He's Leaving. Now the State Has to Restore Its Reputation.
By AVI SALZMAN, NY TIMES, June 27, 2004

HALF-DECADE of mounting political scandals have turned Connecticut into a punchline of political backwardness. With the governor's resignation last Monday, people inside and outside the state have tested some unflattering new nicknames:Corrupt-icut. Louisiana with foliage.

Whatever happened to "the Constitution State," and "the land of steady habits?" And, more important, what has been done to the state's stellar reputation?

"For a long time, we've basked in the favorable comparison to our neighboring states," said Howard Reiter, the head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Connecticut. "We weren't identified as a state where a lot of political scandals occurred. I think a certain smugness set in. With the Ganim, Giordano and now Rowland scandals, it's much more difficult for us to hold our heads up."

What makes it worse is the reputation the state is in danger of losing. For a long time, Connecticut has been a state to envy, not scorn, or worse, laugh at.

"I think it's seen as a wealthy privileged state that has a wonderful and rich cultural as well as historical tradition," said Gian-Carlo Peressutti, a lobbyist and political consultant based in Connecticut who had worked as an aide in the current Bush administration. "It begs the question of why does a state that has so much wealth and intelligence and talent continue to produce public servants who continue to let those that they serve down. I think that's a fair question."

And an embarrassing question even to have to ask. Beyond the embarrassment are the tangible effects of all this scandal: the increased cost of dumping trash because of the $220 million debacle between the state and Enron and the loss of taxpayer money at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown may be tied to political chicanery. Mr. Peressutti said that he knows of at least one Fortune 100 company, which he declined to identify, that decided against expanding into Connecticut because of "the background noise taking place within the Rowland administration."Arizona went through this and has since bounced back. Evan Mecham, who was elected governor in 1986, was impeached less than two years later for misusing funds, obstructing justice and making false statements. Then in 1997, the state dealt with the fallout from another political scandal when Gov. Fife Symington resigned amid a financial scandal centering more on his activities as a businessman than as a politician.

Patrick J. Kenney, the chairman of the Department of Political Science at Arizona State University, said it took strong leaders to pull Arizona out of its decade of scandal.

"It definitely hurt the political and business standing of the state, just the general reputation," he said. But the two subsequent governors, including current Gov. Janet Napolitano, have helped erase the stains from the two scandals, Mr. Kenney added. That, in addition to strong leaders at the national level, including Senator John McCain, have made Mr. Mecham and Mr. Symington "stand out as anomalies against the rest of those folks," Dr. Kenney added.

Mr. Peressutti said he thought M. Jodi Rell, the lieutenant governor who will assume the top spot on Thursday, has the right personal qualities to assume a leadership role in a time of turmoil.

"In many ways, she couldn't be more different than John Rowland," he said. "Not in an ideology sense, but certainly in her personality. He's a politician and you know right away he is. But when you meet Jodi Rell that's not what comes across."

Ms. Rell, taking questions from reporters the day after the governor announced his resignation, said she is committed to restoring the state's reputation.

She said she wants residents to say: "I'm proud to be from Connecticut. I want to live in Connecticut."

The governor's shadow will soon pass over the Capitol, she said.

"That chapter is closed," Ms. Rell said. "We need to move forward, and move forward we do. The first order of business right now is to restore faith, honor and confidence in state government."

She did not mention specifics as to how she will restore confidence, though some commissioners who served under Mr. Rowland will likely be asked to step down. And she may issue executive orders relating to ethics laws when she assumes the office.

Congressman Christopher Shays, a Republican from Bridgeport, said the state will survive its scandals. He said that by rooting out corruption, Connecticut may have actually improved its standing.

"The state that for years you don't hear anything about is probably a state in trouble," he said. "The key is whether you sweep it under the rug or you deal with it."

Mr. Shays said he doubts businesses will be deterred from Connecticut.

"Businesses would not want to locate in a place where they have had trouble doing business," he said. "When you clean it up they say, 'I want to be here.' "

Likewise, Christopher Collier, the official state historian, said the governor's downfall has brought extra attention to the state, but it hasn't significantly affected the day-to-day lives of the people living and working here. Connecticut's charms, as well as its ills, are still apparent with or without the governor. The state, he asserted, can even hold on to its moniker.

