[♪♪] >> THIS IS "WHERE WE LIVE" ON CONNECTICUT PUBLIC.

I'M LUCY NALPATHANCHIL.

THE ROAD FOR ROB HOTALING TO SECURE THE INDEPENDENT PARTY NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR RECEIVED SOME SCRUTINY LEADING TO AN UNSUCCESSFUL COURT CHALLENGE BY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE BOB STEFANOWSKI TO KEEP CHIP BECKETT OFF THE BALLOT.

ROB HOTALING JOINS US TO EXPLAIN WHY HE IS RUNNING.

WE HEAR THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HIM AND THE TWO MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES.

HISTORICALLY INDEPENDENT PARTY CANDIDATES GARNERED A SMALL MINORITY OF VOTES HERE IN CONNECTICUT BUT THE UNAFFILIATED CONTINUE TO BE THE LARGEST AND GROWING POPULATION OF VOTERS IN OUR STATE.

WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR OUR STATE'S INDEPENDENT GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE?

OUR CONVERSATION IS NOT LIMITED TO THE LIVE RADIO STREAM YOU CAN WATCH ON-LINE ON THE WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE OR YouTube.

OR CALL IN WITH THE QUESTION.

888-720-9677.

THAT IS 888-720-9677.

OR YOU CAN FIND US AGAIN ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT "WHERE WE LIVE".

ROB HOTALING WELCOME TO OUR SHOW.

>> GOOD MORNING THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SOME OF OUR LISTENERS AND VIEWERS IT MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE LEARNING ABOUT YOU AND WHY YOU ARE RUNNING.

LET'S START FIRST TO LET OUR LISTENERS KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND HOW YOU ENDED UP IN CONNECTICUT AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> I AM A 25 YEAR RESIDENT OF CONNECTICUT I MOVED HERE OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

IT'S FUNNY MY FATHER DURING THE DOT CALMER RA AND MY FATHER CALLS ME AND SAYS WHAT ARE YOU DOING.

IT WAS THE HIGH SCHOOL YEAR OF MY GRADUATION AND I SAID I GOT INVESTMENT AND YOU SHOULD LEARN HOW TO CODE.

I'M OK.

I HOPPED IN A CAR AND MOVED INTO HIS HOUSE IN WESTPORT AND I WAS CODING.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE SOFTWARE IT WAS, IT WAS FUN.

WE WERE COMPETING WITH TWO VERY LARGE COMPANIES.

IBM AND ORACLE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANT AT THE TIME.

WHICH MEANT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE.

BUT IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND AT THAT TIME I WAS ALSO ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT WHERE I MET MY WIFE.

AND SHE WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ENGINEER AND I JUST HAVEN'T LEFT CONNECTICUT SINCE.

AND SO OVER THE YEARS, I'VE LIVED IN MANCHESTER, EAST HARTFORD, STORES AND THEN BRIDGEPORT AND NOW WE HAVE FOUR BEAUTIFUL KIDS THREE BOYS ONE GIRL.

>> AND YOU ARE A BANKER?

>> I AM A BANKER, YES.

I'M A TECHNOLOGY LEADER IN THE BANKING SPACE.

SO ESSENTIALLY I AM A SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT AT WEBSTER BANK NOW.

BUT I'VE HAD A BROAD EXPERIENCE IN FINANCE.

I'VE WORKED IN WHOLESALE CREDIT TRANSFORMATION.

BUT I CURRENTLY DO WHAT IS CALLED RETAIL ON-LINE BANKING IF YOU WANT TO LOG IN AND OPEN UP A CHECKING ACCOUNT OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT THINGS LIKE THAT MY GROUP WOULD HANDLE THE DIGITAL PIECE OF IT AND I WORK WITH OTHER BANK LEADERS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR MONEY MOVEMENT OCCURS IF YOU TRY TO PAY A BILL.

VERY IMPORTANT STUFF.

AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE ORGANIZATION I WORK FOR.

AND THEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

>> EVERYONE IS WONDERING WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR?

>> I THINK MY SITUATION MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN MY COMPETITORS.

I WAS ASKED TO RUN.

I WASN'T THINKING ABOUT IT.

I SORT OF TALKING, I'M SURE I COULD RUN THE STATE BETTER THAN GOVERNOR LAMONT OR BETTER THAN Mr. BOB STEFANOWSKI.

AND ESSENTIALLY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INDEPENDENT PARTY I HAD LEFT THE REPUBLICANS I WAS A LITTLE FRUSTRATED WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON.

AND I BECAME AN UNAFFILIATED MOST OF OUR POPULATION IN CONNECTICUT.

BUT THEN I MET THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INDEPENDENT PARTY AND HE SAID ROB, WE HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE WHO WANT THIS LINE AND THEY HAVE CROSSED ENDORSED INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR IN BOB STEFANOWSKI.

BUT WE BELIEVE YOU ARE THE BEST ONE TO REPRESENT THE PARTY FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

SO SOME OF THE REASONS QUICKLY ARE I COME FROM A BROAD BACKGROUND NOT JUST FROM FINANCE BUT FROM GUNSHOT DETECTION, PHYSICAL SECURITY, I'VE DONE PATENT AND TRADEMARK RESEARCH AND CASINO GAMING.

AND THEN I COME FROM A MULTICULTURAL BACKGROUND.

MY FATHER IS DUTCH AND MY MOTHER IS LIBERIAN AND MY WIFE IS PUERTO RICAN.

SO I THINK THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PARTY FELT THAT I REPRESENTED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND THEN ALSO THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE AND THEY FELT I SHOULD RUN BUT I CAN'T KNOW I WOULD GET INTO THE QUAGMIRE THAT OCCURRED WITH THE LAWSUITS THAT WAS NOT ON THE PLAN.

>> WE'LL GET TO THAT.

WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNANCE.

SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN TALK MORE ABOUT WHY PEOPLE THINK YOU COULD LEAD THE STATE AS GOVERNOR?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THAT...

I DON'T HAVE CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE BUT I HAVE CAMPAIGN EXPERIENCE.

IN MY 20s I WAS PART OF THE YOUNG DEMS AND THAT ORGANIZATION WAS LED BY THE NIECE OF GOVERNOR MILLOY HE WAS THE MAYOR OF STANFORD AT THETIME.

IN MY 20s I WAS PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I'VE BEEN PART OF BOTH PARTIES.

I WAS IN DATA AND STRATEY AND I SAW WHAT A CAMPAIGN LOOKS LIKE AND IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN, MILLOY ENDED UP WINNING IN 2010 WHEN HE WON.

AND IN MY WAY I WOULD GATHER DATA FROM VOTER LISTS FROM ALL THE TOWN AND CITY COUNCILS.

I WOULD LOAD IT INTO A DATABASE.

