
Known for taking independent stands, Griebel said the state must consider ending the lucrative state-employee pensions for new employees and instead installing a type of 401 (k) plan that is more common in the private sector. State-employee benefits “have to be put on the table” in the future, he said.<\/p>\n
Without an overcoat, Griebel stood outside on a cold, snowy day as his supporters and the media remained bundled up to avoid the chill. When Griebel, a former college baseball player, stepped to the microphone, the first thing he said was “just remember, pitchers and catchers report in two weeks.”<\/p>\n
Griebel will be battling for the Republican nomination against former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley of Greenwich and Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele of Stamford – the two front-runners for the Republican nomination. Former U.S. Rep. Larry DeNardis of Hamden and Chester first selectman Thomas E. Marsh have also filed papers for exploratory committees for governor.<\/p>\n
The race is wide open because the original front-runners – Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz – have both declined to run.<\/p>\n
After his announcement, Griebel handled a wide variety of questions from reporters.<\/p>\n
“I recognize there are state-employee contracts that have to be honored,” Griebel said, adding that he was looking at the situation for new employees.<\/p>\n
Regarding tax increases, he said, “You have to look at everything on the spending side before you touch the revenue side. I would never rule anything off limits. I think that’s a foolish thing to do at any time.”<\/p>\n
A Simsbury resident for the past 16 years, Griebel said he would essentially serve as the state’s chief economic development officer and would work to make changes in “a state that has a reputation of being anti-business and anti-jobs.”<\/p>\n
As a candidate, he said he would have “no allegiance to polls, re-election or any constituency” that wasn’t pushing for the state’s best interests in difficult financial times.<\/p>\n
As long as the money goes into a “lock box” and can be spent only for transportation purposes, Griebel said he would consider re-installing tolls on state highways.<\/p>\n
“All things have to be on the table,” Griebel said. “The tolls have to be part of this whole discussion. … If somebody could show me another way to put $225 plus million into the system that was better than that, I would listen to it. The goal isn’t tolls for itself. The goal is to get the funding for the transportation.”<\/p>\n
The state must spend its own money to improve the transporation infrastructure, he said, rather than waiting for years for federal funding. <\/p>\n
“That’s not going to come by wishing for the federal fairy godmother,” Griebel said.<\/p>\n