"I think this is good evidence that Connecticut is living up to its reputation as the land of steady habits, that our government is so well-structured that it can move through this sort of dislocating event without stumbling," he said. "I think it demonstrates the viability of our constitutional structure. That can only help the state's reputation.

"People's political memory is extremely short," he added. "The damage to its reputation is superficial."

Tom Swan, executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, which has advocated for numerous government reforms, said Connecticut lawmakers need to rid government of the corrupting influences that support it. That starts with campaign cash.

"It's clear the corruption trail begins on the campaign trail," he said. "I think it is incumbent upon the Legislature to enact reforms that will lessen the likelihood of such a sad day repeating itself."

State Representative Andrew M. Fleischmann, a Democrat from West Hartford, also said he thought reform was necessary to convince outsiders that Connecticut is still an honest state.

"I don't think it's enough for us to have new people in office who are saying the right things," he said. "If we pass a strong set of laws next year, that's a critical step on the road to restoring our previously sterling reputation."

To get past a corruption scandal, one Connecticut public official wrote a while back that the state must strengthen its ethics laws and educate the public and public servants about ethics.

That public official was Mr. Rowland. Those comments come from notes for a speech he gave about ethics after Paul J. Silvester, Connecticut's former treasurer, admitted taking bribes while in office. Those notes were introduced as evidence in the impeachment inquiry into Mr. Rowland's administration.

"When all is said and done, we will have changed our laws and policies in response to this scandal," the notes said. "We will have responded to it by making our system better."

Governor John Rowland resigns

HARTFORD - Connecticut Governor John Rowland has resigned his office Monday, as a federal corruption investigation and impeachment proceedings swell about him.

Rowland's resignation elevates Lt. Gov. M. Jodi Rell to governor, who would serve out the 2 1/2 years left in his term. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin Sullivan (D-West Hartford) will be elevated to lieutenant governor.

Rowland is a three term Republican from Waterbury, having previously served in the state legislature and Congress.

Rowland took his third oath of office in January 2003 after a landslide victory. Shortly after that historic moment, Rowland was forced to admit to accepting gifts and favors from friends, state contractors and state employees.

The resignation comes days after a ruling from the State Supreme Court giving the legislature's impeachment panel the authority to compel the governor to testify.

Text of Rowland resignation

Connecticut Panel Issues Findings on Rowland's Acts
By MARC SANTORA, NY TIMES, June 29, 2004

HARTFORD, June 28 - One week after Gov. John G. Rowland decided to resign rather than face the possibility of impeachment, top lawmakers tried on Monday to go about the business of rebuilding Connecticut's government even as a committee charged with investigating Mr. Rowland formally concluded its business.

The House Select Committee of Inquiry, which was established in January to consider whether the governor should be impeached, stopped its work when Mr. Rowland announced he would step aside, but its members released a report on their efforts Monday.

The report does not draw any conclusions but instead describes a pattern of behavior that was likely to have led to impeachment hearings, committee members said.

The report, which went through several drafts, concludes that impeachable conduct does not have to be criminal conduct. Lawmakers said it was important to make that distinction should such circumstances arise again.

The report covers much of the same ground now being examined in a separate federal corruption investigation into Mr. Rowland's awarding of state contracts. It also focuses on whether a rich friend of Mr. Rowland's used intermediaries to mask cash payments to the governor.

That friend, Robert V. Matthews, received $9,796,395 in state contracts since 1994, the year Mr. Rowland was first elected governor.

The committee produced a timeline showing how, at the same time that Mr. Matthews was receiving state contracts, he was also making money for the governor by assisting with the sale and rental of Mr. Rowland's Washington condominium at above-market rates.

Another area of focus was Mr. Rowland's relationship with the Tomasso family, who control one of the state's largest construction companies. Since 1995, Tomasso companies have received direct payments from the state totaling more than $187 million, according to the report.

One of those contracts, for the Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown, was flawed from the start, according to the report. Mr. Rowland failed to stop the bidding on the $57 million contract even after he knew that the Tomassos had an unfair advantage, the report finds.