AND THEN I WOULD APPLY ALGORITHMS AND SAY THIS IS WHERE WE SHOULD SPEND OUR TIME, MONEY AND EFFORT.

AND PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU A GOOD CANDIDATE.

WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU MORE QUALIFIED TO LEAD THE STATE?

AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT GIVEN MY BACKGROUND, I'VE BEEN A PROVEN PROBLEM SOLVER AT HIGH LEVELS OF SCALE.

RIGHT NOW, I LEAD SYSTEMS THAT HANDLE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MONEY MOVEMENT.

MY OWN.

I MAY NOT BE A MULTIMILLIONAIRE BUT I AM AN INVARY AND LISTENER AND COLLABORATOR.

I STAND THE CHANCE OF TAKING THE BEST IDEAS FROM BOTH PARTIES UNLIKE MY COMPETITORS BEHOLD EN ON THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT I CAN BREAK THE DIVIDE AND TAKE THE BEST.

A LOT OF MY PLATFORM ARE BEHOLD EN TO THE BEST IDEAS NOT THE PARTYS.

YOU ARE HEARING ROB HOTALING WHERE WE LIVE HE IS THE INDEPENDENT PARTY'S GBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.

YOU CAN JOIN US IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION AT 888-720-9677 OR FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT "WHERE WE LIVE".

SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO HEAR THAT YOU SEE YOURSELF AS SOMEBODY THAT CAN TAKE THE MIDDLE GROUND AND NOT GO EXTREME RIGHT OR EXTREME LEFT.

BUT YOU ARE A MINOR PARTY CANDIDATE IN A POLITICAL SYSTEM THAT FAVORS THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM INCLUDING THE MONEY INVOLVED.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL OUR LISTENERS HOW THEY SHOULD VIEW YOUR CANDIDACY AS CREDIBLE?

>> ONCE AGAIN I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE INDEPENDENT PARTY I AM ON THE INDEPENDENT PARTY LINE WE REPRESENT THE UNAFFILIATED THE MOST.

MOST LISTENERS AND VIEWERS AND VOTERS MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THIS BUT 41% OF THE ELECTORATE, 900,000 PEOPLE ARE REGISTERED UNAFFILIATED THEY DO NOT WANT TO ALIGN TO THE REPUBLICANS OR THE DEMOCRATS.

THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT.

AND THAT MEANS THEY CONTROL THE FATE OF THE ELECTION NOT THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

SO REALLY IF THE UNAFFILIATED SAY WE LIKE ROB HOTALING BETTER I WIN.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

FOLKS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

I WOULD ALSO ADD THIS... THAT MOST UNAFFILIATED HAVE SOMETHING VERY UNFAIR FROM THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM THAT THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE.

WE HAVE CLOSED PRIMARIES.

SO THE UNAFFILIATED ARE TAXPAYERS.

TAXPAYER MONEY IS SPENT TO CONDUCT AND FACILITATE THE PRIMARIES BY THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

YOU HAVE 900,000 PEOPLE WHO PAY FOR SOMETHING WHO CAN'T CONTRIBUTE.

I AM A BIG FAN FROM THE THIRD PARTY SYSTEM OF AND I'M CHAMPIONING OPEN PRIMARIES.

IF YOU ARE REGISTERED UNAFFILIATED YOU WILL BE TO SELECT ONE OF WHICH PRIMARIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOTE IN AND THAT IS CRITICAL BECAUSE OUT OF THOSE PRIMARIES DETERMINES WHO GETS THE GENERAL ELECTION AND.

ELECTORAL REFORM IS IMPORTANT IT'S FOUNDATIONAL.

WHY?

BECAUSE YOU CANNOT BRING NEW IDEAS TO THE TABLE.

TRADITIONALLY THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES ARE THE ONES WHO BRING THE MOST PROGRESSIVE OR NEWEST IDEAS TO THE TABLE NOT THE MAJOR PARTIES.

AND I WOULD -- I LOVE MY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PARTNER Dr. CHIP BECKETT, HE EN FORMED ME ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE.

THINK ABOUT THAT ONE OF OUR GREATEST IF NOT OUR GREATEST PRESIDENT WAS A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE.

>> IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR ROB HOTALING "WHERE WE LIVE" THE INDEPENDENT PARTY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE AT 888-720-9677.

OR FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT "WHERE WE LIVE".

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT THE NOMINATION THROUGH THE CONNECTICUT INDEPENDENT PARTY.

AND SOME WAYS THE FACT THAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE BOB STEFANOWSKI TRIED TO BOOT YOU OFF OF THE BALLOT AFTER THIS TIE WAS BROKEN BY THE INDEPENDENT PARTY CHAIR.

IN SOME WAYS IT HELPED RAISE YOUR AWARENESS OF THE -- THE LISTENERS AND VOTERS THAT ARE YOU RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SUCCESSFUL IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL BUT IN TERMS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM AND CHOICE, THE MOVE TO TRY TO GET YOU OFF THE BALLOT.

>> YEAH.

FIRST OF ALL, AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

REWINDING BACK TO THE CAUCUS, NO ONE WOULD HAVE IMAGINED IT WOULD BE A TIE.

MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT OH, HE'S SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY.

HE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY.

AND I GET IT.

IF I AM IN HIS POSITION I WOULD SAY I DESERVE THIS.

WHY?

THE PAST TWO OR THREE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CANDIDATES HAD RECEIVED THAT LINE.

SO THEY FELT ENTITLED TO IT.

BUT PRIOR TO ME, THERE WASN'T REALLY A STRONG GOVERNOR CANDIDATE THAT'S AN INDEPENDENT PARTY MEMBER RUNNING.

LET'S CROSS ENDORSE.

BUT THE PARTY MADE CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING THAT THEY WANTED THEIR OWN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE AND THAT WAS ME.

AND THEY ASKED ME TO RUN AGAIN.

SO IT'S LIKE SORT OF STAND OUT.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

HE GALVANIZED NOT JUST ME AND MY CAMPAIGN AND THE PARTY BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC WERE PART OF THE INDEPENDENT PARTY AND THEY REALIZED WAIT I AM AN INDEPENDENT PARTY.

AND WE HAD A TIE.

SO THE THING THAT MOST FOLKS MAY THAT UNDERSTAND IT DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT A TIE IT STILL MENTIONED THE BYLAWS, MENTIONED THAT THE STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE WOULD MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF BREAKING THE TIE.

THEY HAD ALREADY ENDORSED ME TWO NIGHTS BEFORE.

SO NATURALLY THAT MEANS THEY WOULD BE THE TIE BREAKING VOTE.

AND AFTER THAT, OF COURSE, FOR BOB STEFANOWSKI TO PURSUE REMOVING THE PARTY FROM THE LINE I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT WOULD HAVE DONE.

