Polls Split On Whether Rowland Should Resign

By Matt Apuzzo

Associated Press

HARTFORD –– The public is split over whether Gov John G. Rowland should resign after he admitted taking gifts from employees and a politically connected contractor for his summer cottage, according to two polls.

A Quinnipiac University poll Wednesday found that Connecticut voters are evenly split on resignation: 45 percent said Mr Rowland should stay, and 44 percent said he should go. Eleven percent said they did not know.

Also, 73 percent of voters said Mr Rowland is dishonest, and only 30 percent approve of the job he is doing, said Quinnipiac pollster Doug Schwartz.

“Governor Rowland is in serious trouble. He’s lost the trust of Connecticut voters,” Mr Schwartz said.

A University of Connecticut poll released Tuesday night found that 55 percent of Connecticut residents believe Mr Rowland should step down, and 37 percent said he should stay in office. Eight percent said they did not know.

Mr Rowland told a group of business leaders Wednesday morning that he would stay in office and continue to work on the state’s budget problems, education, and security needs.

Mr Rowland also apologized for his actions and asked for forgiveness.

“We’ve come a long way in the last ten years, and I will continue to give you the best of my efforts,” Mr Rowland said.

The UConn poll found that 74 percent of Connecticut residents believe there is more about the cottage deal that Mr Rowland has not revealed.

“At 55 percent, is the glass half full or half empty? I’m not sure, but the majority think he should step down,” said UConn pollster Ken Dautrich. “That number is open to wide fluctuation in the coming weeks, depending on what happens.”

If Mr Rowland does not step down, 75 percent of those polled by UConn said state lawmakers should wait for an investigation to be completed before beginning an impeachment process. Twenty-two percent said impeachment proceedings should begin now.

Both polls showed the governor’s job approval rating is about 30 percent.

“The news that the governor revealed last week is obviously difficult news to deliver, and I think the poll reflected that,” said Dean Pagani, the governor’s spokesman and chief of staff. “The fact that most people think it’s not a good idea to proceed with any kind of impeachment shows they understand that all the facts aren’t on the table,” Mr Pagani said.