Mr. Rowland has acknowledged that he took gifts from the Tomasso family, but he has always maintained that he did not give them anything in return.

Representative Arthur J. O'Neill, a Republican from Southbury who is the committee co-chairman, said that, in the end, Mr. Rowland was so compromised he could not hope to lead.

"It was impossible for him to exercise control over subordinates and contractors," Mr. O'Neill said. Most troubling, he said, was that "it seemed like it was easy for the governor to slide into this."

Michael P. Lawlor, a Democrat from East Haven and a member of the committee, found a different lesson. As he put it: "How easy it is to be caught."

There was little discussion of Mr. Rowland, though, outside the room where the committee met.

A guard was posted outside the governor's second-floor office, but Mr. Rowland was hundreds of miles away, on Block Island, according to an aide to a Republican lawmaker.

Lt. Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who will be sworn in to replace Mr. Rowland on Thursday, was effectively in charge, and she started the week welcoming top Democrats and Republicans to her office for a brief meeting.

Mrs. Rell, a Republican who ran with Mr. Rowland in 1994, is not the only one switching offices. Kevin B. Sullivan, a Democrat who has served as Senate president pro tem for the past seven years, will take Mrs. Rell's place.

Speaking during a special session of the Senate on Monday, Mr. Sullivan praised Mrs. Rell and thanked his colleagues.

"No one could wish upon Connecticut the circumstance in which this occurs," he said. "Everything will be different but it will still be the same."

Mr. Sullivan will be replaced by Donald E. Williams Jr., a Democrat from Brooklyn. Speaking in an office where the photos had been removed and only wire hangers remained, an increasingly common sight in the Capitol building, Mr. Williams said he did not know how much Democrats' influence would change.

"I think it is going to be fascinating to watch over the next two years," he said.


Recalling Challenges and Breaks in the Rowland Inquiry
By ALISON LEIGH COWAN, NY TIMES, June 30, 2004

HARTFORD, June 29 - Neither man knew much about Connecticut before being hired last February to tackle one of the state's greatest political crises in years: Should Gov. John G. Rowland be impeached?

Steven F. Reich, the counsel to the state legislature's House Select Committee of Inquiry, said that he "knew literally nothing about the governor" until the weekend before interviewing for the job. James B. Mintz, the chief investigator for the committee, said that he was just as clueless when the call came.

"I hung up the phone and said, 'I wonder how you spell "Rowland" and if he's a Democrat or a Republican,' " Mr. Mintz recalled.

Five months later, as they prepare to leave Hartford, both men say they are more knowledgeable than they could have imagined about the soon-to-be-former governor, the onetime star of the Republican party whose resignation takes effect on Thursday. They are also deeply conversant in the details of the ethical storms that dogged Mr. Rowland virtually from the time he took office in 1995. The committee they served collected 400,000 pages of documents and interviewed hundreds of witnesses, calling off their efforts only after Mr. Rowland gave in to what seemed to be the inevitable.

Mr. Reich summarized his findings, but made no recommendations in a report released on Monday. The bill for the investigation is likely to reach $5 million.

Mr. Reich spent much of his time holed up in some open space on the fifth floor of the Capitol that bears a hint of the TriBeCa loft that he has hardly seen since February. Mr. Reich said that the greatest lesson and satisfaction from the experience is that the government's system of checks and balances worked.

That outcome was far from assured when his team of roughly 12 lawyers and 12 investigators first came together. Witnesses began "lawyering up," as Mr. Mintz put it. Peter N. Ellef, the governor's former co-chief of staff, questioned whether Mr. Reich was even eligible to take the job because he is licensed to practice law in only New York and Washington.

(His cellphone still is a 202 number from when he was helping Congressional Democrats defuse the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.)

And he and Mr. Mintz had to find a way to succeed despite being out-of-towners in a small, well-connected state. One way they said they sought to build trust was by demonstrating that they were interested in information, good or bad, about the governor. Mr. Mintz said that approach gave them access to Christine Corey, an executive assistant to the governor.

