Rell Begins One-On-One

Commissioner Meetings

By Susan Haigh

Associated Press

HARTFORD — Gov M. Jodi Rell kicked off her first full week on the job Tuesday by asking some of her predecessor’s commissioners to become part of her new administration.

More than seven commissioners were summoned to the governor’s executive residence to meet with Ms Rell and her chief of staff, Lisa Moody, for 15- to 25-minute afternoon interviews in the sun room.

Four who agreed to be interviewed as they drove away from the mansion said Ms Rell asked them to stay on board. They included Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Gary DeFilippo, Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz, Revenue Services Commissioner Pam Law, and Public Health Commissioner Robert J. Galvin.

“I think she means business. She’s taking charge,” Ms Schwartz said. “She asked me to stay and I of course said yes.”

Tuesday marked the first batch of interviews for Ms Rell, who asked about 60 commissioners, deputy commissioners, agency heads and the executive director of the quasi-public Connecticut Development Authority on Friday to submit letters of resignation, effective August 1.

She hopes to finish the interviews over the next couple weeks and decide whose resignation letters to rip up.

Ms Rell was sworn in as Connecticut’s 87th governor last week after her three-time Republican running mate, former Gov John G. Rowland, resigned while facing possible impeachment and a federal corruption investigation.

Mr Rowland moved out of the governor’s mansion last week.

Ms Rell met with a large number of Rowland appointees Tuesday. In addition to the four who said the new governor asked them to stay, the commissioners who oversee the departments of Correction, Agriculture, and Labor were seen leaving the gated residence throughout the afternoon.

Ms Rell has been tightlipped about whom she hopes to retain for her administration and whom she plans to replace.

“We’re in a critical organizational stage of the administration at this point,” said Dennis Schain, Ms Rell’s spokesman. “She’s committed to holding these meetings, analyzing any changes that she decides to make and filling these positions as soon as possible.”

Ms Schwartz, originally recruited by Ms Rell to oversee the state’s Veterans Affairs Department, said she was not insulted that Ms Rell asked for her resignation last week. Ms Schwartz said it is expected.

“She has to put her stamp on things quite quickly here,” Ms Schwartz said.

Commissioners said Ms Rell asked them about the key issues facing their agencies and their plans.

“She asked me basically if I liked what I was doing. She asked me if I thought I was good at it, that’s about it,” Ms Law said.

Dr Galvin said he and Ms Rell spoke about health matters facing the state, including Connecticut’s bioterrorism program. Dr Galvin, who was appointed by Mr Rowland less than eight months ago, is a retired primary care physician from Glastonbury and a retired brigadier general in the US Army.

“I think it’s important to have somebody who is tuned into bioterrorism and homeland defense,” he said.

Mr DeFilippo said he met with Ms Rell for about 20 minutes to talk about various issues facing DMV, including the state’s troubled vehicle emissions program. He said, however, that the conversation focused on the state’s contract with Agbar Technologies, the emissions testing company, for only a small portion of the meeting.

“That will be a topic for another day,” Mr DeFilippo said. “We’ll be meeting. There’s a lot to talk about. I look forward to working with her.”