Connecticut Republican voters find themselves in familiar territory with their choices among candidates in the Aug. 14 gubernatorial primary election.

Once again, the contenders are divided between experienced elected officials and wealthy political novices. And, once again, all Republican gubernatorial primary candidates are competing to serve up a bigger, better package of tax cuts.

Republican state voters have a history of nominating wealthy, self-financed political rookies for governor and U.S. senator. In the gubernatorial elections of 2010 and 2014, the GOP went with business mogul Tom Foley. In the Senate elections of 2010 and 2012, the Republicans picked wrestling tycoon Linda McMahon to try to win a vacant seat, a prime opportunity for the party. All four of those elections were lost to Democrats who held previous elective office.

In 2018, Republicans have Bob Stefanowski, David Stemerman and Steve Obsitnik cast as the successful businessmen touting their financial smarts over political experience. Both Stefanowski, a retired corporate executive, and Stemerman, a former hedge fund manager, are running self-financed campaigns. Obsitnik, a technology executive, is seeking public campaign funding through the voluntary Citizens’ Election Program.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, the GOP-endorsed candidate and Tim Herbst, the former first selectman of Trumbull, have qualified for public funding.

Among the newbies, Stefanowski is gathering more scrutiny due to his reported early lead in private polling, tied to an aggressive ad campaign — and also for a series of rookie mistakes.

Stefanowski stumbled in the GOP debate last week at Mohegan Sun when he tried to explain why he had not voted in 16 years. Voting, the most basic way to participate in the democratic process seems a rather low bar for someone who wants to be governor. Stefanowski said he was working in London, but acknowledged he should have voted by absentee ballot. The debate also focused attention on Stefanowski’s campaign contributions to Democrats.

Earlier that same day, Stefanowki, who touts his business acumen in his campaign television commercials, corrected a botched campaign finance report. He filed an amended report that recorded the $1.4 million he had loaned to his campaign. His original report incorrectly posted the $1.4 million as unpaid campaign expenses.

Meanwhile, because of questions about his application and concerns his campaign was too cozy with a political action committee, Obsitnik has been unable to obtain his public financing — and the primary clock is ticking.

Choosing the outsider to shake things up sounds appealing, but political novices are more prone to mistakes.

Stefanowski also is drawing attention for his pledge to eliminate the state income tax in eight years. Boughton says he can eliminate the state income tax, which accounts for half of the $20 billion Connecticut State budget, within 10 years.

Reducing taxes is an article of faith for the Republican Party. It once was true that reducing debt and balancing budgets were sacred to the Republican faithful. At the federal level, Republicans have abandoned all notions of the virtues of a balanced budget. Reducing taxes is now the sole fiscal GOP solution in Washington.

But state budgets actually have to balance.

In Connecticut, eliminating the state income tax is a popular appeal for a GOP candidate in a crowded primary field. But it is a fantasy. Voters should not believe any promise to dramatically slash taxes until a detailed plan is in play alongside the tax cut to account for reduced government revenues.

To put things in perspective, if lost revenues from elimination of the income tax were not replaced with other taxes or fees, the operating budget for Connecticut would be about $10 billion. That is equal to Rhode Island. Connecticut's population of 3.5 million people is more than three times the size of Rhode Island's. It doesn't add up.

More thoughtful are calls by Herbst and Stemerman for tax reform. Obsitnik has focused on trimming spending, cutting the state budget 5 percent and pushing for pension reform.

A Republican gubernatorial candidate with a clear and rational plan for how to address a very complex state financial crisis will attract more independent and Democratic voters. That's something to think about as Republicans make their choice.

The Day editorial board meets with political, business and community leaders to formulate editorial viewpoints. It is composed of President and Publisher Timothy Dwyer, Executive Editor Izaskun E. Larraneta, Owen Poole, copy editor, and Lisa McGinley, retired deputy managing editor. The board operates independently from The Day newsroom.