New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Well-connected help on way for Lamont in talks with lawmakers
As negotiations with the Legislature heat up, the governor’s office is bringing in a ringer.
Jonathan Harris — the well-connected and wellliked former West Hartford mayor, state senator, Democratic Party executive director and consumer affairs commissioner — is stepping in as the single point of contact for all legislative negotiations on behalf of Gov. Ned Lamont.
In an April 25 email to legislative chiefs of staff, Lamont Chief of Staff
Ryan Drajewicz wrote that Harris, in his role as an undersecretary in the Office of Policy and Management, would be “stepping in to formally augment the design.” That is, apparently, Drajewicz speak meaning Harris will supplement the governor’s legislative team, which is currently overseen by Chris Soto.
The change comes just ahead of the most contentious five weeks of the session as legislators and the governor will try to come to an agreement on a budget and hot-button issues like tolls and whether towns will pay some — or any — teacher pension costs. In fact, Harris was busy on Tuesday as the General Assembly’s budget-writing panel kicked off the negotiations with Lamont, approving a two-year, $43.26 billion budget along strict party lines.
“Jonathan is well respected in both chambers and by members of both parties,” said Colleen Flanagan Johnson, a senior adviser to the governor. “And his experience as a Commissioner provides him with keen insight on executive branch functions, and as a mayor, he knows what cities and towns face too. We’re lucky that we have a group of team players who are more than happy to step in and help out when needed.”
Soto, who resigned from his seat in the House to serve as Lamont’s $100,000-per-year legislative affairs director, and Harris will both oversee the day to day operations of the governor’s legislative team, but only Harris will be responsible for negotiations with the legislature. He will report to Drajewicz in this complementary role until the end of the session.
“I’m still an undersecretary, I’m still in contact with my colleagues at
OPM ... but I’ve always been a part of the legislative team,” Harris said. “It’s just more of an all hands on deck now that the real action has shifted to the Capitol.”
Flanagan Johnson said that Harris, in his role with OPM, has been closely involved on municipal issues such as the teachers retirement system, pension reamortization, shared services, and more.
“OPM and (the office of the governor) already work so closely, particularly during session, so it’s a great synergy,” Flanagan Johnson said, tapping into Drajewicz’s business world lingo.
Harris, who dropped out of the governor’s race to endorse Lamont last year, previously served as a West Hartford town councilor and mayor and was elected to the State Senate in 2004, holding that seat for three terms. He also worked in private practice for 25 years, concentrating on commercial and real estate law, and in 2007, he founded Harris Collaborations, a real estate and economic development firm. He was appointed to OPM as the undersecretary of comprehensive planning and intergovernmental policy in January.
“I’ve been around for 20 years,” said Harris, who made it clear he plans to “return home to the mothership” at OPM after the session ends.
“Even beyond the people. This institution and the legislative process is a unique animal and understanding how that process works and how the building functions that’s helpful too.”