{"id":786,"date":"2019-09-05T16:03:26","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T16:03:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/2019\/09\/05\/201995democratic-candidates-leng-and-garrett-square-off-in-first-of-two-debates\/"},"modified":"2020-09-05T19:29:23","modified_gmt":"2020-09-05T19:29:23","slug":"201995democratic-candidates-leng-and-garrett-square-off-in-first-of-two-debates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/2019\/09\/05\/201995democratic-candidates-leng-and-garrett-square-off-in-first-of-two-debates\/","title":{"rendered":"Democratic candidates Leng and Garrett square off in first of two debates"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Both candidates are looking to gain momentum prior to Tuesday\u2019s primary election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">By Peter Dewey<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">HAMDEN &#8212; Democratic candidates Mayor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LengforHamden\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">Curt B. Leng <\/span><\/a>and challenger Councilwoman At-Large <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laurenforhamden.com\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">Lauren Garrett<\/span><\/a> engaged in a primary debate on Wednesday Sept. 4 at Thorton Wilder Hall, less than a week before the primary election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">The debate was put on by the <a href=\"https:\/\/my.lwv.org\/connecticut\/lwv-hamden-north-haven\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">League of Women Voters of Hamden-North Haven<\/span><\/a>, with more than 200 people attending. Residents were able to submit written questions at the debate for review and submission to moderator Ray Andrewsen.<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2048.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:66.50390625%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Screenshot_20190904-214558.png\" alt=\"Screenshot_20190904-214558.png\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Screenshot_20190904-214558.png\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Screenshot_20190904-214558.png\" data-image-dimensions=\"2048x1362\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Screenshot_20190904-214558.png\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5d7133f5bb024000010b3581\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cI was very impressed with the turnout,\u201d Rod Groff, a Hamden resident, said. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen the room this full before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">The two candidates were able to advocate for their campaigns ahead of the Democratic primary election on Tuesday Sept. 10.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Leng and Garrett touched upon many issues including reducing pollution, preparing for storms, making schools safer, developing parts of town such as High Meadow and bringing more taxable businesses to Hamden.<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2048.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:64.404296875%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/screenshot_20190904-214527.jpg\" alt=\"screenshot_20190904-214527.jpg\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/screenshot_20190904-214527.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/screenshot_20190904-214527.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"2048x1319\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"screenshot_20190904-214527.jpg\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5d712f7b1edc95000169a75d\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">However, the biggest issues stemmed from the town\u2019s financial crisis where the two went back and forth for much of the debate.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Garrett: \u201cI know what is keeping these people up at night.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She discusses the problems with Hamden financially and with transparency in terms of the budget. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HamdenMayor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#HamdenMayor<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/osdZWBsfG8\">pic.twitter.com\/osdZWBsfG8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; HQ Press (@hq_press) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hq_press\/status\/1169390314072793089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cI guess overall I was a little underwhelmed,\u201d Groff said. \u201cThere are a lot of big issues right now for Hamden. From what I\u2019ve read our level of debt is [nearly a billion dollars]. I don\u2019t feel like they really addressed that elephant in the room.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">While the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctinsider.com\/metro\/nhregister\/article\/Hamden-audit-shows-1-1-billion-in-liability-14092482.php\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">New Haven Register reported in June <\/span><\/a>that the town\u2019s debt had climbed to $1.1 billion, the candidates didn\u2019t quite offer solutions, but rather tried to justify their positions on the crisis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cWe have a five-year plan,\u201d Leng said. \u201cWe have a ten-year plan and we have one-year plans. The problem with anything that you write down is it is going to evolve year to year. It is going to evolve when your revenues change and when your contracts change.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Garrett, who first won a seat on the Legislative Council in 2017, has worked on approving where the town\u2019s money is spent, enacting town ordinances, decreasing the budget and other things.<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2500.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:66.63999938964844%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Image%2Bfrom%2BiOS%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg\" alt=\"Image+from+iOS+copy+2.jpg\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Image%2Bfrom%2BiOS%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Image%2Bfrom%2BiOS%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"2500x1666\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Image+from+iOS+copy+2.jpg\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5d712fff5cb1ce000108b983\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Garrett believes that Hamden must become more financially responsible in order to sustain itself over the long-term.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cThere was a financial plan in 2015,\u201d Garrett said. \u201cSince then there has not been a financial plan. This has been demanded by the council and nothing has been delivered on that. If there is a financial plan and it\u2019s not being shared, that is not transparency.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Her campaign <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laurenforhamden.com\/about\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">website<\/span><\/a> cites improved spending of tax dollars as well as economic development as key issues to address.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cI have been working to bring transparency and accountability to our budgeting process in Hamden,\u201d Garrett said in her opening statement. \u201cI think we need to start having honest conversations with our residents about where we are at financially so that people can see when these types of high taxes are going to end.