Mashantucket — In a relatively tame final gubernatorial debate before next week's election, the three candidates mostly focused on taxes Tuesday night, with some discussion of improving public safety and the difficulties of funding education. 

Democrat Ned Lamont, Republican Bob Stefanowski and independent Oz Griebel participated in the debate at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

The debate was sponsored by WTNH-Channel 8, the Hartford Courant and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. WTNH anchor Ann Nyberg moderated, with questions coming from WTNH anchor Keith Kountz, Hartford Courant reporter Daniela Altimari and CCM Executive Director Joe DeLong.

While some view Griebel as a “spoiler,” Griebel opened by arguing, “The spoilers in the race are the two major-party candidates. They are looking to sustain the last 30 years of no net job growth, increases in taxes and fees.”

A recurring theme was Stefanowski’s talk of phasing out the state income tax over eight years.

“I am a believer in the personal income tax. I believe it’s the workhorse tax of the state,” Griebel said, arguing that “none of us want to pay taxes, but it is the least regressive.”

Lamont said that getting rid of the income tax “would just be dysfunctional,” and that mayors and first selectmen would end up paying for it.

Stefanowski countered that “the best way to fix this entire state is economic growth,” a message he delivered throughout the debate. In his opening and closing statements, he said an improving economy would allow for investment in education and health care.

Asked how he would mitigate the unpredictable and rising cost of special education, Lamont said he thinks the state needs to take more of a lead, while Stefanowski said, "We gotta be careful about Hartford trying to manage.”

Griebel said he was in favor of “taking a hard look at how we can deliver regional delivery of key services, including education,” while Stefanowski said he thinks the best people to make special education decisions are members of local school boards and parents.

Focusing on taxes aside from the income tax, Stefanowski repeatedly criticized Lamont for saying he would issue a statewide auto tax. Lamont said the state is over-reliant on the property tax, and talked about his plan to “reduce the property tax just enough to let your people know we are making an effort to hold the line there.”

Responding to a question on police-community relations and making sure African-American citizens feel safe, Lamont brought up the recent shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, noting that an AR-15 was used both there and at Sandy Hook.

“As Ned likes to do, to focus just on the guns as the sole problem — it’s not the sole problem,” responded Stefanowski, who has an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. “We need to start limiting access to schools. We need to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them. It’s largely a mental health issue.”

Stefanowski criticized Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s early release program, saying half of those released end up back in jail.

Health care did not come up much in the debate, though in both his opening and closing statements, Lamont said he would protect the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. A repeated point for Griebel was the importance of having a serious discussion on addressing the $4.6 billion deficit.

Asked about eliminating or funding unfunded mandates, Stefanowski said he would “veto any unfunded mandate that came to my desk,” while Griebel said he would “welcome the opportunity” to sit down with CCM and go through the list of 1,400 unfunded mandates.

None of the three candidates named any specific mandates that he would eliminate or fund.

The final question of the debate, from Nyberg, was for the candidates to name their favorite politicians. Griebel said Abraham Lincoln, Lamont went with Bobby Kennedy and Stefanowski chose Ronald Reagan.

e.moser@theday.com