2003-12-14

Three newspapers call for Rowland's resignation

The Day of New London

Gov. John G. Rowland should resign. He has disgraced himself, his office and the countless citizens of the state who trusted him and elected him three times.

The Day has no idea where the ongoing federal corruption investigation will lead. But Gov. Rowland's inability to distinguish right from wrong in merging his political life with financial matters in his personal life, and his deceitfulness about the facts mean he can't be trusted.

Calling for his resignation is particularly painful for this newspaper, which endorsed him twice and admired his political skills and some of his leadership decisions that were courageous. But John Rowland has misled the people of his state about matters of public trust, and he no longer has any credibility. His continued service would be a detriment to the state's integrity and the quality of its governance.

The Journal Inquirer of Manchester

Connecticut is a largely Democratic state and retains political competition only tenuously.

Does the governor really want to drag down the Republican Party by carrying the corruption issue through the remaining three years of his term and into the next election, sabotaging any Republican nominee to succeed him and destroying political competition? Or would he give his successor, the lieutenant governor, a fighting chance?

Much harm still can be prevented, and preventing it is the last service Rowland can perform for Connecticut _ by resigning and thereby moving the corruption problem somewhat to the side of state business and liberating his political party from his disgrace.

Unfortunately there will be no preventing the damage done by the governor's recklessness and dishonesty to public confidence in state government and politics and to the general morale of Connecticut's public life.

Of course there will always be shading, spinning, and dissembling in politics and government, but never before have corruption and outright dishonesty so besmirched the state's highest office. Governors in Rhode Island and Massachusetts have been caught taking, caught turning state business into personal gain, but not in Connecticut, until now.

Rowland's continuing in office will only condone what must never be condoned. Connecticut must have more self-respect than that.

The Herald of New Britain

As Rowland called for the resignation of former Waterbury Mayor Phil Giordano and Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim _ the symbols of political corruption in Connecticut _ it is time for the governor to step aside.

Rowland said neither of these men could lead their communities under the cloud of distrust their action created and whether the governor has broken any laws which remains to be seen _ he has created the same cloud around himself.

_

The News Times of Danbury

This pattern of having his hand out is not new for the governor.

In June, he paid $9,000 to settle a state Ethics Commission complaint that he had received discounted vacations at Tomasso homes.

In August, Rowland paid $6,000 to settle an Elections Enforcement Commission complaint over his use of a state Republican Party credit card for personal expenses.

This is the picture of a governor who lacks the moral compass to know that accepting gifts from subordinates and potential appointees is wrong, as is accepting gifts from contractors, as is the telling of lies about what was accepted.

As the federal investigation continues, there are many unknowns. But no matter what is to come, there can be no doubt that Rowland has betrayed the trust placed in him by the people of Connecticut. Governors are elected to serve the people, not to fill their pockets.