Pity those upstate candidates shlepping to southwestern Connecticut during rush hour. The previous gubernatorial forum, sponsored in February by the Business Council of Fairfield County, was held the morning of a mini blizzard. This morning’s forum sponsored at the Stamford UConn branch by the Connectuicut Technology Council, was marred by the fatality along I-95 in Orange. R. Nelson “Oz” Griebel, the Simsbury businessman, was among the last to drag in after getting mired in traffic. The Blogster is reminded that in a previous incarnation, Griebel headed the state Transportation Strategy Board, so he possibly should have had a better arrival strategy for the debate.
“It was easier getting down here in a snowstorm,” he quipped with exasperation. Still, Larry DeNardis,came in even later, with only a few minutes left in the 90-minute session, which was attended by a dozen of the Republican and Democratic hopefuls. Among the no-shows was Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton with a prior local commitment, and Scott Merrell, the Norwalk veterinarian/tax opponent who has all but abandoned his bid.