THAT WOULD HAVE PUT THE ENTIRE PARTY OFF OF THE BALLOT MYSELF AND Dr. STUART CHIP BECKETT INCLUDED BUT IT WOULD HAVE REMOVED THE THIRD LARGEST PARTY IN THE STATE FROM THE ELECTION CYCLE BASED ON.

CITIZENS ELECTION PROGRAM THE STATE MATCH PROGRAM YOU NEED 10% TO GET STATE MATCH AND IT'S BASED ON YOUR LAST YEAR.

THAT WOULD HAVE PUT THE PARTY EIGHT YEARS BEHIND.

IS THAT GOOD FOR THE DEMOCRACY OF CONNECTICUT.

>> IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION CALL 888-720-9677 AND FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

BARBARA IS CALLING IN.

WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION?

>> MY QUESTION FOR Mr. HOTALING IS I LIVE IN GLASS BURY AND WE HAVE A GREAT EDUCATION SYSTEM AND I'VE SERVED ON THE BOARD IN HARTFORD AND I'VE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENED TO KIDS AND THE EDUCATION IS NOT GOOD AND ACROSS THE STATE IT'S THAT WAY.

WE HAVE GREAT SYSTEMS AND SYSTEMS THAT ARE CHALLENGING.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO GET EVERYBODY ON A GREAT PLAYING FIELD SO THERE'S MORE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO STAY HERE AND WORK HERE.

THAT IS MY QUESTION.

>> THANKS, BARBARA THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

COUPLE THINGS.

ONE, CONNECTICUT SPENDS ABOUT $5 BILLION A YEAR THE STATE ON EDUCATION.

AND WE DO HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RANKING SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY.

WHICH IS I BELIEVE 8TH OR 9TH RANKED.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE IF NOT THE WORST ACHIEVEMENT GAP BOTTOM 5.

AND IT IS A PROBLEM.

AND A LOT OF IT'S TIED TO THE WRONG METRICS.

MY BELIEF IS THAT FOR EXAMPLE, OUR EDUCATIONAL COST SHARING OR ECS FUNDING MODEL NEEDS TO BE RESTRUCTURED.

ONE OF THE FEW CANDIDATES WHO HAS TAKEN A LOOK AT THAT WITH MY TEAM AND BELIEVE IT'S BASED ON INCOME AND PROPERTY TAXES RATHER THAN ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT WHICH IS MOSTLY DETERMINED FROM CLASSROOM SIZE AND STUDENT TEACHER RATIOS.

BUT BETTER THAT RATIO THE MORE ATTENTION TO EACH CHILD THE MORE THE CHILD PROGRESSES IN SCHOOLING AND AUGMENTING THAT WITH ADDITIONAL FORMS OF EDUCATION.

AND I'VE HEARD BOTH BOB AND NED GO BACK AND FORTH ABOUT PITTING PARENTS AGAINST TEACHERS.

I THINK THAT WHOLE DEBATE IS JUST -- IT'S A FALSEHOOD.

I THINK FROM THE BEGINNING PARENTS AND TEACHERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN COORDINATION.

I JUST THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND YOU WILL SEE OUR EDUCATIONAL PLAN IS COMING OUT TODAY, WE'RE PUBLISHING IT TODAY.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE MORE OF A COUNTY BASED REGIONAL DELIVERY OF SERVICES FOR CERTAIN THINGS TO TAKE THE BURDEN OFF OF TEACHERS.

CERTAIN AREAS FOR EXAMPLE, RECS, REGIONAL EDUCATION COUNCILS.

THERE'S CORRECT IN HARTFORD AND THEY DELIVER TRAINING FOR TEACHERS.

THEY MAINTAIN MAGNET SCHOOLS IT IS MORE OF A COUNTY LEVEL AND THAT UNBURDENS SOME SYSTEMS.

AND WE HAVE THE CONCEPT OF COGS.

WHICH ARE ESSENTIALLY COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENT.

THEY AT A REGIONAL LEVEL DISPERSE INFRASTRUCTURE IN SCHOOLING.

AGAIN, THAT WOULD HELP SCHOOLS FOCUS ON EDUCATING KIDS.

ONE LAST AREA THAT I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN IN TERMS OF EDUCATION AND PUT OURSELVES ON THE RIGHT PLAYING FIELD IS THE FOCUS.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT STEM AND I AM FROM TECHNOLOGY BUT I'VE HEARD STEAM.

I WOULD ADD THAT ARTS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

SO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ARTS, ENGINEERING AND MATH.

WE NEED TO HAVE STEAM.

AND LASTLY, FINANCIAL LITERACY.

THAT IS A BIG ONE FOR ME.

THERE IS A HUGE GAP AND WE CAN SEE IT COMING FROM THE FINANCE WORLD, I GET IT.

BUT DOES THE AVERAGE PERSON EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT A CHECKING AND SAVINGS ACCOUNT IS?

WHAT A MORTGAGE AND LINE OF CREDIT IS?

THOSE CONCEPTS SHOULD BE SPRINKLED IN OVER TIME SORT OF LIKE LANGUAGE ARTS.

IT SHOULD BE FINANCIAL EDUCATION.

ONCE YOU ADD ALL OF THESE VARIOUS YOU UNBURDEN THE TEACHERS AND YOU ADD THIS TYPE OF APPROACH TO THE CURRICULUM, I THINK IT WILL BE AN EVEN BETTER SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WE WON'T SEE THE TALE OF TWO CITIES WHERE WESTPORT HAS A 1% DROPOUT RATE BUT BRIDGEPORT HAS A 25% DROPOUT RATE.

WE NEED TO DO MORE FOR THE KIDS.

>> I WANTED TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU SAID ABOUT A REGIONAL COUNTY APPROACH.

AND THAT IS NOT HOW CONNECTICUT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS ARE SETUP THEY CALL CONNECTICUT THE LAND OF CITY HABITS.

IS THERE BUY IN FROM CITIES AND TOWNS ESPECIALLY THE SUBURBS WHERE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING HIGHER MIDDLE CLASS TO WEALTHY, WHERE THEY WANT TO BE COLLABORATING WITH THE POOR DISTRICT NEXT DOOR.

THAT IS A PROBLEM IN THE STATE.

HOW DO YOU GET THAT BUY IN IF YOU ARE GOVERNOR?

>> AND I ALSO HEAR FROM OUR COMPETITORS THAT OH, I CAN SORT OF TELL A TOWN WHAT TO DO.

NO, YOU HAVE TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOWN.

AND AGAIN, I STAND THE BEST AS A MODERATE AS A MIDDLE INDEPENDENT WORKING REGARDLESS OF THE ELECTION OF THAT MAYOR OR TOWN COUNCIL.

I CAN GO TO THOSE FOLKS AND SAY LET'S WORK IN PARTNERSHIP.

