Oz Wasn’t in Simsbury Any More

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.