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Libertarian Candidate For Governor Wants To Eliminate Income Tax, Raise Sales Tax

Chion Wolf
/
Connecticut Public Radio
Rod Hanscomb is the first Libertarian Party candidate to earn a ballot spot for governor in 20 years.

Libertarian candidate Rod Hanscomb is pledging to cut some taxes and raise others if elected in November.

“We do not have [a] revenue problem. We have a spending problem in this state,” said Hanscomb, who has pledged to raise the sales tax. “We have to have a higher sales tax to make up for a chunk of the revenue that we’re going to lose with no income tax.”

Hanscomb will appear on the ballot alongside four other candidates for governor next month. Hanscomb is the party’s first gubernatorial candidate to earn a ballot spot in 20 years.

Speaking on Connecticut Public Radio’s Where We Live, Hanscomb said if elected he would not support tolls, but would support the legalization of recreational marijuana.

According to the latest Quinnipiac University Poll, Democrat Ned Lamont has a 47 to 39 percent likely voter lead over Republican Bob Stefanowski in the governor’s race.

Eleven percent say they’re for independent candidate Oz Griebel, who is scheduled to appear on Where We Live Friday.

Hanscomb didn’t rate in the latest Quinnipiac University Poll. He acknowledged the challenges of getting his name recognized by voters.

“There’s a point at which there needs to be the other voices out there,” Hanscomb said. “We know that there’s a market for what we’re doing here. There’s a market for people who want to hear about being fiscally conservative and responsible and socially liberal.”

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Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. He can be reached at pskahill@ctpublic.org.

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