AND FROM THIS POINT ABOUT TOWNS WORKING TOGETHER FROM AN EDUCATIONAL BASIS, SO GOING BACK TO MY BRIDGEPORT WESTPORT EXAMPLE, THERE ARE SOME INCENTIVES FOR WESTPORT TO HELP BRIDGE FOR THE WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO IT.

DO THEY HAVE TO?

NO.

IT'S OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF WESTPORT'S HEART THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO HELP BRIDGEPORT.

BUT IF YOU RAISED IT UP A LEVEL AND SHOW A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IT'S MORE COSTLY IF WE DON'T WORK TOGETHER AND YOU HAVE BETTER BENEFITS FROM SOCIETY IF WE DO WORK TOGETHER AND YOU INCENTIVIZE THE MAYORS NOT THAT YOU ARE TAKING AWAY CHARACTER FROM WESTPORT OR APPLYING WHAT YOU'RE TELLING BRIDGEPORT WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO.

YOU ARE SAYING WE BELIEVE WHEN YOU RAISE UP ONE LEVEL AND DO REGIONAL DELIVERY OF SERVICES IT BENEFITS EVERYBODY.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS TO MY EDUCATIONAL PLAN.

>> YOU MENTIONED CHARACTER AND SOME TOWNS BRING UP RELATED TO THE PUSH TO HAVE MORE MULTIFAMILY UNITS, APARTMENTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE TALKING ABOUT CHARACTER?

IS THAT WHAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT?

OR THE FACT THEY DON'T WANT SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEM AND DOESN'T COME FROM THEIR ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS LIVING NEXT TO THEM IN THEIR TOWN?

>> I THINK WE CAN'T GET AWAY FROM THAT.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

I'VE EXPERIENCED IT ONCE OR TWICE IN MY LIFE.

IT HAPPENED.

I MOVED OUT OF BRIDGEPORT.

BUT THEY DON'T KNOW YOUR BACKGROUND OK, WAIT YOU ARE A BANKER, OK.

BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT WAY.

BUT I WILL SAY IT IS A MINORITY.

I THINK MAJORITY OF PEOPLE STILL WANT THE SAME THINGS.

THEY WANT A GOOD SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THEY WANT SAFETY THEY WANT A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND BEAUTY.

THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT.

FOLKS ARE CONCERNED AND AT THE DEBATE YOU HEARD THIS JOKE, I WANTED TO LAUGH WHERE THE SKYSCRAPERS NEXT TO CAPE CODS BUT THE POINT IS DEVELOPERS HAVE TOO MUCH POWER AND CONTROL IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE 830G STATUTES.

I THINK WE NEED TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.

I DO BELIEVE THAT CERTAIN TOWNS WANT A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN.

AND IT MAKES SENSE TO BUILD YOUR MULTIFAMILY UNITS THERE.

BUT IF THE TOWN SAYS YOU KNOW WHAT, IT MIGHT MAKE MORE SENSE TO PUT A MULTIFAMILY UNIT ELSEWHERE.

THE FOLKS WHO COME AND LIVE IN THOSE MULTIFAMILY UNITS ARE TYPICALLY IT'S THEY MAKE LESS AND EARN LESS.

BUT IT'S ABOUT EQUITY AND EQUALITY AND GIVING PEOPLE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES.

I THINK EVERYBODY WANTS THAT IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT NOT JUST THE SELECT FEW.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU FOLLOW-UP ON YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT 830G BUT WE NEED TO TAKE A BREAK.

I REMIND OUR LISTENERS YOU ARE LISTENING TO "WHERE WE LIVE" INDEPENDENT GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ROB HOTALING IS MY GUEST AND HE IS HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE ARE LIVE ON RADIO, FACEBOOK PAGE OR YouTube.

YOU CAN CALL IN 888-720-9677.

THAT'S 888-720-9677.

OR FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT "WHERE WE LIVE".

>> THIS IS "WHERE WE LIVE" ON CONNECTICUT PUBLIC I'M LUCY NALPATHANCHIL.

ABOUT 33 DAYS TO GO BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION IN CONNECTICUT NOVEMBER 8TH.

TODAY WE WRAP UP YOUR 0 SERIES TALKING WITH CONNECTICUT'S GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES ON NOVEMBER'S BALLOT WHAT QUESTIONS YOU HAVE FOR ROB HOTALING THE INDEPENDENT PARTY'S CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

WE'RE LIVE ON THE RADIO AND WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE AND YouTube.

ADD YOUR QUESTIONS OR CALL IN, 888-720-9677.

THAT'S 888-720-9677.

OR AGAIN FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT "WHERE WE LIVE".

BEFORE WE TAKE ANOTHER CALL YOU MENTIONED 830G THIS WAS A LAW THAT REQUIRES DEVELOPERS TO FOLLOW CERTAIN GUIDELINES BEFORE BRINGING IN CERTAIN PROJECTS AND ALLOWING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

YOU MENTIONED THAT DEVELOPERS HAVE TOO MUCH POWER.

SO UNPACK THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR US.

BECAUSE THERE IS AN AFFORDABILITY HOUSING CRISIS IN OUR STATE.

THERE IS A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES.

SOME ADVOCATES WOULD SAY IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THE UNITS IN CITIES.

BUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING WHERE THEY LIVE.

WORKING FAMILIES, WORKING PROFESSIONALS.

TELL US HOW YOU WOULD FIX THIS ISSUE?

>> I THINK IT GOES BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING EARLIER.

THE 10% REQUIREMENT THE DEBATE ABOUT ONE OR TWO ACRES AND FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

IT'S ABOUT ACCESS.

IN GIVING OPPORTUNITIES TO FOLKS TO LIVE IN THE TOWNS THEY WORK.

WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

ONE OF THE THINGS AND I'VE HEARD BOB STEFANOWSKI TALK ABOUT REPEALING 830G.

I THINK THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GET THAT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AND PUT WHAT IN ITS PLACE.

AND WE NEED TO RESTRUCTURE IT AND LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD BETWEEN DEVELOPERS AND TOWNS.

TOWNS WANT MORE SAY.

DEVELOPERS ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, JUST LIKE TOWNS WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

TOWNS ARE LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE.

IF YOU ARE WORKING THERE AND WANT TO LIVE IN THAT TOWN YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE WITH THAT TOWN'S LEADERSHIP AND SAY WHAT ARE YOU DOING AND WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP?

ONE OF THE KEY THINGS I WAS LOOKING AT AND I UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNOR WAS HERE WEEKS AGO WHERE THE PLANS ARE SHEERED WITH THE -- SHARED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.

I BECOME GOVERNOR I WOULD TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT IT BUT I WOULD MAKE IT A PRIORITY.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A PRIORITY FOR OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

I DON'T GET THE SENSE IT IS.

THEY SAY NICE WORDS BUT WHERE'S THE ACTION?

