Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Money
  • Election 2020
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Money
    Election 2020
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Jepsen, Dean spar over guns, schools — and Blumenthal

  • by Keith M. Phaneuf
  • September 23, 2010
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Technically, Thursday’s debate at the University of Connecticut Law School was between state attorney general candidates Martha Dean and George Jepsen.

But given Dean’s relentless attacks on outgoing Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Jepsen’s efforts to defend his fellow Democrat, the hour-long forum seemed at many times more like a three-way contest.

The two candidates also sparred over gun control, states’ rights, education and the Connecticut economy.

“It’s about ending the job-killing practices of the current attorney general,” Dean, a Republican lawyer from Avon, said of this year’s campaign. “There is no room for politics.”

Dean charged that Blumenthal, a five-term attorney general who is now the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, converted his job into a political self-promotion machine through frivolous lawsuits against businesses, unnecessary press conferences, and excessive involvement in state legislative affairs.

“I really think our legislature, which is supposed to be part-time, is really too active,” she said, adding she expected to play a much smaller role than Blumenthal has when it comes to recommending new laws. Dean added she would “advise quietly when I think they are going to enact laws that are unconstitutional, or truly job-killing proposals.”

But Jepsen, a former state Senate majority leader with 16 years of experience in the legislature, responded that Blumenthal effectively used the office to protect state government, businesses and consumers, and that in a slumping economy, an activist attorney general is essential.

“When times are tougher the odds grow longer,” he said. “To make things right, the public needs not another voice. It needs a true legal advocate.”

Jepsen noted the state Supreme Court arguments over the minimum educational standard that must be provided in Connecticut public schools likely will be played out over the next four to seven years. As attorney general, he said, he would take an active role in seeking a solution that closes the gap between urban and suburban schools, a problem, “that threatens our economic future.”

But Dean said that while education “has to be one of the highest values of our free society,” as attorney general she also would “vigorously defend the state taxpayers’ pocket books.”

The ongoing court battle over the quality of Connecticut’s urban schools is a struggle over determining the minimum standards set in the state Constitution, she said, and not over equalizing educational opportunities in every public school. “We’re not talking about the ideal schools,” Dean added. “We’re not talking about the best schools. We’re talking about the constitutional standard, which is a minimum.”

The Avon Republican also charged both Jepsen and Blumenthal with failing to adequately protect law-abiding citizens’ rights under the U.S. Constitution to bear arms.

“I don’t believe there has been a stronger anti-gun advocate in the legislature than my opponent,” Dean said.

Jepsen, who oversaw passage of many of the state’s current gun control laws while in the Senate, said only “guns that have no purpose other than to kill people” were banned, and that weapons used by hunters and other sportsmen remain available.

“None of these laws take guns away from law-abiding citizens, but they do keep our streets safer,” Jepsen said, adding that he was proud of the “F-minus” rating he received as a legislator from the National Rifle Association.

At one point in the debate, when candidates were allowed to ask questions of each other, Dean asked Jepsen how “as a longtime career politician in Hartford,” he could have participated in one of the largest budget and tax increases in state history — a reference to the 2003 legislative session, which closed a nearly $1 billion budget gap with several measures, including a roughly 10 percent income tax hike.

Jepsen fired back that this solution to the state’s fiscal crisis seven years ago was developed in consultation with several of Dean’s fellow Republicans, including then-Gov. John G. Rowland.

“I’ve always had a strong working relationship with the other party,” Jepsen said.

Jepsen began his legal career working as general counsel to a carpenter’s union in Norwalk and continues to enjoy strong labor support, prompting Dean to charge her opponent would continue an anti-business trend in the attorney general’s office.

But Jepsen noted that he continues to take heat from organized labor for his decision to cancel arbitrated pay raises for state prison guards while tackling a budget crisis in the Senate in 1996.

“I’m a proud Democrat,” he said. “But when I think my party’s wrong, I’m not afraid to say so.”

The Ridgefield Democrat went on the offensive a few times himself during the debate, accusing Dean of hypocrisy when she said that, if elected, she would sue the federal government to challenge future requirements of national health care legislation that force some citizens to buy coverage. At the same time, Jepsen added, Dean has been criticizing Blumenthal for his own challenges of federal authority.

“I think some of Dick’s best work has been in challenging the federal government,” he said, citing efforts to gain more education funding for states complying with No Child Left Behind requirements. Dean “brings her own agenda,” Jepsen added, “and it’s an activist agenda like everybody else.”

Dean and Jepsen did find some common ground during Thursday’s debate.

Both agreed they would support Connecticut’s existing death penalty statute.

And they also agreed that if Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez’s corruption conviction is upheld after his appeal is heard, the attorney general should use authority granted under state law to seek revocation of Perez’s publicly funded pension.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keith M. Phaneuf

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
Sunday in Hartford: Massive show of police, not protesters
by Mark Pazniokas and Dave Altimari

Reporters outnumbered protesters. Cops outnumbered everyone. Sunday at the Connecticut Capitol was peaceful and well-documented.

‘No one took us seriously:’ Black cops warned about racist Capitol Police officers for years
by Joshua Kaplan and Joaquin Sapien | ProPublica

While many officers were filmed fighting off Capitol rioters, at least 12 others are under investigation for possibly assisting them.

Donald Trump built a national debt so big (even before the pandemic) that it’ll weigh down the economy for years
by Allan Sloan and Cezary Podkul | ProPublica

The national debt has risen by almost $7.8 trillion during President Trump’s time in office.

For some transgender people, pandemic paves path to transition
by Carol Leonetti Dannhauser | C-HIT.ORG

The COVID-19 pandemic has given many transgender individuals the incentive to begin gender-affirming hormone therapy.

The struggle for racial justice and equality is far from over
by Marilyn Moore

On the eve of the annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, I and many others are reflecting on what recently transpired at the U. S. Capitol and how it relates to the injustices that Dr. King and so many others fought to change so many years ago. It is obvious that our nation's fight for racial justice and equality is far from over. In fact, it continues to this day.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion The struggle for racial justice and equality is far from over
by Marilyn Moore

On the eve of the annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, I and many others are reflecting on what recently transpired at the U. S. Capitol and how it relates to the injustices that Dr. King and so many others fought to change so many years ago. It is obvious that our nation's fight for racial justice and equality is far from over. In fact, it continues to this day.

Opinion The mentoring circle: Supportive relationships across generations
by Josiah H. Brown

January is Mentoring Month, January 17 International Mentoring Day — with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday a day of service. 

Opinion Evidence not clear that Trump incited Capitol destruction
by Alan Calandro

Defending President Donald Trump is not popular and I have no interest in writing this other than adherence to truth. Recognizing the truth (if we can find it, which is not always possible of course) should make us be able to come together around that and move on with a common understanding.

Opinion Securing our nuclear legacy: An open letter to President-elect Joe Biden
by Erik Assadourian

Dear President-elect Biden: As you noted in a tweet shortly after protestors stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, “Today is a reminder, a painful one, that democracy is fragile.” Indeed it is. And so are nation-states.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO