Difference of Opinions
By Robin Vinci | Editor at October 22, 2023 | 6:30 pm | Print
Democratic Mayoral Candidate John McNamara and Republican Incumbent Mayor Erin Stewart had very different opinions during the League of Women Voters debate last Saturday.
The two candidates discussed issues for about 25 minutes as a crowd of about 100, mostly partisan viewers, watched.
The debate began with one minute opening statements.
“It has been an incredible two years with the City. Two years that I am proud of,” said Mayor Stewart. “I look forward to serving the City for two more years. I think we’ve gotten a lot accomplished working together in a bi-partisan manner.”
McNamara, who is the Democratic party leader, said he is looking forward to leading the City.
He said he wants to restore financial stability and be a good steward of tax dollars with transparency.
The first question in the debate was working to ensure long-term fiscal stability.
“Long term growth is dependent on your budgeting standards and how you handle it. When I came into office we had a $30 million operating deficit. That is no easy feat to solve. We had no other choice but to raise taxes to make up for that,” said Stewart, “In the first year of my budget we increased taxes to put us on a stable level. The second year we ended on a surplus.”
“For 10 of the last 12 years someone named Stewart has been setting our budgets. Questionable budgets that have not served the City well,” said McNamara. “We need to eliminate gimmicks. Use tax increases as a last resort.”
Another question focused on the issue of hunger.
“Hunger is a problem and a sad reality,” said Stewart. “I’m really proud of the work the school district has done to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner at New Britain Public schools at no cost every day.”
Stewart said there are partnerships with Foodshare and Feed the Need. She said Costco will give leftover baked goods to the shelter as well.
McNamara said the poverty rate is double the statewide average. McNamara said there needs to be more action to what is done for the homeless.
Stewart said there is a revamped program called Building Hope Together that brings together many different agencies that help.
“We brought in hundreds of units. We are solving the issue of homelessness not by putting them in a day shelter, but by putting them in a home,” said Stewart. “That is the only way you end homelessness.”
The school budget was the focus of a question.
“The Blue Ribbon Committee that I started that brings together school board members and council members is a wonderful start,” said Stewart. “There needs to be more consolidation in services. There are other ways to invest in schools than the general fund budget.”
McNamara said the administration tried to illegally cut money from the education department and accused Stewart of voting for the budget and providing a strategy to cut it.
The next question dealt with disruptive college students in the Belvidere area.
McNamara endorsed “Hot Spots” which he claimed was cut by this administration.
“I will not put more laws on the books that cannot be enforced,” said Stewart. “We need to show them how to be better neighbors. I’m looking forward for CCSU to take accountability in what happens off-campus.”
The next question concerning race issues gave McNamara a chance to denounce a candidate who no longer is running for Council.
“The first public statement I had to make was to call out a member of the Republican slate for posting a divisive flag on Facebook,” said McNamara. “That kind of divisive rhetoric shows that we need a conversation about race.”
“Diversity makes us so unique and it is what makes our community most proud of,” said Stewart. “We’ll continue to have conversation on race because that is important to us.”
Both candidates had the chance to finish strong with their closing statements.
“Last year the City had its 11 percent increase and it was much too much to be happening in one year. We need a phase-in to face long term mismanagement of the City which took place between 2003-2011,” said McNamara. “The property tax is unstable. We need to address this issue for two, four and six years.”
Stewart spoke about the distraught situation the City was under when she took office.
“We have had two consecutive years of balanced budgets, an unprecedented three notch upgrade in credit rating and are growing our tax base for the first time in four years,” she said. “We are investing in education. There is development going around the City. All you have to do is open your eyes to see that. We are cleaning up the blight.”
Stewart said most importantly people are talking about the City in a different way.
The LWV 2015 Candidate Forum will be broadcast on Channel 96 on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 pm and Saturday Oct 31 at 7:30 p.m.
