Republican Tom Foley and Democrat Dannel Malloy clashed Wednesday night in New London over the death penalty, the state budget, taxes and which candidate is telling the truth.
The debate came on a day when the latest Quinnipiac University poll showed that 76 percent of Connecticut voters favor the death penalty for convicted Cheshire killer Steven Hayes, who was recently found guilty by a jury in the slayings of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters. Only 18 percent opposed the death penalty for Hayes.
"I went to New York City to be a prosecutor,'' Malloy responded, adding that he tried four homicide cases in Brooklyn, N.Y. "Let me assure you that as a prosecutor, and as a mayor, that I fought crime on a daily basis.''
Saying that Connecticut's death penalty law is unworkable, Malloy noted that only one person - serial killer Michael Ross - has been executed in Connecticut during the past 45 years.
If Hayes is sentenced to death in the Cheshire case, "then that sentence will be carried out if I am the governor,'' Malloy said.
"We know that mistakes have been made. We know that people have been wrongly put to death,'' Malloy said. "We know that the application of the death penalty has not always been equal and even.''
Foley, however, took an opposite stance on capital punishment.
"I'm really troubled by Dan's view on the death penalty,'' Foley said. "I support the death penalty as it stands here in Connecticut. ... Now, let's talk about Dan's position on the death penalty. He obviously doesn't morally object to it because he says it's OK for Steven Hayes. So, what is it? Is it a raw, political calculation? ... What kind of arrogance would it take for a candidate for governor to say that if he were elected, he would sign into law a bill that is not supported by a majority of the citizens in this state?''
The issue prompted a series of exchanges between the two candidates.
"One thing I will never do, Tom, is to play politics with this issue,'' Malloy responded. "What you just said is ridiculous. ... It is a moral issue. I've prayed upon it. I've studied it. I know there is no correlation between the existence of the death penalty and lower crime rates and homicide rates. ... It is a moral issue. I would ask, Tom, that you respect my prayer, my thought.''
"Dan, if it's a moral issue, then why do you support the execution of Steven Hayes?'' Foley asked.
"Because what I've said, Tom, is that I would sign a prospective bill just as the one that was passed by the legislature, and what I'll never do, Tom, is play politics with that issue,'' Malloy said.
"Well, it sounds like you're playing politics by saying it's a moral issue but it's OK for Steven Hayes,'' Foley said.
Regarding the state's projected $3.4 billion budget deficit for the next fiscal year, Malloy said that his first move as governor - if elected - would be to make sure that the state abides by generally accepted accounting principles, known as GAAP.
"When we look back to 1990, one of the great opportunities was lost,'' Malloy said in response to the first question of the night. "Instead what we did was miss that opportunity. ... We played a game of spending money that we didn't have and making commitments that we shouldn't have made.''
Malloy pledged that he would not sign any budgets next year unless the state first institutes the GAAP rules. He added that he could not make any pledges about the state budget because "I don't really know how bad it is.''
Television reporter Mark Davis asked both candidates if they would pledge to avoid raising taxes in order to close the state's budget deficit.
"I take that as a no,'' Davis said when Malloy completed his initial remarks.
"I will take that pledge, Mark,'' Foley said regarding taxes.
Foley used his initial remarks to cover the various campaign commercials that have been broadcast in recent weeks.
"A lot is at stake in the upcoming elections,'' Foley told the crowd at the Garde Arts Center and a live television audience. "You deserve truthful representation of the candidates' backgrounds, qualifications and what they will do if elected. ... My opponent has run advertisements attacking me for things I have not done. He says I closed a textile mill in Georgia. I did not. He says I fired thousands of workers, tried to take their benefits away, and I took $20 million from the company. These are all not true. ... At no time have I ever said I would reduce anyone's healthcare coverage. My opponent is simply making this up.''
Foley added that he had asked Malloy during last week's debate in Hartford if he had made any commitments regarding layoffs and concessions with the state-employee unions that have endorsed him. Foley said, "He looked you and the camera in the eye and said no.''
"We need a governor who can be trusted,'' Foley said. "The trustworthiness of the candidates in this race is very important. I hope you will consider that when you decide who to vote for.''
"My tax pledge is for this current budget deficit,'' Foley said. "I believe after we solve next year's budget deficit, we should consider tax reform.''
Concerning state employees, Foley said that savings could be made through attrition of the gigantic state workforce that totals more than 50,000 employees - adding that it would be "unwise'' to pledge to avoid layoffs during a fiscal crisis.
Malloy noted that, during his 14 years in Stamford, the city-side workforce fell by 8.4 percent - eliminating 127 positions that he oversaw.
"I'm not running to lay people off. I'm running to make government efficient,'' Malloy said. "We need to invest in our infrastructure. We need to improve education. We need to get this state back to work. We need to create jobs and invite people to move their jobs to this state. All of those things that we have failed to do in the last 20 years.''
"With respect to promises made, this is the promise I've made - I will treat everyone with respect,'' Malloy said. "Now that would be different, wouldn't it? We will bring everyone to the table. ... I'm ready for this challenge.''
Asking to respond, Foley asked Malloy, "Why did you have to raise property taxes 14 years in a row?'' if the city's workforce had been reduced.
Malloy said that when he took over Stamford - "it was losing population. It was losing jobs. We knew that manufacturing was likely to leave the south end of Stamford.''
"Dan, are you trying to take credit for bringing UBS and RBS to Stamford?'' Foley asked, adding that the companies were drawn to Stamford with state - rather than city - funds that date back to the administration of then-Gov. Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. before Malloy became mayor of Stamford.
"Tom, I think I deserve some of that credit. Don't you?,'' Malloy responded.
"I don't,'' Foley said.
"I have never claimed that the accomplishments of Stamford were my own,'' Malloy said.