She was why they were able to connect the dots on one subject: the Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown. Built by Tomasso Brothers at a cost of $57 million, it has been a focus of federal prosecutors, who are also investigating the governor. But Mr. Reich did not see any evidence connecting the governor to the contract - the trail stopped at Mr. Ellef.

"If it doesn't go back to the governor, it's not part of our mandate," Mr. Reich told his team. "We were not a roving public corruption committee."

But later, the committee secured an interview with Ms. Corey in which she recalled the governor knew about a trip to Ohio that Mr. Ellef made with William A. Tomasso in November 1998. That trip introduced Connecticut officials to a juvenile facility that became the model for the training school, giving the Tomassos an edge because Connecticut had not yet put the project out for bid.

Soon, after another Rowland assistant provided some corroboration, Mr. Reich told his team to move the project to the front burner.

Mr. Reich said other breaks in the case came from luck as much as from smarts.

He said he allowed Robert V. Matthews, a wealthy friend of the governor, to cite his right against self-incrimination in writing rather than before the committee. In return, Mr. Matthews produced documents that the committee wanted. That trove contained a letter Mr. Matthews wrote his niece promising to pay her each month so she could rent the governor's condominium in Washington. Mr. Reich's team saw that the niece's letter had the same date as a meeting on the governor's calendar with Mr. Matthews.

"When you stand up close to an Impressionistic painting," said Mr. Reich, "all you see are little dots. But in late April, we stepped back and started seeing what the picture was."

TEXT OF GOVERNOR ROWLAND'S ADDRESS
June 21, 2004
Good evening and thank you for joining us this evening.

As you know, Patty and I have made a decision that we believe is not only in the best interest of our family, but in the best interest of the State of Connecticut as well.

The months leading to this decision have been difficult for all of us.

Effective at noon on July 1st, I will officially step down as Governor and pass this honor to Lt. Governor Jodi Rell, who is a very fine, capable and experienced public servant.

She shares many of the hopes and dreams that brought this administration to a third term, and I know you will work with her during this transition.

Tonight is both a beginning and an end for me.

I first ran for public office 24 years ago because I learned at the kitchen table in the Rowland household that you should always try to give something back to the community - whether it was volunteer service, being active in your school, or running for public office.

I am thankful to my family for instilling in me the principle that public service to others is a noble cause.

My political journey has brought me from the Connecticut State House, to the United States Congress and to the Governor's Office.

It has been an incredible, fulfilling journey -- with a simple goal...to help and serve the people of Connecticut.

And it is the people of Connecticut that I thank for giving me this privilege.

Throughout these years I have never forgotten what the people of Connecticut have given me. I can only hope that when all is said and done - when the dust settles and time casts light on our time in office -- that the people will see what I tried to give back.

Through times of prosperity and times of recession, through times of tragedy and times of celebration - we have made much progress together.

It has been an incredible honor and I am pleased to have served you.

I am proud that there is new life in our cities - especially in Hartford, Waterbury, Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London. There is new life, new business, and new opportunity.

What an enormous privilege to work with so many outstanding mayors, business people, local elected officials, clergy, volunteers and not for profit agencies -- all focused on making their communities better - all striving to prove that the good in society will prevail against the bad.

This has been my motivation over the last 10 years -- to lead this great state to even greater expectations and to achieve our fullest potential. And we are indeed on the right path.

I hope there have been times when I made you all proud, or made you all smile, or at least, piqued your interest in this wonderful phenomenon called government.

It has been especially gratifying to me to work with my colleagues in Connecticut state government.

Our constitutional officers, the men and women of the state legislature, and all the fine members of our judiciary -- all from different backgrounds, demographics and political parties -- working together for the betterment of our state.

I hope you take as much pride as I do in all that we have accomplished.

The future may be a bit uncertain for our family, but I do know that whatever the future holds, I have been blessed with wonderful family and friends.

Those of you who have had the privilege to know my wife will understand why she is the love of my life.

She has represented the office of First Lady with grace and dignity, has stood by my side with unfailing faith and love, and I am proud of the good will and good works she has brought to our citizens.

Patty and I, as well as our children, are looking forward to a new chapter in our lives.

Even in these most difficult times, I realize how fortunate my life has been.

