NH Register: DeStefano in Democrats primary

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NH Register: DeStefano in Democrats primary

The New Haven Register August 04, 2006

Hometown record, positions on health care, affordable housing give him edge.

When Democrats go to the polls on Aug. 8 to choose their candidate for governor, their votes may be decided more on their familiarity with the two candidates than any sharp policy differences.

The candidates, Dannel P. Malloy, mayor of Stamford, and John DeStefano Jr., the mayor of New Haven, have similar agendas for universal health care, affordable housing, property tax reform, education and women?s health.

Both candidates' plans for spending millions more rely on doubtful funding sources. Both claim they could pay for expanded services and tax relief by closing corporate tax loopholes, a claim made by aspiring state politicians for years. Malloy would pay for part of his health care plan with an increase in the state cigarette tax, a proposal rejected by the legislature this year.

Both would raise the income tax for individuals earning more than $1 million annually. Both would offer property tax relief for the elderly. DeStefano's plan is more generous with state money.

DeStefano's proposal for universal health care uses tax incentives for businesses to participate, as opposed to financial penalties in Malloy's plan. Malloy's plan also relies on federal approvals at a time when the emphasis has been on curtailing Medicaid reimbursements to the states and Medicare payments to hospitals and doctors.

DeStefano's proposal for regional solutions to affordable housing make more sense than Malloy's proposed requirement for each town.

In an interview with the Register, Malloy described himself as "a pro-business Democrat." In contrast, DeStefano held up the construction of Yale-New Haven's cancer center in an attempt to force a vote sought by unions attempting to organize the hospital outside the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board. In return, some 45 state labor organizations have endorsed his candidacy.

Malloy can take pride in his accomplishments in Stamford, cited as "the safest city in the U.S." by the FBI in 2004. He has been a strong supporter of the arts and his city boasts a sterling AAA bond rating.

Despite his union tilt in an election year, DeStefano has more often served as an honest broker between management and labor interests.

His job as mayor is far more challenging than Malloy's. New Haven is a much poorer city, with nearly 20 percent of its families living below the poverty line. In New Haven, nearly 42 percent of the property is tax exempt, compared to only 15.34 percent in Stamford.

These facts make all the more impressive the accomplishments of the mayor's tenure, from the massive school rebuilding program and reconstruction of public housing to a lively downtown and the increasing presence of bioscience companies here.

Between two good candidates, our primary endorsement goes to DeStefano.

NH Register: DeStefano in Democrats primary

NH Register: DeStefano in Democrats primary