WOODBRIDGE – The three candidates in the 3rd District congressional race squared off Thursday night in a no-audience debate held at the JCC, covering health care, COVID-19, education and jobs, and even were asked whether they prefer “world class” New Haven pizza or Shoreline lobster rolls.
The debate, with host WTNH anchor Darren Kramer, was moderated by New Haven Register reporter Mary O’Leary and New Haven Independent Editor Paul Bass.
Candidates for the race are longtime Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, seeking her 16th term, Republican real estate mogul Margaret Streicker, a political newcomer, and Green Party candidate Justin Paglino, a doctor who now is a musician and music teacher.
The debate was civil, although DeLauro became fired up when Streicker accused her of flip-flopping earlier this year on the issue of removing the Christopher Columbus statue from Wooster Square, DeLauro’s New Haven neighborhood – then supporting its removal and abandoning her Wooster Square roots. In the end, DeLauro supported the decision of Wooster Square community leaders to take down the statue and replace it with a new statue that honors the contributions of Italian immigrants.
“I would ask my Republican opponent to not impugn my sense of my Italian-American heritage. You have no idea, nor are you competent to discuss my roots, my community and feelings with regard to that community,” DeLauro said. “I am the daughter of an immigrant family who could only dream to have a daughter in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Streicker thanked the Italian Heritage Society for its endorsement and said history shouldn’t be torn down. “Erasing history is wrong,” Streicker said. “We have to acknowledge our history.”
Paglino, as an Italian-American, believes that pride is warranted. He said Columbus, whose contentious role concerning indigenous peoples has raised conversations nationwide about his being honored in America, isn’t the best representative – “He’s not perfect.” Paglino suggested figures such as crooners Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra to represent Italian-American achievement.
There was no audience at the debate because of pandemic safety protocols, and those involved in the debate had mandatory COVID-19 testing and remained socially distanced.
The first question asked the candidates what they do to stimulate the economy to cover the immediate crisis brought about by the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Streiker said that “unfortunately,” Connecticut has been suffering for years, and that in the wake of the pandemic, the state has to open, “safely, swiftly.” She said Connecticut needs to foster a business environment, take care of its infrastructure and fight to bring opportunities to the area, including in medical manufacturing.
DeLauro, acknowledging the pandemic is not only a health care crisis but an economic one, said the first step is to get the virus under control, then bring advanced manufacturing jobs, build the state’s infrastructure and create a tax structure that offers incentives for businesses to stay here. She said job training should be priority so people can get good paying jobs and “earn a living.”
Pagliano said, “If we do nothing, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.”
Another question focused on asking candidates about concrete solutions for students and parents regarding online learning that is putting some students behind and negatively impacting the economy, in instances in which a parent has to stay home to switch to the role of an educator.
DeLauro said everyone wants to see kids go back to school as she’s concerned they’re losing education, but she said parents won’t send their kids back if they’re not safe and teachers need to be safe, too. She said online learning needs to be expanded.
Paglino, whose two children are back in school, said the Pentagon budget should be cut and the money put elsewhere, including to make child care available to all families.
Regarding the return to school, Paglino said, “We need to listen to science,” and added there has been “terrible leadership from the executive branch.”
Streicker said children need to be brought back into school safely and swiftly, and the mental health effects of the pandemic on them also needs to be addressed. She said she was campaigning in New Haven and bunch of middle school boys asked her if she could help them get back to school.
The candidates also were asked what measures they would use to stop the spread of the virus, given the numbers are up.
“There’s no doubt we have to take this seriously,” with more 200,000 deaths in this country attributed to the virus, Paglino said. “There’s no excuse not to wear a mask in public,” he said, noting, “It’s life and death,” and there are bigger impositions put on people.”
Streiker said that while COVID-19 has caused loss of life, some deaths were “inevitable,” and she’s “thrilled there’s a vaccination around the corner.”
DeLauro said, “Unfortunately there was an abdication of responsibility on the part of the administration,” because Trump and others in his administration weren’t wearing masks and engaged in rallies with large crowds.
“We need to be guided by science.” There was no PPE, no mobilization of the Defense Production Act, she said.
On health care, Streiker said, “It’s important we acknowledge that Obamacare hasn’t served us well.”
DeLauro said we should be on a path to universal care and she has a plan — Medicare for America — involves the choice to get health care through an employer or opt into Medicare with no deductibles, as well as capped premiums. She believes people should be entitled to Medicare from birth.
Paglino said his motivation to run was health care, and he wants to see universal health care paid for with progressive taxes. He said its not the employers’ responsibility – “It’s everyone.”
Streicker, in answer to a question about where she might part with her party’s views, said she would like to see Roe v. Wade stand because she believes in a woman’s right to choose.
Candidates also were asked what they would do at the federal level to alleviate the stigma of opioid abuse.
DeLauro said opportunity for treatment has to be improved and expanded and that addiction should be considered an illness. Once the addiction is treated, patients will need jobs, homes and recovery coaches, she said.
Streicker said drug abuse is a horrible thing, but its not a victimless crime and one needs to look at the underlying conditions, such as loss of jobs.
Paglino said he supports legalizing marijuana and freeing those who are serving jail sentences for the drug.
As for the food preference question, Streicker prefers a lobster roll; DeLauro, Wooster Square-area pizza; and Paglino, deep -dish pizza, the candidates said.
