DeStefano to Launch New Ad

July 13, 2006

Focuses on creating jobs, universal health care and moral minimum wage.

New Haven - John DeStefano - Democratic candidate for governor - is launching a new television advertisement tomorrow that focuses on creating jobs, helping working families struggling to make ends meet, and implementing universal health care to lower costs for small businesses.

"Today in Connecticut too many families are struggling," DeStefano begins. "It's time to create jobs and make Connecticut more affordable."

The 30 second spot continues:

"John DeStefano will help create 200,000 jobs across Connecticut by focusing on new technology and innovation.

Universal health care to lower costs for small business - to help them grow.

Annual minimum wage cost of living increases - to help struggling families.

Connecticut families deserve a governor who will stand for them.

I'm John DeStefano and I approve this message."

The spot, which will begin running Friday morning on all broadcast networks in Connecticut and on Cable Station 12 in Fairfield County, is DeStefano's fourth television advertisement and the first from any gubernatorial candidate to focus on job growth and the creation of a moral minimum wage.

As Mayor of New Haven, DeStefano has transformed the city's economy, creating thousands of jobs and helping to build the biggest bio-science cluster in Connecticut. DeStefano is also proud to be the only candidate to publicly support indexing the minimum wage to the cost of living.

"We're proud that we're engaging voters about issues that affect their family," said Derek Slap - Communications Director. "Under Gov. Rell Connecticut continues to create fewer jobs each year, yet she believes the state is heading in the right direction."

The Governor is quoted in the March 7, 2006 edition of Waterbury Republican-American, as saying to a group of business leaders in Greater Waterbury, "In 2004, our state created 16,000 jobs. In 2005, we created 13,000 jobs - And this year we are projected to create well over 12,000 jobs. Again, not as many as what we want, but that is good news. At least, it is going in the right direction."

DeStefano believes Connecticut should be creating more jobs each year and that we should expect to be a top ten state for job growth, not at the bottom.