Lieutenant governor candidates face off in only debate

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Lieutenant governor candidates face off in only debate

AP: By-SUSAN HAIGH October 28, 2006

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Michael Fedele, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, promised Friday to be a full partner with Gov. M. Jodi Rell if elected next month, and said that Rell's role was minimized when she worked with former Gov. John G. Rowland.

Democrats pounced on Fedele's comments minutes after his hourlong debate with Democrat Mary Glassman, claiming Rell had always portrayed herself as Rowland's full partner as his lieutenant governor for 9 years. Rowland resigned in 2004 amid a corruption scandal.

Fedele and Glassman appeared Friday on WNPR radio in the only debate among the major lieutenant governor candidates. Rell and Fedele, a Stamford businessman, held a 26-point lead in a statewide poll last week over New Haven Mayor John DeStefano and Glassman.

During the hour-long forum, Fedele said he informed Rell before being tapped as her running mate that he wanted to play an active role in the administration, and that she agreed.

"Governor Rowland didn't treat her that way," said Fedele, a former state representative, who held a leadership position on the legislature's Insurance Committee. "She understands she needs a strong partner. She understands there's a lot of work to be done here in Connecticut. She understands that we have a vision that we share together."

Rell has repeatedly said she knew nothing about Rowland's misdeeds. But Democrats said Friday that she was portrayed as playing a key role in his administration.

"That was billed that way up until the point the governor went to jail," said state Sen. Jonathan Harris, D-West Hartford, who attended the debate.

Rowland served 10 months in a federal prison camp after pleading guilty in December 2004 to one count of conspiracy to steal honest services, a combination of mail and tax fraud. He admitted that he traded his office for more than $100,000 in private flights to Las Vegas, Vermont vacations and repairs to his Litchfield cottage from state businesses.

"It was clear that Governor Rowland ran the state while he was governor and the lieutenant governor's role was not a partnership," former state GOP chairman Herb Shepardson said. "They obviously ran together, but it was not a partnership which is what is envisioned, where Mike Fedele will be in the room working."

Glassman, former Simsbury first selectman and former chief of staff for Democratic Lieutenant Gov. Kevin Sullivan, said she and DeStefano will work as full partners. She said Connecticut has learned the position is important because the lieutenant governor can become governor, as in Rell's case.

Taking a jab at Rell and Fedele's more low-key campaign, Glassman said she has played an active role in DeStefano's bid for governor, working on policy proposals and appearing at numerous events.

"What you see is what you get," she said, adding that jobs and education will be a top priority for her as lieutenant governor. "I have a proven track record in Simsbury, I have a proven track record working at the legislature for the last six years and I'm ready now not only to be an active and proactive lieutenant governor, but I would be a very active and proactive governor."

The nearly hour-long debate touched on numerous issues, including jobs, transportation, education and eminent domain reform.

Asked about legislation that would require all hospitals, including Catholic ones, to provide rape victims with emergency contraception, Fedele said the issue is now moot because the FDA will allow over-the-counter sales of Plan B for women 18 and older in January.

Carolyn Treiss, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut, reacted angrily to Fedele's comments. NARAL has accused Fedele of having an anti-abortion record while serving as a state representative.

"I just think that when you're talking about victims of a violent crime, to just say that it's available over-the-counter, they can just go to a pharmacy and get it, is so insensitive and cruel," she said.

Fedele insisted that he and Rell support abortion rights.

"Governor Rell and I have been very open on our position on women's rights. Both Governor Rell and I are pro-choice, our legislative record shows that we've supported women's issues and health care issues," he said.

Glassman, who supports requiring all hospitals to provide emergency contraception to rape victims, said she was surprised by Fedele's answer.

"Because I know when he was in the legislature he voted for a bill that would make it a felony to provide certain abortions to women," she said. "So I'm very surprised to hear him say that he's pro-choice. There's no question I'm pro-choice."