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Two Greenwich rivals with the greatest personal wealth in the gubernatorial race — Democrat Ned Lamont and Republican David Stemerman — traded social media shots over their business backgrounds and how each made his fortune.
The flap began when Stemerman, a hedge fund giant, criticized two of his Republican Party primary opponents for proposing to eliminate the state income tax to help fix the state economy.
Instead of drawing predictable fire from GOP foes Mark Boughton and Bob Stefanowski, Lamont jumped into the Twitter debate:
“Woah! @DavidStemerman back from a vacation on Fantasy Island. Glad to see your return to reality. Still patiently waiting on plans @MarkMark and @bobforgovernor,” wrote Lamont, the endorsed Democrat for governor.
Stemerman, who closed his Conatus Capital hedge fund to run for governor, shifted his focus to Lamont instead of his Aug. 14 primary opponents.
“Weak! The @hartfordcourant noted I was the only candidate with a plan to save Connecticut,” Stemerman wrote. “But we already know what your plan is — TAXES and TOLLS! We can't afford 4 more years of Malloy / Lamont policies. #MalloysThirdTerm @CTGOP @GOP @The_RGA.”
Lamont then quoted a recent newspaper report that Stemerman’s U.S. hedge fund holdings shrank from $2.6 billion to $1 billion just before his announced run for public office.
Stemerman then blasted the inherited wealth of Lamont -- the great-grandson of Thomas W. Lamont, a former chairman of J.P. Morgan & Co.
Boughton, the longtime Danbury mayor and GOP’s endorsed candidate, eventually joined in.
"Aren't you busy donating to Barack Obama? Defending the income tax? Really? Can't buy this one David. . ." Boughton chimed.
"This coming from the guy who has been running for governor for 10 years," Stemerman replied.
Stemerman also reminded Boughton of his 2014 appearance with Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in Danbury in the final days of his last election.
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