HOW MANY TOWNS HAVE THEY MET GONE TO EVERY TOWN WHO DOESN'T HAVE A PLAN.

IF I UNDERSTAND THIS RIGHT 50% OF OUR TOWNS HAVEN'T SUBMITTED A PLAN.

IS THAT EITHER JUST LACK OF PRIORITY OR LACK OF RESPECT?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> MAYBE BOTH.

>> OR MAYBE BOTH, RIGHT.

I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT UNDER MY LEADERSHIP I WOULD MAKE A COMMITMENT TO MEET WITH ALL THE VARIOUS TOWNS AND THEN PUT TOGETHER WORK WITH THE LEGISLATION, PUT TOGETHER A BILL THAT WOULD RESTRUCTURE IT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE PROPER ACCESS FOR EVERYONE TO GET THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THE TOWNS.

>> YOU CAN JOIN US AT 888-720-9677 OR FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT "WHERE WE LIVE".

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

WE KNOW THAT THE INFLATION RATE IS HIGH.

PEOPLE DEPENDING ON THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME THEY MAYBE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

PEOPLE ARE NOTICING THAT THE AMOUNT OF DISPOSAL INCOME THEY HAVE IS MUCH LESS THAN WHAT IT USED TO BE.

SO WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO HELP CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS AS WE SEE THIS INFLATION RATE HIGH?

SOME ECONOMISTS SAY WE ARE IN A RECESSION NOW IT HASN'T BEEN OFFICIALLY CALLED.

I'M CURIOUS YOUR THOUGHTS BECAUSE YOU COME FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR?

>> I THINK THERE'S SOMETIMES A MISUNDERSTANDING OF INFLATION WHAT STATE GOVERNMENTS CAN DO TO CONTROL IT.

SCHENN INFLATION IS INFLATION IS TOO MUCH DEMAND FOR THE SUPPLY AND THAT AFFECTS FOOD, FUEL, TOILETRIES AND GOODS AND SERVICES.

AND I SHOULD TRY TO BREAK THIS DOWN AND UNPACK WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE LONG-TERM FIXES.

BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE WAYS TO AFFECT INFLATION.

ONE IS WITH MONETARY POLICY.

MAKING MONEY MORE EXPENSIVE WHICH LOWERS THE -- WHEN THE FED WHO CONTROLS INFLATION AND THE WAY THEY DO THIS IS THEY INCREASE INTEREST RATES WHICH TAKES MONEY OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

IT COOLS THE ECONOMY AND IT MAKES BANKS LIKE WEBSTER OR OTHERS LEND LESS.

THAT MAKES MONEY LESS AVAILABLE WHICH COOLS IT DOWN.

THAT MEANS THAT DEMAND DROPS GENERALLY.

BUT FROM A STATE LEVEL WHAT CAN YOU DO?

THERE'S FISCAL POLICY.

THERE'S A COUPLE WAYS OF ADDRESSING THAT.

THERE IS RAISING TAXES TO COOL OFF PEOPLE FROM WANTING TO SPEND.

WHICH LOWERS DEMAND.

IT BALANCES IT WITH SUPPLY WHICH WOULD DROP FACTORY.

THE OTHER WAY IS REALLY TO CONTROL YOUR SPENDING.

THAT IS ANOTHER THING.

SO THAT WOULD POSSIBLY MEAN CUTTING CERTAIN SERVICES.

SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS.

YET THERE IS ANOTHER WAY.

WHICH IS REALLY SUPPLY.

IF WE CAN INCREASE OUR PRODUCTION OF CERTAIN IMPACTFUL GOODS AND SERVICES OR GOODS AND SERVICES IMPACTED BY INFLATION MOST AND BUILD SAFEGUARDS THERE THAT MAYBE ANOTHER WAY TO FIGHT INFLATION.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A GAS TAX HOLIDAY.

IT'S GOING TO BE EXPIRING IN NOVEMBER.

THERE IS A LOT OF DEBATE ABOUT EXTENDING IT.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO EXTEND IT TO GIVE PEOPLE THAT RELIEF AND WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT OTHER SAFEGUARDS WE CAN FOR FUEL PRICES WHICH AFFECT OUR TRANSPORTATION AND OUR WORKING FORCE.

BUT I LOOK AT FOOD.

WE COME FROM A GREAT STATE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FARMS.

WE JUST DON'T MANUFACTURE ENOUGH HERE.

WE DON'T WAREHOUSE ENOUGH HERE.

AND IF WE COULD OFFSET SOME OF THAT IN A REGIONAL BASED MANNER WE MAY ALSO INSULATE OURSELVES MORE FROM INFLATION.

THERE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS WE CAN DO.

>> YOU'VE CALLED ATTENTION TO CONNECTICUT NOT BEING SEEN AS BUSINESS FRIENDLY.

YOU HAVE SOME PROPOSALS TO HELP ATTRACT MORE BUSINESSES TO OUR STATE.

I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN BRIEFLY LAYOUT SOME OF THAT FOR OUR LISTENERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'VE STARTED UP A FEW BUSINESSES MYSELF.

AND I'VE ALSO WORKED AT LARGE CORPORATIONS AS WELL AS SMALL START-UPS AND FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES.

EVERYONE IS FEELING IT.

THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS WE ARE BASICALLY UNFRIENDLY.

I'VE HEARD BOB STEFANOWSKI TAKE IT I THINK HE SAW MY PLANS AND SAW THE RANKINGS I PUT.

WE HAVE F'S AND D'S ON OUR REPORT CARD ACCORDING TO CNBC WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY AND COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE.

MY PLAN IS THIS... WE WILL ADDRESS COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS AND THE COST OF LIVING.

A COUPLE WAYS THAT WE WILL BE ADDRESSING COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS ARE PERSONAL AND BUSINESS PROPERTY TAXES WE ARE LOOKING AT REDUCING THEM.

OUR DEFAULT POSITION ELIMINATION AND THE OTHER IS MOTOR VEHICLE TAXES THAT BUSINESSES SPEND ON.

IF WE CAN ELIMINATE THOSE.

WE NEED TO GO FROM RIGHT NOW CONNECTICUT THE MAJORITY OF REVENUES ARE BASED ON ASSETS HAVING SOMETHING OR BEING SOMETHING.

I BELIEVE THAT OUR STATE SHOULD BE BASED ON USE OR UTILIZATION.

BUYING SOMETHING, DOING SOMETHING, RATHER THAN JUST BEING SOMETHING.

IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT AND WHAT WOULD OCCUR IF YOU DO LESS YOU PAY LESS IF YOU DO MORE YOU PAY MORE.

THAT IS MORE FAIR AND THAT IS ONE OF OUR THINGS OUR ECONOMIC PLAN WOULD LOOK AT DOING.

