Melinda Tuhus Photo
Foley, at left, with Alderman Joseph Rodriguez, at right.
The issue of immigration seemed bound to come up at a gubernatorial debate Monday evening sponsored by a Latino organization. Especially since one candidate’s running mate wants to rid his city of undocumented immigrants and whose police force is working with the federal government to enforce immigration laws,
The debate, held at the Holiday Inn in North Haven, was sponsored by the Progreso Latino Fund. The diverse crowd of about 75 voters listened politely as Democrat Dan Malloy and Republican Tom Foley addressed their positions on the state budget deficit, economic development, employment, health care and closing the educational achievement gap, as they had been requested to do by the debate’s organizers. Click here for a story about their positions on many of these issues.
During the Q&A, two questions were asked that may turn out to be interrelated. The first was, If elected, how would each utilize his lieutenant governor, a position that has been largely ceremonial? The second was directed just to Foley, and asked how he could reconcile the clear differences between him and his running mate, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, on immigration.
Foley had begun his comments by volunteering that he is a fifth-generation Irish American (who served as ambassador to Ireland under President George W. Bush). So, he said, he understands the hard times immigrants can face.
“It’s one of the greatest things about our country,” he said, “that over time we have done a good job of absorbing our immigrant populations, and that is a challenge that continues to face us. But I think everyone in America understands the strength that our country has as a result of its history of absorbing immigrants from around the world, and I as governor will certainly be a proud supporter of all immigrant groups here in Connecticut and recognizing and appreciating the wonderful contributions they make to our state and our country.”
As for how he’d utilize his lieutenant governor, Foley said since Boughton has been both in the state legislature and the mayor of a major city, “I’ve already talked to Mark about putting him in charge of my legislative agenda. I’ve also asked him to work as a liaison between the state government and city and town government,” which he said currently don’t enjoy good relations.
That would put Boughton in a position to potentially promote his views on immigration to other state and local leaders.
Boughton has become a national spokesman for cracking down on immigrants and using local police as adjuncts to federal agents. His approach has led to a thinning of Danbury’s immigrant population and contributed to the growth of New Haven’s vibrant Ecuadorian community.
Foley has already said in previous appearances that he disagrees with Boughton on that issue.
“I’m the governor, so I set policy for the administration,” Foley said Monday night. “The lieutenant governor is a member of the team, and he’s going to be working with the legislature and with cities and towns. The policy will be coming from the front office. I wouldn’t assume that because somebody’s in the lieutenant governor role that their positions or their record on policy issues will be affecting the administration.”
(Malloy said his running mate, current state Comptroller Nancy Wyman, would take the lead on health care issues and play a major role in the restructuring of government. He’s pictured after the debate with local education activist Nilda Aponte.)
After the formal program ended, both candidates stayed on to chat with small groups of voters and respond to their questions. Fair Haven Alderman Joseph Rodriguez (pictured on right in photo at the top of the story, with Foley on the left) asked Foley to elaborate on how he could reconcile his position on immigration with Boughton’s.
Foley repeated what he said in the formal part of the program. Afterward Rodriguez noted that he’s a leader of a statewide group of Latinos that recently endorsed Malloy, “not only because we’re Democrats. Dan Malloy has demonstrated a clear understanding of the issues that face the Latino community. Dan is not scared to answer [issues] in detail, and, unfortunately, Foley demonstrated tonight that he cannot get in-depth with the answers on what we face. I do not support his response on immigration. He has a lg running with him and they have different views on immigration, and his views in Danbury are radical…very radical.”
(Malloy has said previously that he does not agree with New Haven’s immigrant-friendly ID card program.)
Rodriguez noted that Boughton and the Danbury Common Council signed an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to train their police officers. “And I honestly think the way they’re approaching the topic of immigration is racial and stereotypical. It’s unfortunate that Tom Foley can’t get his lieutenant governor candidate in check about immigration.”
Asked after the debate for his views on immigration, Malloy said in a phone interview, referring to his 14 years as mayor of Stamford, “Stamford went in the direction I wanted it to go. We honored our legal responsibilities, but I never sought to pit a local police department against a population it has to serve. I’m against the concept that we are going to federally deputize local police officers.” He gave an example of how that could complicate law enforcement. “My wife runs a rape crisis center; once you make the local police the enemy on this issue then your witnesses will dry up, your complaints will dry up; people will be subjected to behaviors no one should tolerate, because they have no one to turn to. It’s a bad public policy. That’s why we have federal authorities to enforce federal law and local authorities to enforce local law.” He added, “We need to control who’s coming to our country. I believe we should control our borders. I believe we need a sane immigration policy, but a sane immigration policy will not consist of deputizing local law enforcement.”