In an interview this morning for a piece to be published later this week, M. Lisa Moody, Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s powerful, sometimes headline-generating Chief of Staff, said she plans to exit the capitol with her long-time friend.
Rell on Monday announced she will retire when her term ends in 14 months.
“I could not do this for another Governor or individual,” Moody said.
The mention of Moody’s name elicits strong emotions from those who know her and have worked for/with her. Either they understand, like and respect her as Rell’s strong right arm or fear, loathe and mock her as Rell’s strong right arm.
Moody has been tied to Rell since the latter began her career in the state House of Representatives 25 years ago and Moody’s support and work behind-the-scenes has to have contributed in some way to the Governor’s continued popularity.
And at least according to today’s Quinnipiac University Poll, voters, while continuing to be skeptical of ethics in state government, are not focused on the most recent controversy surrounding Moody and whether she politicized a tax-payer funded study of streamlining state government by University of Connecticut Professor Ken Dautrich.
So it would not be completely absurd for a new Republican administration to try to find a government post for Moody and make use of her experience.
But she doesn’t want it.
“When Governor Rell leaves, Lisa Moody will leave,” Moody said.
There had been speculation that Rell would not seek another term if Moody was not up for it.
Was Moody interested in serving for another four years?
“I don’t know,” she said. “It’s a terribly taxing position, as it is to be Governor. I don’t know. But I do know I’m committed to helping the Governor finish her work (and) I’ll figure out what my next chapter is.”
Moody is proud of her job performance, despite the occasional negative headlines she has garnered for the administration.
“I think I have been a very good Chief of Staff for Governor Rell and I offer no apologies for that,” Moody said.
Not one comment on a story about Lisa Moody?– Even as a lame-duck, the Dragon Lady of the Capitol continues to instill fear to all thoes who spend countless hours talking behind her back.
The Governor has yet to make a public statement about the corruption at the DMV and Lisa Moodys office appears to have lost a hand delivered request they were going to foward to the Commissioner of Public Safety to review DMV wrong doing. The DMV allowed thousands of under trained teen drivers on our roads and turned a blind eye to untrained Driving School instructors for years.
Comment by Jim Ricci — November 21st, 2009 @ 1:24 pm
Rell is not anyone I am quick to defend because she is such a RINO, but I do think the attacks on Lisa Moody have been largely without justification.
What mis-steps there was were hugely overblown. I mean really, the last governor went to prison. The Democrats and the Hartford Communist need to get some perspective. No administration is perfect. There are always going to be issues exsp. in such a hostile environment like Hartford.
What people should be upset with Rell (and not her hired help) over is her raising taxes, killing jobs, signing an incumbent protection plan so people will forget she was one of Rowland’s cronies and appointing a lot of liberals to the bench.
Comment by John R. McCommas — November 22nd, 2009 @ 2:58 pm