Republican candidates for Connecticut governor faced off in their first debate on Friday.
Five of the six candidates were at the Mark Twain House for the event: Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, Senate Minority Leader John McKinney of Fairfield, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, Avon attorney Martha Dean, and former West Hartford Town Councilman Joe Visconti. Follow along with the proceedings below.
Greenwich businessman Tom Foley, the party's candidate in 2010, did not appear.
Connecticut Republicans are endorsing candidates for the party's slate on May 16 and 17. Some candidates said they hope to win enough support at the convention to wage a primary. The debate was sponsored by The Hartford Courant and Fox CT.
Candidates are getting ready for 12 noon debate; pic.twitter.com/xNAETfOXnr
— Christopher Keating (@chrispkeating) April 11, 2014
At GOP gubernatorial debate at Mark Twain House. Behind them, the wall says "If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything."
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
@chrispkeating asks @MayorMark if he would've signed gun bill. He says no, it didn't address the issues.
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
First question from @chrispkeating: Would you have signed state's sweeping gun control law? Visconti, Dean and Lauretti are clear "nos"
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
Boughton says legislation failed to address mental health.
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
McKinney notes he represents Newtown. "Leadership means rolling up your sleeves...not sitting on the sidelines saying no."
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
Visconti: "I'd like to convey to the families of Sandy Hook...gun owners are not the enemy."
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
Debate! Talking about gun legislation vs gun rights. See it at http://t.co/wjDRIv7XZT pic.twitter.com/RrKNjs3ukW
— Carolyn Lumsden CT (@CarolynLumsden) April 11, 2014
Next ? By @LauriePerez: how would you clean up Connecticut? (Question asked one day after former Gov. Rowland's indictment)
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
On Rowland question, Martha issues call for personal responsibility. "We need to be different people if we want to elect different people"
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
Boughton says he would have sent the post-Newtown gun bill back to the legislature; says it needed more focus on mental health, safe schools
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Asked about corruption, candidates question state contractor contributions to Dems, Malloy staffers using personal emails to avoid FOI
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Dean calls Malloy's proposed $55 tax rebate a fraud
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Lauretti pivots tax question to spending, corporate welfare.
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
Paging Working Families Party: Republicans in this debate highly critical of "corporate welfare"--giving tax money to companies to spur jobs
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
Visconti: CT is ship on fire, sinking, heading toward the rocks. Cites high gas prices. Boughton lays out detailed program.
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
Joe Visconti says CT is a ship on fire drifting into the rocks. Says $55 rebate is the gov trying to bribe us w our own money
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
McKinney says he's the only candidate, including Gov Malloy, who's put together a complete, balanced budget that doesn't raise taxes
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Also, Gov. Malloy's $55 tax rebate not to popular with Republican governor candidate. Visconti says he's "trying to bribe us with our own $"
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
Boughton calls tax rebate "insulting" and says the $55 rebate will go tight into your gas tank....
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
McKinney good on how Malloy tax hikes hurt everyday expenses. LAuretti comes back to foundational problem of spending.
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
Dean: Whoever is gov next will be unpopular and needs to be comfortable with that.
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Good @MayorMark line: that $55 rebate is going into your tank to get home from this debate (not creating jobs).
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
Asked about common core, Visconti says, "Governor Malloy is the enemy of the teachers." He calls common core "the Obamacare of education."
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
Boughton, a former teacher, says he'll slow down the progress of Common Core. #CTGov
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
Lauretti takes a pass on common core, Visconti goes at it. Boughton compares it to Obamacare. good answer from former teacher Boughton.
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
Visconti calls common core the "Obamacare of education"
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Mark Lauretti says govt should get out of the classroom, empower superintendents.
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Martha on common core: government should not be coming in and substituting for the family.
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
Dean: if take out inner cities from measurements, our schools measure way ahead of the rest of the world. Should focus on broken schools.
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Visconti cites Montesorri model, make human person center of Ed, not mechanistic model.
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
Martha Dean: “Why people keep voting for these politicians is beyond comprehension”
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Martha: restore connection between parents & kids, schools & family.
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
McKinney focuses on his experience. Lauretti describes limits of government, need for family structure, changing how we treat each other
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
2nd segment: all 5 candidates presenting good public face of #CTGOP, better than seen in press. But no 1 candidate standing out. #ctgov
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
Candidates haven't bashed each other but taking a lot of swings at Gov Malloy
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Dean: eliminate state income tax, end public sector unions (but honor existing commitments), bring back nuclear power, reform family courts
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Martha Dean, Republican running for governor, says she has a 6-point plan for Connecticut. Shades of Linda McMahon...http://t.co/LPYAhx7wPs
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
Dean mentions concerns about children being medicated a couple times. Says we need to know more about Adam Lanza's experience w psych meds
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Visconti well prepared. Not the wild-eyed man you expect. Boughton plays strongest card, his record as Danbury mayor.
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
Martha cites Justina Pelletier case, says government shouldn't come between families.
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
Question about favorite TV show: @MayorMark says he's torn between Breaking Bad and Walking Dead--as anyone who follows him on Twitter knows
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
Favorite TV show: Boughton: breaking bad or walking dead. McKinney: Seinfeld Dean: wasn't allowed to watch as a kid.
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Lauretti says he doesn't watch much TV. Visconti: The Ed Sullivan Show
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
McKinney wins best vacation question, mentions fiancé. Audible "awww" from the ladies.
— Peter Wolfgang (@Peter_Wolfgang) April 11, 2014
Favorite book: Martha Dean says "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," McKinney says "Team of Rivals"
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
Boughton is first to mention absent GOP frontrunner Tom Foley, says leadership is leading from the front, not hiding.
— Arielle Levin Becker (@ariellelb) April 11, 2014
Mark Boughton takes a shot at Tom Foley for not attending #GOPdebate. #CTgov
— Andrew Julien (@andrewjulien) April 11, 2014
McKinney invokes his mom and dad, pledges he will lead by making tough decisions.
— Daniela Altimari (@capitolwatch) April 11, 2014
This report includes information from The Associated Press.