I am truly thankful to all of our staff members, our security detail, Commissioners, and family and friends gathered with us today.

We have lived and worked together over the past 10 years and we can never repay the incredible loyalty, kindness, and dedicated work you have brought to our family and this administration.

Patty and I would also like to thank the thousands of people across our state that have sent us countless letters of support, given us words of encouragement, and prayed with us over these past months and years.

Please know that your thoughts and prayers have been a source of strength for all of us.

An ancient proverb says:

"We make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps."

There comes a time in everyone's life when you realize that it is time to take a new path.

This is our time.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Governor.

God Bless you all, and God Bless the great state of Connecticut.


Governor Rell's Inaugural Speech:

July 2, 2004
Gov. M. Jodi Rell's Inaugural Address
Following is a transcript of Gov. M. Jodi Rell's inaugural address:

Good afternoon. A few moments ago, I raised my right hand, humbled in spirit and with hopefulness in my heart, to take the oath of office as governor of the state of Connecticut.

It is not a position I sought through the normal course of electoral politics, but little has seemed normal over the past several months. Few could have accurately predicted the incredible, seemingly unrelenting, series of events that have led to today's actions.

It has been a time of profound disappointment and disillusionment. It has been a moment in history that we never thought we would see, and fervently hope that we never see again.

Yet while the people's trust in government has been weakened, I know that Connecticut is resilient. Ours is a strength that is centuries old, but ever new. The wellspring of our state's strength is untainted by corruption and untouched by controversy. It's the optimism of Connecticut families, always ready to look forward to tomorrow.

A new administration is taking shape, and though awed and inspired by the incredible responsibilities that await me. I assume the governorship of our great state with respect, honor and modesty.

The time to heal has begun. Yes, our trust has been broken. Our faith in government has been shaken. Our belief in the inherent virtue of public service has been called into question. We have been tested. We have been tried.

But there can be no doubt, with this historic transfer of power today, that the very principles upon which our constitution, our laws and our system of government are built are far stronger and far greater than the frailties and failures of any one individual or group of people.

Today we chart a new course. Today, we begin to restore faith, integrity and honor to our government. It is our solemn obligation. It will be our lasting legacy. I deeply believe that public service is a noble and necessary cause.

For generations, indeed for more than two centuries, well-intentioned, virtuous men and women have served our state well. We cannot allow the actions of a relative few to tarnish all who serve, or more significantly, to discourage future generations from answering their call to service.

We must and we will recommit ourselves to ending the culture of corruption that has plagued our state for far too long.

To that end, my first order of business as the 87th governor of Connecticut is to issue Executive Order No. 1, which imposes strict ethics restraints on those who serve in government.

It also creates a new public integrity officer in my cabinet, a person who will report directly to me and who will work with enforcement agencies on matters involving corruption, unethical practices or alleged abuses of public authority. She will also aggressively educate and train state employees on both the spirit and letter of the laws regarding ethics.

Let the message be clear: From this day forward, if you are entrusted with public office, you will uphold the highest standards of public integrity and ethical principles.

Ours is a rich and proud history, and we will return pride to our state. Connecticut will again be home to innovation, idealism and integrity in government service. To be sure, this is a time unlike any in our state's history, and in many ways we have a most unique occasion to govern.

We should view our opportunity to lead as a gift - a gift holding unlimited potential and promise for addressing long unmet needs and longstanding policy problems. Let us not squander our opportunity, for there is too much work to do and too many pressing priorities ahead.

My administration will work steadfastly to create jobs and grow our economy. Over the next few weeks and months, we will be proposing new initiatives on the economy, education and campaign finance reform.

We will also seek a spirit of cooperation and public service transcending partisanship. We will work together to find common ground in philosophy and workable solutions to complex issues.

Before turning the page and moving forward, let me take a moment to acknowledge that these have been very difficult and trying times for everyone, including Governor Rowland and his family. My thoughts and prayers are with them, and I ask you to remember them as well.

My pledge, as your new governor, is a simple one: I will work tirelessly, with honor, dignity and civility in the days and weeks to come. I ask for your support, your understanding and your prayers. But now we start anew. And so the journey begins. Thank you, and God bless the great state of Connecticut.