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NORWALK, Conn. – One Norwalk candidate says you can't retire in Connecticut anymore, and that is one of the reasons he's running for the state Senate. His opponent, the incumbent, says he is proud of his accomplishments and that Connecticut's economy grew faster last year than 41 other states'.
Democratic state Sen. Bob Duff (25th District) and Republican rival Jack Chiaramonte squared off Monday night at City Hall in a candidates forum organized by the League of Women Voters of Norwalk. Moderated by Trumbull Democratic Registrar Laurel Anderson, the debate featured numerous references to the Educational Cost Sharing Formula from Chiaramonte and comments by Duff about the realities of government.
"Bob is a nice guy, he's a personable guy, but when it comes to substance, I'm sorry, you failed there," Chiaramonte said on the jobs issue.
Chiaramonte made one of his many references to being a small businessman in Sono in response to a question about the state's tax laws and recent tax hikes. "You have to entice the businesses ... they bring jobs," he said. He held up a copy of the front page of Barron's August magazine. "Worst state to do business in," he said in reference to the cover story.
Duff said the legislature was forced to make difficult choices over the past two years to balance the budget. "We worked very hard to make sure that what we did not do was we didn't push it down to municipalities," he said. "Some other states did exactly that, New Jersey for example." The result was a 20 to 30 percent jump in property taxes, he said.
"A city like Norwalk shares a lot of burden for social costs," he said. "Do we push it all back on to the municipalities? ... Or do you ask people all across the state to help provide a little more so we can get through these tough economic times?"
Chiaramonte said violent crime in the state has gone up while Duff has voted in support of early release programs.
Duff said violent crime is down about 44 percent in Connecticut over the past 30 years. Keeping people in prison is one of the most expensive things the state does, he said, adding that putting nonviolent criminals in programs to reduce recidivism is a good thing.
"It must be awfully easy to just kind of throw out facts or throw out ... what you think are facts," Duff said.
The candidates also touched on topics including the transportation infrastructure, Obamacare, education reform, the minimum wage and voter registration on Election Day.
In conclusion, Duff said the two men have very different styles, that he is proud of his accomplishments, and that "we have a lot more work to do."
Chiaramonte said he was proud of his five-year tenure as chair of the Board of Education. "I am not a polished politician, I am everyman," he said. "You see his style, you see my style."
He promised to be more pro-business. "If you're looking for a change, give me a shot," he said.
Comments (9)
Old Timer: Why must you lie to defame this guy? Do you really think an election hinges on you? Here is but one bit of that study, if you read past the first paragraph, you would see it is a scathing indictment of the entire state. Unfortunately, every one of the numbers Chiaramonte throws around are true, but no one seems to care...
"Connecticut's major cities, including Bridgeport and New Haven, are depressed and a drain on the state's coffers. Once known as a low-tax alternative to neighboring New York, Connecticut now has the third highest state and local tax burden in the country at 12% of per capita income, behind New York and New Jersey, according to the Tax Foundation."
You think that makes it favorable to do business here? Who are you kidding?
Fairfield County has always had the highest cost of living right behind Beverly Hills for as long as I can remember,
it's very simple, if life in Fairfield County is ardous and too costly, one can move.
Very simple, now, I would argue that Wilton Connecticut and Westport Connecticut have been "bedroom" communities since the 1960's before the manufacturing drain due to the move of Route 128 in Boston to Silicon Valley, so what is the fuss here? that manufacturing has moved out of the state? that the valley, once known for key manufacturing, has seen their jobs outsourced to China?
I think that's the real issue, isn't it? is this person going to "change" magically the fabric of this state with a wave of his magic wand?
And also, let's make sure we are relating all the facts; the investigations into investment firms after the crash in 2008, left many who fuel the economic engines of southern connecticut wanting since they saw their bonuses and futures in jeopardy; rightfully so, you cannot rise meteorically by gaming an investment process.
I really don't understand the "surprise" I read from my fellow Norwalkers.
It's very obvious to me
Regards
NL
Did you attend the debate and see and hear both candidates ?
