Stewart, Gerratana to Debate Saturday

Sixth District state senate candidates Theresa Bielinski Gerratana and New Britain Mayor Tim Stewart will face each other in a debate Saturday, Feb. 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Trinity on Main at 69 Main St. in New Britain.

The debate is co-sponsored by the New Britain Area League of Women Voters and The New Britain Herald. New Britain Republicans have complained the debate is unfair because they believe the League of Women Voters, a non-partisan organization, has Democratic leanings.

“I do not think the League of Women Voters is fair,” Stewart told The New Britain Herald Wednesday. “The organization is filled with Democrats and has always been filled with Democrats.”

Since the two declared their candidacy, they have traded shots, chronicled by The New Britain Herald, with Gerratana’s camp decrying Stewart’s supposed plan to continue on as mayor if elected and Stewart accusing Gerratana of running a negative phone campaign related to the issue.

The special election to replace Sen. Don DeFronzo, will be held Feb. 22. The 6^th District represents New Britain, Berlin and a small portion of Farmington.