Griebel to make independent governor run

Oz Griebel, the outgoing chief executive of the MetroHartford Alliance, announced Wednesday he will make an independent run for governor, along with his running mate, Monte Frank, an attorney from Newtown.

The duo joins a cavalcade of politicians angling to be the next governor. Six Democrats, including Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, as well as 13 Republicans, including Tim Herbst, the former Trumbull first selectman; David Walker, of Bridgeport; Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, and Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti.

Speaking to reporters in the state Capitol, Griebel, who lost in a GOP gubernatorial primary in 2010, said if elected, he will shatter partisan barriers he believes are obstacles to the state’s potential.

“Listening, combined with collaboration, will be our way of doing business,” said Griebel, of Simsbury, in a statement. “Polarized politics makes it almost impossible for wellintentioned people to come together for the good of the state on critical economic and social issues.”

Frank is the founder of Team 26, an annual bike ride to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about gun-violence prevention in memory of the Sandy Hook shooting victims.

“I am excited that Oz asked me and that he has put this team together,” Frank said. “We are going to run on the issues working with talented people regardless of parties. I think the voters are exhausted by the gridlock. This is bipartisan leadership. You have a former Republican and a former Democrat who are reaching across party lines to present a solution.”

As petitioning candidates, they need to collect 7,500 signatures to get on the Nov. 6 ballot, along with millions of dollars in contributions to be competitive with mainstream candidates who, if they qualify

“Listening, combined with collaboration, will be our way of doing business.”

Oz Griebel, chief executive of MetroHartford Alliance

for the Citizens Election Program, will be eligible for about $6.5 million to run a general-election campaign.

Griebel and Frank said they will not participate in the state’s public-financing system.

Brian A. Pounds / ST file photo As a Republican primary candidate for governor in 2010, Oz Griebel shared a laugh during a visit to the Southport Brewing Company in Fairfield. He lost the primary. The brewery closed during the summer of 2016.