Jodi Rell Inaugurated As Connecticut's 87th Governor

Jodi Rell was sworn in today as Connecticut's 87th governor, after Governor Rowland resigned amid a corruption scandal and threatened impeachment for accepting gifts from employees and state contractors.

The Associated Press reports that Rell took the oath of office shortly after noon and vowed to restore the state's trust in its government. Rell's inaugural address is available here.

Rell did a little housecleaning yesterday, firing key players on Rowland's staff. WTHN News Channel 8 reports that Christine Corey, the governor's longtime scheduling aide and assistant, has been told she will not get a job and will not be allowed to have a state job during the Rell administration:

Corey is the woman who, along with her husband Paul, gave Rowland the now famous hot tub at his lakeside cottage in Litchfield that became a focal point of the entire Rowland scandal.

WTHN also reports that Aide to the Governor Jo McKenzie and Legal Counsel for the Governor's Office Ross Garber are "leaving state service." Kathy Mengacci, Executive Assistant to the Governor, has accepted a position with the Department of Labor.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday reveals that Connecticut voters believe Rell will govern effectively and will restore public trust in government. The Associated Press reports:

But more than half of the voters surveyed still do not know enough about her to form an opinion. And only two-thirds of voters were able to correctly name the incoming governor, the poll of 929 registered voters showed.

[. . .]

According to the poll, 76 percent of those surveyed said they believe Rell will govern effectively and 68 percent said they believe she will restore public trust in government. Yet Rell garnered only a 34 percent approval rating, with 59 percent of those polled saying they haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

"It looks like there is going to be a honeymoon in Hartford for Jodi Rell," said Schwartz.

[. . .]

The poll questioned voters by telephone on June 27 and 28. It has a sample error margin of 3 percentage points.

A University of Connecticut poll released Wednesday shows that eventhough 49 percent of those surveyed have confidence in Rell taking over as governor, 45 percent say they don't know enough about her to say. Still 70 percent say they have confidence in her abilities to effectively lead the state. Sixty-six percent expect her to work well with legislative Democrats and 77 percent expect her to act ethnically as the governor.

Unfortunately, Rell's inauguration won't end the State"s "Corrupt-icut's" label. There will still be stories about the ongoing federal investigation into gifts Rowland allegedly received from employees and state contractors.

Comments

[Mary]

What is with the comment about democrats "not having a stomach to fight against terrorists." Viva la France!!! and Germany for that matter. What has come of the bull shit in Iraq? 900 americans dead? Okay, let's invade Turkey and rename it "Chicken"......... I had relatives die in 9/11, and ya know what?......I highly doubt that Iraq had anything to do with it. Osama....hated Sadam....George W....hated Sadam....He wanted to finish is father's war...at the expense of more of our men and women... Get real.......

[karen gravius]

Dear Governor Rell, My husband, a life long Democrat, has voted for you/Rowland in the past. I could not as I did not endorse Rowland, nor most members of the GOP. I will now vote for you for several reasons: you have helped out my family whenever we have asked; I registered as a Republican several weeks ago after thirty years in the Dem Party. I am appalled at the criminal behavior of Rowland, and, I am disgusted with the Dem Party--mostly terrorism (the Dems do not have the stomach to fight a war against terrorists). Acoordingly, MY TWO SONS MUST BE PROTECTED! Moreover, my change of heart/politics is also about the GOP's policy regarding, leftist education, big government, high taxes, special interests, over the top political correctness, etc. I wish you the best of luck. You have been doing a great job. Count on my vote. I hope you receive this email despite the multiple of mail you must be receiving. Sincerely, Karen Gravius, a fellow resident of Brookfield