>> THERE IS A STORY HAPPENING THIS WEEK WHERE GOVERNOR LAMONT AD OTHER LEADERS ARE PUTTING PRESSURE ON MNT BANK AFTER THE MERGER 325 WORKERS HAVE BEEN LAID OFF.

AND 333 EXPECTED IN THE FUTURE.

MNT BANK IS PLANNING TO HIRE FOR 350 JOBS.

AS GOVERNOR HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE THAT SITUATION?

WHAT CONTROL DOES A GOVERNOR HAVE OVER A PRIVATE BUSINESS MOVING FORWARD?

>> AND I FEEL IT'S REAS AREA.

IT'S NOT LIKE IT WASN'T -- LOOK WE'RE GOING THROUGH A BANK MERGER RIGHT NOW.

MNT AND PEOPLES EVERYONE KNEW IT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE TRUST WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

BUT IF THERE WERE INCENTIVES DELIVERED TO MNT OR COMMITMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT I BELIEVE THEY ARE INTENDING TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SET OF EMPLOYEES 300 OR A THOUSAND AND I'M AWARE THAT GOVERNOR LAMONT MET WITH THE C.E.O.

OF MNT TODAY OR YESTERDAY.

AS GOVERNOR FOR ME, ESPECIALLY UNDERSTANDING THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ESPECIALLY BANKING AND FINANCE, I WITH WORK WITH THEM AND SAY, HEY WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE A SMOOTH TRANSITION?

WHAT CAN WE DO TO INSURE AHEAD OF PRO-ACTIVELY NOT REACTIVELY.

AND THEN ALSO JUST, WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL EVEN, THERE ARE A LOT OF LAWSUITS FLOWING INTO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL I WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND GO WHAT IS THE COMMON THEME RATHER THAN BEING A HAMMER, BE MORE OF A PARTNER WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

AND SAY OK WHERE CAN WE GET OTHERS TO MAYBE HELP AND SMOOTHIES TRANSITION.

>> WE HAVE A LISTENER WHO TWEETED IN THE STATE WHERE WE SAW NEWTOWN HAPPEN AND DECEMBR IT WILL BE 10 YEARS SINCE THAT TRAGIC SHOOTING AT THE SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THE STATE HAS AN ASSAULT WEAPON BAN AND TOUGHER GUN LAWS THAN WE SEE IN OTHER STATES.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON POLICE IN SCHOOLS?

>> WELL, THIS IS A REALLY CHALLENGING THING.

AND YOU MENTIONED NEWTOWN.

QUICK STORY I FOUNDED A COMPANY IT WAS A GUNSHOT DETECTION AND THE FIRST TO BE INSTALLED NO HUMAN INTERVENTION WHATSOEVER.

I REPURPOSED MILITARY GRADE GUNSHOT DETECTORS USED BY OUR SPECIAL FORCES OVERSEAS AND MINIATURIZED THEM AND MADE THEM LOOK LIKE SMOKE DETECTORS.

IT TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY AND VARIOUS SOLUTIONS.

WE CAN'T TURN OUR SCHOOLS INTO FOR THE TRESSES.

THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR EDUCATION BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS FEEL SAFE.

THERE ARE WAYS OF DOING THAT.

IN HIGH CRIME COMMUNITIES I UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, I'VE SPOKEN WITH A NUMBER OF THEM ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY OFTEN HAVE THE SAME OPINION WHICH IS LISTEN WE ARE THERE TO HELP PROTECT THE KIDS BUT THEY WANT TO BE IN THE BACKGROUND AND RESPECTED.

WHEN THEY ARE TOO VISIBLE IT AFFECTS NEGATIVELY AFFECTS THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND GATHERED.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE ROOTS OF CRIME.

AND WHAT MAKES ESSENTIALLY A COMMUNITY AND A SCHOOL CRIME RIDDEN AND UNSAFE.

AND REALLY COMES BACK TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

AND WHAT OUR EDUCATION PLAN IS.

AND TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL STUDENT TEACHER RATIOS AND SCHOOL CLASS SIZES.

IF WE CAN MAKE THE RIGHT ECONOMIC CHANGES AND RIGHT EDUCATIONAL CHANGES, SAFETY AND THE COMMUNITY AROUND IT SHOULD IMPROVE.

CRIME SHOULD COME DOWN.

WE ALSO HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR OFFICERS.

THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT JOB ONE OF THE MOST IN THE WHOLE STATE AS WELL AS THE TEACHERS IN URBAN COMMUNITIES.

WE NEED TO RECRUIT BETTER AND RENEED TO RETAIN THEM BETTER AND GIVE THEM HAZARD PAY OR BONUSES TO BE COMPETITIVE TO KEEP THEM THERE.

AND THAT IS CRITICAL.

BOTH FOR OUR STUDENTS AS WELL AS FOR THE COMMUNITY AROUND THEM.

>> AGAIN, YOU CAN JOIN US 888-720-9677.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR ROB HOTALING THE INDEPENDENT PARTY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE HERE "WHERE WE LIVE".

WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES.

I WANTED TO PARAPHRASE FROM SOMEONE WHO CALLED IN BUT HAVING AN ISSUE HEARING FROM THE CALLER IN TERMS OF YOUR POSITION OR RANK CHOICE VOTING WE TALKED ABOUT CLOSED PRIMARIES BEING AN ISSUE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> I AM A HUGE FAN OF RANK CHOICE VOTING.

IN FACT, THINK ABOUT THIS... BOB STEFANOWSKI WON BECAUSE OF RANK CHOICE VOTING IN THE INDEPENDENT PARTY.

AND THEN I CAME AND DEFEATED BOB STEFANOWSKI WITH THE SAME MECHANISM OF THE RANK CHOICE VOTING.

IT WORKS.

WHAT IT IS INSTEAD OF YOU HAVING ONE AND ONLY VOTE IT ELIMINATES THE SPOILER VOTE CONCEPT.

AND I WILL RANK THEM.

AND WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE IS THAT IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE RANK CHOICE VOTING MORE PEOPLE WOULD VOTE FOR A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE BECAUSE THEY REALIZE I'M NOT THROWING MY VOTE AWAY.

IT IS AN INSTANT RUNOFF.

I WOULD RANK ROB HOTALING FIRST AND THEN GOVERNOR LAMONT OR BOB STEFANOWSKI SECOND OR THIRD.

AND WHOEVER GETS THE LEAST WITHOUT 50% WIN, THAT LAST PERSON'S VOTES ROLL UP TO THE NEXT REMAINING TWO FOR EXAMPLE.

AND THEN YOU WOULD REVOTE IMMEDIATELY.

IT IS AN INSTANT RECOUNT.

IT MAKES IT GREATER FOR EVERYBODY.

