We published a report today about whether the two gubernatorial nominees – Democrat Dannel Malloy and Republican Tom Foley – plus the three candidates who plan to mount primaries – Democrat Ned Lamont, Republican Michael Fedele and Republican Oz Griebel – are willing to spend the money necessary to renovate and re-open J.M. Wright Technical High School.
The Stamford educational institution, which suffered from low enrollment, was shuttered last summer for at least two years by the retiring Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and state school officials to cut costs during the budget crisis. A committee charged with planning for Wright Tech’s future last week unveiled a proposal to re-open for classes in 2014 with a new building and new curriculum.
The next governor faces an estimated $3 billion deficit when they are sworn in next January. Despite that daunting figure, Malloy, Stamford’s former mayor, Fedele, a Stamford resident and the lieutenant governor, and Lamont, a Greenwich businessman, all pledged to fund Wright Tech’s $85 million renovation and the ongoing, $13 million worth of operating costs.
Foley of Greenwich said he would first want to review the state’s educational system before making a decision about Wright Tech’s future.
Griebel, a Simsbury businessman, was the only candidate to come out against re-opening Wright Tech on the grounds the state just can’t afford it.
So the story ran and I figured that’s that. Other than perhaps some vocational technical school cheerleaders, folks who are hyper-engaged in Connecticut’s academic climate and potential employees of a re-opened Wright Tech, this story isn’t of much interest to those outside of the Stamford region.
But the Griebel campaign today released a statement pointing to their man’s response to the Wright Tech situation as proof he is the only candidate prepared to make the tough choices necessary in Hartford.
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West Hartford, CT – Griebel Senior Policy Advisor Spencer Cain today made the following statement in response to Brian Lockhart’s piece on the future of the Wright Technical School being in the next governor’s hands.
“As the former chief analyst of the state budget, I clearly disagree with the calculated, political responses from Ambassador Foley and Lieutenant Governor Fedele,” said Griebel Senior Policy Advisor Spencer Cain, who spent over 30 years balancing the state budget. “Both say they’re ‘going to cut spending,’ yet when push comes to shove, Oz Griebel is the only candidate on either side of the aisle who made a clear and definitive statement that Connecticut simply cannot afford to undertake projects such as the reopening of the Wright Technical School right now.”
“Wright Technical represents the very type of difficult decisions our next governor will face and is an actual, specific cut that was made; yet Ambassador Foley is open to re-considering the expenditure and Lieutenant Governor Fedele supports spending $85 million in bonding funds, not to mention another $19 million in ongoing operating costs that must come out of the state’s General Fund. This type of double speak and business as usual from two party insiders has to change.”
“It is outrageous that our opponents can support these additional expenditures of state resources amid Connecticut’s unprecedented fiscal crisis. These are exactly the kinds of decisions that have led us to the brink of bankruptcy. Connecticut needs a strong, decisive leader to make the tough decisions come January. So far, Oz Griebel has demonstrated he’s the only candidate prepared to do so.”
COMPARE & CONTRAST: WHO’S PREPARED TO MAKE THE NECESSARY TOUGH POLITICAL DECISIONS?
| FOLEY | GRIEBEL | FEDELE |
| …said he would first need to look at the state’s educational system as a whole before making promises about Wright’s future.
“Rather than having a long-term, comprehensive plan for education, we are making these decisions case by case, based on local political concerns,” Foley said. “We need to look at the system as a whole and decide whether making this investment is the best deal for Connecticut taxpayers and technical school students. We need to make a serious commitment to technical high school education, but we need to be smart about it. It’s not about keeping a building open; it’s about educating our young people.” |
…said the state cannot afford the bonding and operating costs to reopen Wright Tech while faced with an “unprecedented” budget deficit.
“Seventeen technical high schools remain open to serve the students of the state, and before we contemplate any new spending and bonding, the state must balance its budget for fiscal year 2012,” Griebel said.
“Once we restore fiscal sanity and reshape the way the state government delivers vital services, then we can discuss the reopening of facilities like Wright.” |
“I would request Bond Commission funding for the necessary renovations,” Fedele said.
“I am committed to Wright Tech because education is the key to economic competitiveness, and the need to ensure that our children have expanded educational resources is increasing in the global economy, not decreasing. It makes sense to reopen the facility, and it is an investment in our future.” |
Let’s see. Oz Griebel needs a hired hand to underscore his fiscal courage. Especially interesting since the comments come from someone who spent his career helping to build the Democrats tax and spend budgets.
Comment by Ken — June 8th, 2010 @ 11:14 pm