Incumbent state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, a Democrat, and Chip Stephens, his Republican challenger, for the 136th District squared off on tolls, the need for a state funds lock box and local autonomy versus state mandates at today’s candidates’ forum via Zoom.
Other topics included the state’s handling of COVID-19, support for local businesses, the need for a state funds lock box and Connecticut’s unfunded liabilities.
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce (WWCC) and Westport Library sponsored the debate, which also featured Stephanie Thomas, a Democrat, and Republican Patrizia Zucaro who are running for the 143rd District seat vacated by Republican Gail Lavielle who did not seek reelection.
Questions were gathered by the WWCC’s board of directors, with additional ones solicited from the public via a Zoom chat feature.
The candidates’ responses seemed to fall on partisan lines with Zucaro and Stephens siding with each other on several occasions.
Zucaro said the state’s unfunded liabilities, the result of too generous contracts “prevents us from taking the money and putting it back into things we want.”
Stephens said such liabilities “are bleeding the state.”
Steinberg countered that current state contracts are not the culprit.
“Most of the problems are with contracts that were signed long ago, and we’re left with a legacy liability that’s dragging us down,” he said.
Asked how they thought the state has handles the COVID-19 epidemic, both Steinberg and Stephens gave kudos to Gov. Ned Lamont.
“The governor did an excellent job,” Steinberg said, adding that he would like to see the use of Telehealth made permanent to “change the way we deliver care.”
Stephens said that while “I have to give kudos to the governor,” he felt there was “too much fear mongering” which negatively impacted businesses and schools.
Zucaro said that while Lamont “generally speaking, handled it well,” there remains a need for more transparency.
Regarding COVID-19’s effect on Connecticut businesses, Thomas said consumer confidence was key to jump starting the economy.
“Until we have consumer confidence, that is not coming back,” she said.
Thomas suggested a sales-tax-free week would be a good start.
Stephens, a long-term Planning and Zoning Commissioner (P&Z) and its former chairman, railed against the state’s “intrusion on local autonomy with talk about eliminating single-family zoning” and negating a town’s desire to preserve its character.
“Westport has done its job,” Stephens stressed in terms of affordable and diverse housing in response to the state’s affordable housing act 8-30g.
The statute allows developers to override local zoning laws if a town does not have 10% of its housing stock, which Westport, at 4%, does not.
Steinberg agreed, “Leave it to local zoning.”
“We want more diverse housing, but we need to do it ourselves,” he said.
A second WWCC and Westport Library virtual debate is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 13, at noon featuring incumbent state Sen Tony Hwang, a Republican, and Michelle McCabe, a Democrat, competing for the 28th District.
Also scheduled for that forum are incumbent state Sen. Will Haskell, a Democrat, and Kim Healy, a Republican, competing for the 26th district.
Go to Chamber webpage to view today’s debate.
— James Lomuscio