AND GOVERNOR LAMONT AND THE PARTY COMMITTED TO INTRODUCING RANK CHOICE VOTING BILL AT THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SO IF I WIN THE GOVERNORSHIP I WOULD MEET THAT COMMITMENT OF INTRODUCING RANK CHOICE VOTING BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

>> WE DON'T HAVE THAT SYSTEM.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE SAYING YOU ARE THE THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE IF I VOTE FOR YOU, AM I THROWING AWAY MY VOTE.

>> THEY ARE NOT DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS THEY CONTROL THE FATE.

IF THE MAJORITY OF THE UNAFFILIATED VOTE FOR ME, IT IS NOT A THROW AWAY VOTE, I WIN.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

AND WHAT IS PARTISAN POOL PARTICULARS GOTTEN US?

YOU CAN ARGUE WE HAVE A UNI PARTY.

RIGHT.

EVERY SENIOR ROLE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE ENTIRE STATE ARE CONTROLLED BY THE DEMOCRATS.

ARE THINGS BETTER NOW?

THINK ABOUT IT FOUR YEARS AGO, EIGHT, 12 YEARS AGO, ARE THINGS BETTER FOR YOU?

JUST THE SAME OR WORSE?

CLEARLY I THINK THINGS ARE SHOWING WE'RE NOT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

CNBC WE ARE THE WORST ACHIEVEMENT GAP, BOTTOM FIVE TAXATION WE HAVE PEOPLE FLEEING THE STATE.

ALL OF THAT DUE IS TO A SINGLE PARTY HAVING CONTROL.

I UNDERSTAND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GREAT IDEAS THAT IS GREAT.

BUT WE NEED COMPETITION.

LAST TIME I CHECKED AND I SAY THIS IN ALL HONESTY, NAME ME AN INDUSTRY OR ANYTHING WHERE LESS CHOICE IS BETTER.

YOU MIGHT SAY COME TO MY SHOW.

YOU DON'T WANT ANY OTHER SHOW I GET THAT.

OUTSIDE OF YOUR SHOW IS THERE ANYTHING OF THE ELSE IN LIFE WHERE YOU SAY LESS CHOICE IS BETTER?

I DON'T THINK SO.

>> BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT WHAT IS BAD ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE BUT YOU HAVE LIVED IN CONNECTICUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT CONNECTICUT WHAT MAKES YOU STAY HERE AND RAISE YOUR FAMILY.

RETIREES WILL LEAVE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO LIVE SOMEWHERE WARM AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH SNOW.

AND WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT CONNECTICUT?

>> I WILL ANSWER WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT CONNECTICUT.

AND I HAVE ONE RADICAL THOUGHT.

I BELIEVE THAT RETIREES PEOPLE WHO LIVED OR WORKED IN THE STATE FOR 10 YEARS OR MORE DESERVE A DEFINED BENEFIT.

THEY SHOULD HAVE A PUBLIC OPTION.

SENIORS SAY THEY WOULD NOT FLEE THE STATE IF THE MEDICAL EXPENSES IF THEY HAD A PUBLIC OPTION, THEY WOULD STAY.

I'VE SENIORS OUT OF STATE THAT SAY THEY WOULD MOVE HERE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT HEAT.

I LOVE FLORIDA IT'S NICE BUT THEY WOULD STAY HERE.

WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT CONNECTICUT?

CONNECTICUT HAS GREAT PEOPLE.

I BELIEVE HAS BEAUTY AND CONNECTICUT HAS A GREAT SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WE FIX OUR ACHIEVEMENT GAP WE ARE ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION.

WE HAVE A VERY EDUCATED, POWERFUL WORKFORCE.

THOSE ARE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS AND PROXIMITY TO NEW YORK.

BUT I BELIEVE WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR CITIES TO MAKE THEM VIBRANT AND HAVE PEOPLE COME HERE.

AND MAKE IT NOT JUST A WORK DESTINATION BUT CULTURAL DESTINATION.

WE HAVE THE RIGHT BONES WE HAVE TO BUILDUP CONNECTICUT A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THE SEGMENTS WENT QUICKLY.

IT WAS A PLEASURE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND LEARN ABOUT YOUR CAMPAIGN AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU IN ABOUT 33 DAYS ON ELECTION DAY.

ROB HOTALING AGAIN IS THE INDEPENDENT PARTY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TODAY.

>> THANKS A LOT LUCY.

>> YOU'RE LISTENING TO "WHERE WE LIVE".

UP NEXT WE WILL GET ANALYSIS FROM GOVERNMENT REPORTER KEN DIXON.

YOU CAN JOIN US TOO FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT "WHERE WE LIVE".

[♪♪] >> THIS IS "WHERE WE LIVE" ON CONNECTICUT PUBLIC I'M LUCY NALPATHANCHIL.

YOU JUST HEARD ROB HOTALING ON THE SHOW THE INDEPENDENT PARTY CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

THIS NOVEMBER HE WILL BE ON THE BALLOT.

CANDIDATES BOB STEFANOWSKI WILL HAVE THE REPUBLICAN LIKE AND INCUMBENT NED LAMONT WILL HAVE THREE BALLOT LINES.

NOW FOR SOME ANALYSIS ON HOTALING'S CAMPAIGN AND THE GOVERNOR'S RACE JOINING US NOW IN STUDIO IS IT KEN DIXON THE POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT REPORTER FOREHEARST CONNECTICUT MEDIA.

GOOD TO SEE YOU THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

>> SURE, LUCY.

TAKE ME OVER THE COALS NOW.

>> I WANT TO HEAR YOUR HOT TAKES ON ROB HOTALING'S CAMPAIGN AND WHAT HE SHARED TODAY.

>> WHO IS A MORE ATTRACTIVE CANDIDATE?

THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE GETTING THE NUMBERS OUT FOR HIM.

BUT, YEAH, HE HAD A LITTLE DAVID AND GOLIATH BATTLE GETTING THE NOMINATION.

AND HE'S THOROUGHLY BRIEFED.

HE HAS GOOD EXPERIENCE.

THERE'S NO MONEY.

THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY TIME THAT PEOPLE SEE HIM ON TV FOR THE NEXT WHAT IS IT 35 DAYS?

>> I SAID 33 MAYBE I'M WRONG.

>> YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT.

>> LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT HIS APPROACH.

HE MENTIONED UNAFFILIATED AND YOU KNOW THIS, THE 930,000 UNAFFILIATED VOTERS IN OUR STATE HE'S REALLY APPEALING TO THEM.

I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN BREAK THAT DOWN FOR US THINKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTION THE GOVERNOR'S RACES HAVE BEEN CLOSE IN RECENT YEARS.

IN TERMS OF WHERE WILL HE BE PULLING VOTES FROM?

>> LAMONT WON BY 44,000.

WITH ALL THE EXTRA LINES, YOU KNOW, SECOND TERM OVER COVID, HE'S GOT A DECISIVE ADVANTAGE.