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Despite Garrett\u2019s questioning of the handling of the town\u2019s budget as well as its sustainability, Leng was adamant that improvements were being made, telling the crowd multiple times to not fall into that \u201cnarrative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cWe\u2019ve worked towards fixing our pension fund,\u201d Leng said. \u201cOur pension fund was only nine percent funded a decade ago. It\u2019s 38 percent funded now. We\u2019ve put $64 million into the pension over the past four-plus years.\u201d<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2500.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:66.63999938964844%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/6_Image-from-iOS.jpg\" alt=\"Image from iOS.jpg\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/6_Image-from-iOS.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/6_Image-from-iOS.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"2500x1666\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Image from iOS.jpg\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5d71302f25fbc600019674b7\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">While a number of issues were touched upon during the debate, Justin Farmer of the Hamden Town Council\u2019s fifth district would\u2019ve liked to have heard more from the candidates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cWe have long-term plans,\u201d Farmer said. \u201cThe average mayor lasts for about six years so I wanted them to talk about longer term than five year plans, what things did they want to develop in the next ten years and set the trajectory to allow people to come in to set up and see [Hamden] grow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Farmer said he wished to hear the candidates talk more about issues already facing Hamden such as developing northern Hamden and affordable housing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cWhatever financial hardships we have, it\u2019s going to take awhile,\u201d Farmer said. \u201cBut the light at the end of the tunnel, there has to be a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:2500.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n              \n                style=\"padding-bottom:66.63999938964844%;\"\n              \n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                \n          \n        \n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n              \n  \n\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Image-from-iOS-copy.jpg\" alt=\"Image from iOS copy.jpg\" \/><\/noscript><img class=\"thumb-image\" data-src=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Image-from-iOS-copy.jpg\" data-image=\"http:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Image-from-iOS-copy.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"2500x1666\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"Image from iOS copy.jpg\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5d7130576c98440001ce08ca\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">The two candidates also touched upon Hamden\u2019s relationship with Quinnipiac, both citing the fact that too many students are in residential neighborhoods.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cIt\u2019s a real challenge,\u201d Leng said, as he explained that it is too easy for student housing permits to be renewed despite there being multiple violations. \u201cThe State of Connecticut needs to empower towns to be able to reject a permit renewal based on bad behavior. We can\u2019t do it now and it is really, really needed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"ca\" dir=\"ltr\">Lauren Garrett on Quinnipiac: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QTC770T7aM\">pic.twitter.com\/QTC770T7aM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; HQ Press (@hq_press) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hq_press\/status\/1169398254808838156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Leng also cited some positives, stating that Quinnipiac President Judy Olian has shown a dedication to supporting the community and that the university is a large driver in the town\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cWe should be asking \u2018How do we embrace the fact that we are a college town?\u2019\u201d Farmer said. \u201cWe have Quinnipiac, we have Yale, we have Southern down the street, how do we embrace that culture as a college town rather than have this narrative that students are so horrible?\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">Mayor Leng on Quinnipiac: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XCn8UTbAjz\">pic.twitter.com\/XCn8UTbAjz<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; HQ Press (@hq_press) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hq_press\/status\/1169397867712266240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Leng is looking to begin his third full term as mayor, should he win the primary and the general election. While the incumbent received the endorsement from the Democratic Town Committee, Garrett was able to petition for a primary election, receiving over 1,200 signatures.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Leng has already been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newhavenindependent.org\/index.php\/archives\/entry\/delauro_endorses_leng_at\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">endorsed by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro<\/span><\/a>, despite the fact that most federal officials wait until after the primary election to endorse a candidate.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">In addition to DeLauro, former State Senate candidate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newhavenindependent.org\/index.php\/archives\/entry\/cabrera_endorses_leng_\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">Jorge Cabrera also endorsed<\/span><\/a> Leng for mayor this week.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to voting on Tuesday,\u201d Groff said. \u201cBut I\u2019m also looking forward to hearing the other side and seeing what the Republicans put forward for November. I\u2019ll definitely come to that debate as well.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Leng and Garrett will face off in another debate on Friday Sept. 6 at Whitney Center at 8:30 a.m. Registration and a $20 fee is required. See the Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce for more details.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">The winner of the Sept. 10 primary election will be pinned up against Republican nominee Jay Kaye in the November election on Nov. 5.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Both candidates are looking to gain momentum prior to Tuesday\u2019s primary election. By Peter Dewey HAMDEN &#8212; Democratic candidates Mayor Curt B. Leng and challenger Councilwoman At-Large Lauren Garrett engaged in a primary debate on Wednesday Sept. 4 at Thorton Wilder Hall, less than a week before the primary election. The debate was put on &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/2019\/09\/05\/201995democratic-candidates-leng-and-garrett-square-off-in-first-of-two-debates\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Democratic candidates Leng and Garrett square off in first of two debates<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":787,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,142,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hamden","category-homepage","category-quinnipiac"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/786","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=786"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/786\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1881,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/786\/revisions\/1881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hqnn.org\/hqpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}