Griebel to Participate in WFSB/UConn Debate Next Wednesday.

Petitioning gubernatorial candidate Oz Griebel will join Democrat Ned Lamont and Republican Bob Stefanowski on stage at the September 26th WFSB/UConn debate. Griebel and Lamont participated in the first post-primary debate. Stefanowski skipped that one. Griebel was not included in the two subsequent debates. The debate will be broadcast live on WFSB from 7 p.m.-8 p.m.

This debate will be the most important opportunity Griebel will have in the campaign to insert himself as a factor in the campaign. He’s done if he cannot improve on his rambling debut at the University of Saint Joseph at the beginning of September. There is considerable dissatisfaction with the two major party candidates. Connecticut voters have been receptive to independent candidates. They elected Lowell Weicker governor in 1990 and returned Joe Lieberman to the U.S. Senate in an epic 2006 contest. As long ago as 1970, U.S. Senator Thomas Dodd placed a respectable third after he was repudiated for renomination by his fellow Democrats, opening the way for Weicker to win his first term in the Senate.

Griebel’s runningmate, Monte Frank, will join Democrat Susan Bysiewicz and Republican Joe Markley on September 27th at a WFSB debate that will be streamed online. Parts of it will be featured on the following Sunday’s edition of Face the State. Do not be surprised if this is a more interesting encounter than the gubernatorial debate the day before.