UNAFFILIATED LOOKING AT THE POLLS, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE BREAKING MORE REPUBLICAN THAN DEMOCRAT.

THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK LIKE WHO IS IN THE INDEPENDENT PARTY?

IS IT DISENCHANTED REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS?

I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT BREAKS DOWN.

>> AND CHIP BECKETT HIS RUNNING MATE AND ROB HOTALING WERE ONCE REPUBLICANS.

SO WILL THEY BE CONSIDERED THE DISENCHANTED REPUBLICANS FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE INDEPENDENT PARTY?

>> ROB GAVE MONEY TO MILLOY AND BEING IN THE YOUNG DEMOCRATS BACK IN THE DAY.

I THINK HE HAS BONA-FIDES ON THAT AND HE HAS INTERESTING IDEAS.

AND UNAFFILIATED GOVERNOR COMING INTO THE VOLCANO OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WOULD BE INTERESTING.

AND IT WOULD BE UP TO THE MINORITY AND THE MAJORITY TO TRY TO WORK TOGETHER WITH HIM.

IT COULD BE INTERESTING IF HE WON.

BUT THE ODDS ARE WAY AGAINST IT.

>> SO YOU ARE ABLE TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HE RAISED.

WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU?

>> HE'S SUPER KNOWLEDGEABLE.

HE HAS A SCOPE OF EXPERIENCE THAT ARGUABLY -- WELL, THE GOVERNOR'S GOT FOUR MORE YEARS ON HIM BUT BOB STEFANOWSKI WAS A CORPORATE GUY AND SPENT YEARS ABOUT A CONSULTANT THAT HE WON'T TELL ANYBODY ABOUT EXCEPT HE MADE $30 MILLION OR SOMETHING.

FAMILY GUY.

MOVED TO CHESHIRE AND KNOWS ABOUT THE SUBURBS.

I THINK HE IS POLY ANISH ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EDUCATIONAL COST SHARING BATTLES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES NOW.

ARGUABLY MAYBE THAT IS WHAT WE NEED AN OUTSIDER TO WORK THEIR WILL I DON'T KNOW.

>> ISN'T THAT HOW NED LAMONT PROMOTED HIMSELF AS A BUSINESS GUY COMING INTO STATE GOVERNMENT WHEN HE RAN?

>> HE ALSO HAD THE WAR IN 2006 THAT HE USED TO MAKE JOE LIEBERMAN BECOME AN INDEPENDENT A POLITICAL PARTY OF HIS OWN THERE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EDUCATION COST SHARING GRANT.

YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING THE CAPITOL FOR YEARS AND YOU UNDERSTAND THIS BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE LISTENER.

>> IT'S SAD.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HIS IDEAS OF SAYING THAT THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED IS NOT WORKING.

CAN YOU BREAK IT DOWN FOR US WHAT HE MEANS THERE?

>> WELL, IT'S TRUE.

THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING.

LOOK AT WESTPORT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO WESTPORT LOOK AT FAIRFIELD NEXT TO BRIDGEPORT.

ROB SAID SOMETHING DURING THAT DEBATE WITH THE GOVERNOR AND BOB STEFANOWSKI ABOUT PAYING TEACHERS.

URBAN TEACHERS AND URBAN POLICE MORE.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF CARROT THAT YOU NEED TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE INNER-CITY BECAUSE I KNOW TEACHNERS BRIDGEPORT AND THEY ARE TOTALLY DEDICATED AND THERE'S HEARTBREAK EVERYWHERE.

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES AND KIDS AT RISK AND MORE MONEY MIGHT TEACHER IN BRIDGEPORT YOU LOOK IN GREENWICH, THE PARENTS ARE TOTALLY INVOLVED AND THE KIDS ARGUABLY BETTER TRAINED AND THEY ARE PAYING MORE MONEY.

IT'S OF A NO-BRAINER.

>> SO WE HAVE MORE THAN A MONTH LEFT, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE IN THIS GUBERNATORIAL RACE?

I THINK BOB STEFANOWSKI THE REPUBLICAN, IS STARTING A BUS TOUR AROUND THE STATE AND NED LAMONT IS ONLY DOING TWO DEBATES AND ROB HOTALING IS TRYING TO GET AS MUCH FACE TIME AS HE CAN.

>> YOU SAID IT.

ROB'S HE IS GOING TO THE CAPITOL TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATION.

HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY MONEY AT ALL.

I MEAN I THINK HE LOANED HIS CAMPAIGN LIKE $40 GRAND.

AND WE'VE GOT CAMPAIGN FINANCE DEADLINES ARE COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WE WILL GET A BETTER IDEA.

BUT GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT IS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD FOR HIM TO BREAKTHROUGH LAMONT, THE SUPER PACS, BOB STEFANOWSKI THE SUPER PACS AND THE FINAL STRETCH.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM RESIDENTS THAT YOU'VE ENCOUNTERED THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHEN THEY LOOK AT THIS RACE?

AGAIN SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT THE PANDEMIC MAY HAVE BEEN THE BEST THING FOR GOVERNOR LAMONT CONSIDERING HE WAS UNPOPULAR AND THERE WERE MISSTEPS AND PEOPLE REMEMBER BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

OTHERS HE'S GOTTEN CRITICISM ABOUT SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS DURING COVID.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, CONNECTICUT FARED A LOT BETTER RELATED TO THE WAY THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WAS HANDLED VERSUS OTHER STATES.

THINKING ABOUT WHAT RESIDENTS WANT TO HEAR FROM IN TERMS OF THE CANDIDATES?

>> WELL, WHAT HAS HE DONE FOR THEM LATELY?

AND COVID'S ALMOST OLD NEWS NOW IT'S BECOMING ENDEMIC.

ALTHOUGH I WORE MY MASK INTO THE BUILDING HERE TODAY.

I'M SURE EVERYBODY FELT SLIGHTLY SAFER.

BOB STEFANOWSKI IS GOING TO TRY TO GO TO THE MIDDLE AND THE PRESSURE IS ON HIM.

NED'S HOLDING SERVE.

AND THE FEWER DEBATES THE BETTER FOR THE INCUMBENT.

THAT IS WHY YOU'RE SEEING ONE DEBATE BETWEEN BLOOMING THAT AND BLOOMENTHAL AND LEVY IN A POLL 47-47% AMONG INDEPENDENTS AND SHE IS LIKE A TRUMP PERSON AND THAT IS AN INTERESTING FINDING IN THE POLL.

>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

KEN DIXON POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT REPORTER FOR HEARST PUBLIC MEDIA.

>> MY NOSE IS RUNNING NOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON THE SHOW.

TODAY'S SHOW PRODUCED.

I'M LUCY NALPATHANCHIL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE VISUALS DIGITAL AND OPERATIONS TEAMS AT CONNECTICUT PUBLIC.

[♪♪]