My opinion, or yours, on how favorable, or not, our state may be to business doesn't mean a thing in a discussion about this debate. Jack quoted a list that showed CT rated at the bottom and So Dakota at the top, but that list was rating state bonds as investments. Unfortunately, he said that list was about how good each state was for businesses. That was not trues. While he may see some connection between how good an investment state's bonds may be and how favorable a location a state may be for business, a lot of very succesful companies apparently do not agree with his view, and his view does not honestly reflect what the article said. It is hard sometimes to seperate facts from opinion. Jack is not the first or only one to have this problem, but as a candidate, he does have a responsibilty to be honest in public statements.
I hope you understand how little it matters to me that you call me a liar. I am not running for office and do not want your vote. Go back and read the part of that story you quoted. It suggests that both New York and New Jersey are taxed more and must be worse places for business, Really ?
Unfortunately, one of Connecticut's biggest jobs, advocate, Chris Dodd, is no longer active, that surely must not be lost on those who have lived here for more than five years.
Chris Dodd brought military contracts to Goodrich, Sikorsky, and others,
Lieberman brought contracts to Electric Boat,
But with companies like Stanleyworks moving to China, good manufacturing jobs are lost, which means the small machine shops and other small businesses withered on the vine.
I really don't understand why people cannot see that.
I'd like to see how Jack Chiaramonte proposes to bring jobs to Connecticut; I think he is over-reaching, in fact, I know it.
I will not be fooled by an individual who tries to cry populist, but does not have the tools in his toolbox to do what he says he will do.
That's a poor reflection on me as a voter.
Regards
NL
I did not attend, but I read the entire report referenced and my point is that you don't seem to have done that. The quote is from that report and while the high level thrust of the article is about relative bond risk, the bulk of the article does discuss a number of factors which influence the business climate and as you now observe, it is called out. No one is making a connection between bond risk and anything, but debt, regulation, tax burden...all these things make it bad for business. and in most of all these measures, Connecticut is last.
My question is why you are nitpicking? Duff says he is proud of his record, well, his record is that he is supportive of policies that have us with the largest pension deficit and hugest per capita debt in the country, among other metrics, all of which point to the bottom. He writes a letter to support a project he knows is going to happen and now he has a billboard over 95.
If the best you can do is compare us to New Jersey, good luck to you. It reminds me of the Bill Clinton parody on SNL...we rocketed by Mississippi and look out Alabama, we got your number.
Johnny,
I'm not disagreeing with you, but would simply like to point out one major factor regarding the bonds and bond ratings is the debt service cost. All the towns in Connecticut have to bond out for money on capital projects at some point, whether it be to replace school roofs or update a sewer plant. The bond rating of a municipality comes into play at that point in a major way because it determines the rate of interest for the bond. The better the bond rating, the lower the interest rate. And some of these bonds are 30 year bonds. Sometimes, opportunities to redeem the bonds happen and municipalities can renegotiate the remaining balance. That's when the significant "debt reduction" happen. I'm not using the word "savings" here because it's not. While it may mean that rather than paying 1 million of interest on an outstanding bond, we only pay $500 thousand in interest, but we are still paying off the debt.
Fortunately, for Norwalk, we've managed to hold onto our AAA bond rating, which means lower municipal interest rate payments. That's good for the City. However, the fact that Connecticut is so low on the list for bond rates isn't good. Overall, it means a heavier State tax burden on all the residents and businesses. For businesses that translates into more regulations and higher taxes
There is a watershed point for all of this and California has reached it. Businesses and residents are leaving California in droves due to the high cost of living and ever increasing unemployment rates. Sadly, it looks like Connecticut is headed down the same road.
Chiaramonte is a comedy act..
I think its pretty simply that he is not qualified just by looking at his recent behavior. Actually I feel he is an embarrassment...
It's unfortunate that the Norwalk GOP will enlist any one who wishes to run,
I have seen Jack speak, and his ability to persaude is uninspiring.
Being a bully is not a pre-requisite for becoming a legislator, in my view.
Regards
NL
Chiaramonte throws numbers around with nothing to back them up. He waved an August copy of Barron's business newspaper and quoted a list in it listing CT as the worst manged state and the worst place in the country for business. The list actually rates state bonds as investments and said nothing about climate for business. While Ct was at the bottom of that list, South Dakota was at the top. His statement was incorrect and, to be kind, misleading.
Senator Duff brought a large notebook he checked throughout the debate, Chiaramonte brought a newspaper he misquoted. No doubt he means well, but he is not ready for prime time. He still looks and sounds angry most of the time, and that is not an assest in the negotiations required in the legislative process..