State Treasurer Denise Nappier won’t be attending the one and only scheduled debate in the race for state treasurer Tuesday night.
Nappier’s campaign spokeswoman Rose Ryan said she would be unable to attend the event due to “personal reasons.”
Her Republican opponent Tim Herbst said he intends to attend the debate and “debate an empty chair,” if he has too. However, after spending the whole week prepping for the debate and rearranging his schedule, Herbst said he hopes Nappier reconsiders.
“I’m in a state of shock,” Herbst said an hour after learning of Nappier’s decision not to attend.
He said he hopes Nappier will be able to overcome the “personal reasons” and “join me in the remaining 29 days to discuss the critical issues facing our state.”
“What concerns me most is that Ms. Nappier has been unable to demonstrate to Connecticut residents why she deserves another term in office,” Herbst said. “I am genuinely concerned for her well-being and I think Ms. Nappier needs to let the families of Connecticut know whether she is physically and emotionally able to carry out her duties managing $26 billion of assets.”
The debate is sponsored by the Hartford Votes Coalition and will be begin at 6 p.m. tonight at the Hartford Public Library. It will also include two of the three candidates for state comptroller. State Comptroller Kevin Lembo was unable to accept the invitation to debate due to a previously scheduled event. But Rolf Maurer and Sharon McLaughlin will be attending. The debate will be moderated by CTNewsjunkie.com’s Christine Stuart.
