If Lamont spends millions, as expected, Malloy could qualify for a maximum of $2.5 million for the primary that will be held on August 10.<\/p>\n
Besides Lamont and Malloy, the debate included Simsbury First Selectman Mary Glassman, Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi, former state Rep. Juan Figueroa and Waterbury Mayor Mike Jarjura. In the latest poll, Glassman had 4 percent, followed by Marconi at 2 percent and Figueroa at 1 percent.<\/p>\n
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\n The candidates talked about the projected deficit of more than $500 million for the fiscal year that ends on June 30 and the projected deficit as high as $3.8 billion for the 2012 fiscal year.<\/p>\n “We need to begin shrinking our government to a degree,” Marconi said. “We also need to look at revenues, and by that I mean tolls.”<\/p>\n Jarjura said, “We have to have a plan of action that takes us out over the next four years. … I know we can do it.”<\/p>\n Malloy, the longest-serving mayor in Stamford’s history, said that both Republicans and Democrats deserve blame for the financial problems at the state Capitol.<\/p>\n “Connecticut is in trouble,” Malloy said. “The reality is we have not been served well by our leadership. … We need a laser-like focus on job creation. … The reality is we’re spending too much money – more money than we have.”<\/p>\n When asked if the so-called millionaires’ tax is wise, Malloy said, “We have to be very careful. We have to benchmark our tax structure. … I desperately want the state to become more efficient.”<\/p>\n Since incomes are the highest in the state in lower Fairfield County, some local Democrats have balked about raising the state income tax on the richest residents. Malloy has been asked in the past about hiking the income tax, and he has avoided placing a specific number on how high the tax should be. The state legislature increased the tax last year for the 2009 calendar year on couples earning $1 million or more.<\/p>\n Glassman said that the state must first examine its spending before deciding to raise taxes.<\/p>\n “I’m in favor of forming a tax-modernization commission,” Marconi said, adding that property tax relief is needed.<\/p>\n Since the state’s fiscal problems are so huge, the candidates were asked what accomplishments they had to tackle such a gigantic task.<\/p>\n “I tried 23 felony cases and had 22 convictions,” Malloy said, describing his early days as a prosecutor in Brooklyn, N.Y. <\/p>\n He returned to that issue again when asked about the death penalty, saying that he was the only person on the stage with a record of convictions as a prosecutor.<\/p>\n “The last four of those cases, including convictions, were murders,” Malloy said. “The reality is there is no connection between the death penalty” and deterring crime.<\/p>\n “I want to begin by treating everyone with respect,” Malloy said, adding that all groups have not always been treated with respect in recent years. “I will also call on the legislature to be a partner” by consolidating more than 200 agencies into a smaller number.<\/p>\n Glassman said she comes from a traditionally Republican town and has worked well with both Republicans and Democrats.<\/p>\n The candidates all weighed in on whether Connecticut should become the first state in the nation to adopt mandatory, paid sick days in the private sector.<\/p>\n “This is an easy issue for me,” Malloy said, adding that there would be an exemption if employers gave vacation time. “I think it’s time to address this issue.”<\/p>\n Lamont answered by saying that his Greenwich-based cable television company provides paid sick days and personal days. The bigger issue, though, is to reduce unemployment and get workers back to work, he said. Lamont added that he supports the federal paid sick leave bill that is being sponsored by U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd and Rep. Rosa DeLauro of New Haven.<\/p>\n Glassman said, “Paid sick leave is obviously a good thing for workers. … There’s no stability in our laws or our government. … It took five days for the governor to pick up the phone and say we want you to stay here.”<\/p>\n Marconi said, “I believe, yes, people do deserve the right to have paid sick leave. … As a mandate, that’s the word I have a problem with. We need to get rid of anything associated with a mandate. … Mandates have to end.”<\/p>\n Marconi said that, for the past couple of years, the state has been enjoying a large and delicious dinner. Now, though, it’s time to pay.<\/p>\n “We’re trying to figure out who is going to pick up the tab,” Marconi said.<\/p>\n “The first thing we do is open the Hawaiian room on the fifth floor of the Capitol,” said Jarjura, a former legislator.<\/p>\n Of the Democratic group Friday night, Jarjura has been the most quiet of the candidates. Jarjura talked months ago of possibly running for attorney general, and he has not yet formed an exploratory committee for governor.<\/p>\n When asked about the budget and taxes, Jarjura said, “I think Ned said it earlier. We have not earned the right to start raising taxes.”<\/p>\n Jarjura said that some officials “have abused the Gold Coast” regarding the collection of taxes.<\/p>\n Traditionally, the top 5 percent of taxpayers in Connecticut pay more than the bottom 95 percent combined in the state income tax.<\/p>\n “Most of the income tax is paid by very few people,” Jarjura said.<\/p>\n Some insiders were surprised to see Jarjura on the stage Friday night in the same way that they were surprised to see an appearance in the Republican debate by Christopher Duffy Acevedo, a Branford financial analyst who is a political unknown.<\/p>\n Before the debate, Figueroa issued a statement that the state needs “reasonable revenue increases” – meaning tax increases.<\/p>\n “Connecticut’s middle class is on life support, and those struggling families can’t afford to spend the next 15 months losing their jobs, homes, and health care,” he said. “But that’s how long it will be if we wait for the first budget of the next governor, which takes effect in July 2011.”<\/p>\n Figueroa noted, “My statements on this topic may not be politically wise, but I know I have to speak up. Our citizens deserve respect; they need someone who will speak up even if it’s not popular. I know the public can’t wait any longer for our elected officials to avoid the tough decisions.”<\/p>\n During the debate, Figueroa said, “The governorship is not a ceremonial position. … We need to be better at being more strategic” in economic development programs.<\/p>\n In her closing statement, Glassman said she’s the daughter of a mother who grew up in foster care and she is the first woman in her family to graduate from college. As a six-term Democratic first selectman in a Republican town, she said she has “the experience and the discipline to get Connecticut moving again.”<\/p>\n Jarjura, the youngest of seven sons, said it was “an honor and a privilege” to be on the stage Friday night. He took over Waterbury when it was on the brink of bankruptcy, and says “I think you’ve got the whole package here” for the governor’s office.<\/p>\n Malloy said that Connecticut is known as the land of steady habits, but “those habits have been bad habits. … It’s time to make a difference. I believe my time as a mayor and a prosecutor prepares me” to be the next governor.<\/p>\n Figueroa said that his mother – a seamstress and chaplain – taught him lessons that he carries until this day.<\/p>\n Lamont said, “I promise to you, as your governor, that I will present a balanced budget. … More importantly, we have to get this state growing again. … I am going to bring out the best in the state. … Where else can you be a Yankees fan or a Red Sox fan?”<\/p>\n After the closing statements, there was still time left in the one-hour program – prompting a question about the upcoming baseball season in the longtime rivalry.<\/p>\n Lamont, Malloy, Marconi, and Jarjura all said they are Yankees fans.<\/p>\n “Go Red Sox,” said Glassman as the debate was ending.<\/p>\n Despite his late arrival, Lamont was never asked about transportation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ned Lamont has complained about Connecticut’s transportation system during his campaign for governor, but it hit him personally Friday night. When the cameras started rolling for the first live television debate at the local NBC affiliate, Lamont was not there – and the camera showed an empty spot. “We begin with an empty lectern,” moderator Gerry […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4001,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-449145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4001"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=449145"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449145\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=449145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=449145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=449145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"blogdebatePic.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.courant.com\/capitol_watch\/blogdebatePic.jpg\")
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