Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Senate Republican leader John McKinney will both be on the road beginning this month, holding separate town hall-style events across the state.
The governor’s tour is being billed as an open-ended discussion on “the state’s pressing issues.” Meanwhile McKinney, who has publicly discussed plans to run for governor in 2014, is devoting his tour to “gathering public input” on Malloy’s proposed budget.
The communication offices of both men issued press releases announcing the tours within minutes of each other Tuesday afternoon.
Malloy currently has one event scheduled for Wednesday in Middletown.
“We have a number of critically important issues facing the state, and I am eager for the opportunity to hear from residents about their concerns, so that we can move forward together,” he said in a statement.
Town hall-type events are nothing new for Malloy, who used them to try to drum up support for his first two-year budget and again for his education reform proposal.
McKinney has eight events scheduled over the next four weeks. In a statement, he said he hopes to hear from the public on Malloy’s second two-year budget proposal.
“I think it is more important than ever for the legislature and the governor to hear from the people of Connecticut,” he said.
McKinney said he also will be looking to educate the public on what’s included the governor’s proposed budget. On each stop, he will make a short budget presentation to spend some time “separating fact from fiction.” McKinney said he expects the budget the legislature passes later this year to look different than the governor’s proposal.
“There are simply too many holes in the governor’s budget for it to gain legislative approval without significant changes. I want Connecticut residents to be heard as those changes are being considered by their elected representatives,” he said.
Malloy’s first event will be held 7-8 p.m. at Middletown City Hall, 245 deKoven Drive, Middletown. More events will be posted on his web site as they are scheduled.
Here is a list of the events McKinney has scheduled:
March 11, 7-8:30 pm
Enfield Town Hall Council Chambers
820 Enfield St.
March 14, 7-8:30 p.m.
Stratford, Wooster Middle School Auditorium
150 Lincoln St.
March 18, 7-8:30 p.m.
Wallingford Public Library Community Room
200 North Main St.
March 21, 7-8:30 p.m.
Bristol City Hall Council Chambers
111 North Main St.
March 27, 6-7:30 p.m.
Greenwich Senior Center
299 Greenwich Ave.
April 1, 7-8:30 p.m.
Manchester Town Hall
41 Center St., Manchester
April 8, 7-8:30 p.m.
Danbury, Broadview Middle School Auditorium
72 Hospital Ave.
April 9, 7-8:30 p.m.
Westbrook Public Library
61 Goodspeed Dr.
