I would like to thank everyone that participated in our Online Town Hall Forum last night. It was exciting and I believe everyone had a good time. I would also like to hear from each of you about the high points and low points of the forum. What worked? What didn’t? What can we do to make it better?

For me the highpoints were when things moved towards being a little more conversational and less ‘Q&A’ like. In particular, I liked the dialog about the business environment in Connecticut, with comments about sole proprietorships, small business, different types of business taxes and how the state can create a more healthy business environment; especially David Mooney’s contributions on this topic. I also really liked the discussions about improving the quality of life in Connecticut such as comments that Nate Bixby brought up about the Climate Change Action Plan and about community development and affordable housing.

I appreciate the emails we got ahead of time and I apologize that we didn’t get to all of them. As was noted in the invitations to this online forum, this was not intended to be another typical boring old Q&A session where people play stump the candidate, but was intended to be “a statewide dialogue about how, working together, we can move Connecticut in a new direction”. I greatly appreciate those who came with an attitude of working together to move Connecticut in a new direction.

First things first.  About 8,000 families - and really a lot more when you roll in EB - got great news today.  They will keep their jobs!  Jobs that pay mortgages.  Jobs that get kids off to school this Fall.  Jobs that create possibility and the ability to take advantage of the chances that we have been blessed with.  The question that I would like folks to think about is how we can put the kind of team work, the sense of purpose and the accomplishment that is all too episodic and rare in Connecticut's public activities.  What would you do first if elected Govenor?  What would you do last?  So let's go!

On Wednesday, August 24th from 5 to 6 p.m. I will be hosting Connecticut's first-ever, candidate-sponsored online Town Hall Forum.

I will be right here, on my campaign blog, to answer your questions, take comments, and discuss with Connecticut residents the future of our state, my vision for change and why I’m running for Governor.

I encourage you to submit questions ahead of time by emailing me at . I will get to as many questions from previous posts/emails as possible as well as respond to comments and questions submitted during the hour-long forum.

This is an open, un-moderated discussion—I want to hear from you. The only thing I ask is that you keep your comments and questions dignified and treat other participants with respect.

Email your questions to me now:

I invite you, your family and friends to join me in a statewide dialogue about how, working together, we can move Connecticut in a new direction. Please invite your friends, neighbors and co-workers to participate. Together, let’s have a discussion about how we can make Connecticut a better state.