Fazio, McCaughey Save Attacks For Lamont

by Jamil Ragland

FARMINGTON, CT — Two Republican gubernatorial hopefuls squared off Thursday evening in a debate centering on taxes, housing, and the future of the Connecticut’s fiscal guardrails, among other topics.

The debate, hosted by WTIC News Talk 1080 AM, was designed to be a cordial evening between state Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Greenwich, and former lieutenant governor for New York Betsy McCaughey. Both candidates honored the spirit of the debate, based on President Ronald Reagan’s “11th commandment” — that Republicans should not speak ill of each other. Fazio and McCaughey were friendly with each other, saving their attacks for incumbent Gov. Ned Lamont, who is seeking a third term this fall. 

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, who is also seeking the Republican nomination for governor, declined to attend.

McCaughey came out on offense, highlighting her signature proposal to eliminate the state’s personal income tax, while referring to the governor as “Lefty Lamont,” which she did throughout the evening. She said her proposal would attract business, leading to greater tax revenue from increased economic output.

“Business picks up, and the legislation [to repeal the income tax] says when revenue increases 5% above the baseline, that new revenue must be used to slice down the income tax,” she said. “It cannot be used the way Lefty Lamont always uses new revenue to create more government programs and make government bigger and more costly at your expense.”

Fazio countered he would offer a plan that is both ambitious and realistic, saying it was necessary to not only win the election, but would serve to create the change Republicans seek. He said he would find savings to reduce the income tax by eliminating taxpayer benefits for undocumented immigrants and cutting government bureaucracy, saving up to $1,500 for families in the state.

On the fiscal guardrails, both candidates agreed they should be renewed in 2028 and strengthened. The two candidates also agreed the state should implement a spending cap to prevent excess expenditures.

“Governor Lamont inherited those budget guardrails and at the end of eight years has shredded them,” Fazio said. “He has shredded the last modicum of fiscal responsibility defending taxpayers in this state.”

The candidates were also asked about the state’s housing affordability crisis. They took turns taking shots at HB 8002, the housing bill passed in a special session late last year. McCaughey specifically targeted the bill’s intent to improve economic diversity in municipalities, which she said is not the government’s job.

“The purpose of this law is not affordable housing,” she said. “If it were, they would be locating the affordable housing in areas that already have the infrastructure to support congregate living, apartment buildings like sewers, water lines, bus lines, transportation. Instead, they are deliberately forcing small towns where people rely on septic systems and wells and schools [and] are not equipped for large new influx of students. They’re forcing the ‘affordable housing’ mandate onto those towns instead.”

Fazio agreed, saying the state must respect local control. He laid out several steps to improve housing access in Connecticut, including lowering property taxes and reducing making it easier and cheaper to build housing.

“We need historic property tax reform and relief,” he said. “We can do that by eliminating hundreds of the unfunded mandates on our towns and cities, which drive up the cost of local government and our housing costs along with it because of the property taxes. And guess what? If you’re a renter, you’re paying those property taxes too, because the landlord is just transferring those costs to you.”

In their closing arguments, the candidates laid out their best pitch to the primary voters of the Republican party. McCaughey described how she and running mate George Pataki took on Gov. Mario Cuomo in the 90’s in New York and won. She said she would bring that same winning strategy to Connecticut.

“We have to go bold and with the confidence that we can make our state the hub of prosperity in the Northeast,” she said. “I’m confident that I can be your candidate because I’m a proven battle-tested fighter. I am a red-meat conservative Republican, the only candidate in this state endorsed by CPAC, Conservative Political Action Committee. I’m proud to wear that label.”

Fazio discussed his own electoral record as well, touting his ability to win in a district Vice President Kamala Harris carried by double digits while remaining true to conservative values. 

“I was born here and raised here, and [fiancé Amy Orserę] and I are always going to be here,” he said. “We’re always going to call it home. We simply want you, the people of Connecticut, to have an affordable Connecticut, to have opportunity, to have hope for our state again.”