Nearly one year ago I blogged the following about Transportation Commissioner Joseph Marie after an interview to talk about his first anniversary on the job:
—- One of the most commonly asked questions of Marie (when he was hired in 2008 by Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell) was whether he planned on staying for a while. Lawmakers concerned about the agency’s direction had been frustrated by a revolving door at the top, which they believed resulted in a lack of a consistent direction and a consistent vision for the DOT.
Marie today told me “I’m hopeful the Governor keeps me around for as long as she is here … I am fundamentally enjoying the job and I like it a lot.”
Marie, who previously worked in Arizona, also added that he moved his family to Connecticut for the DOT job and does not have a desire to relocate again any time soon.
“My family had grown tired of moving. We moved back here to New England and I don’t have any moves left,” Marie said.—-
Today Rell’s office announced Marie’s abrupt departure “to pursue long-term employment opportunities and spend more time with his family.” He has already been replaced by Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Parker.
At the time of our interview last year, Rell had not decided whether to seek re-election this November. She has since announced her retirement.
So on the one hand it is not surprising Marie would decide to get out rather than wait around to see if the next governor wants to keep him on board.
But shocked observers like Sen. Donald DeFronzo, D-New Britain, co-chairman of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, note “typically there would be some transition. A period in which the commissioner would be ending his term and handing over the reigns to a successor. This is a very abrupt departure. I have no information other than what was released by the governor’s office, but it does seem curious it would be such a quick departure for someone who I think has done a fairly good job in office.”
Marie in an interview this afternoon said his departure was amicable and planned. He said he broached the issue with Rell about his returning to the private sector about three weeks ago, has some vacation time accrued and determined over the weekend he was ready to go.
“I left in very good standing and I think I feel pretty good about my departure and I think the governor’s office does as well,” Marie said.
I asked Marie if he had a job to transition to and he said “no, but I’m in an active dialogue with a number of different folks.” He said he should have something nailed down by August and intends to continue living in Connecticut, although he will likely do some commuting for his new position.
Marie was generally respected by lawmakers, but he said he never expected to stay on during the next administration.
“It was a great job and great opportunity. I enjoyed it. I didn’t really have an expectation to stay,” Marie said.
Those who are worried about yet another change at the top of the DOT should be comforted that the agency has a solid team of bureau chiefs in place, Marie said.
“We’ve got really strong bureau chiefs now at every level and division,” Marie said. “They’re new and energized and do a great job. We’ve built a very good team … This job is not about one person.”
Marie confirmed his last day was yesterday, but curiously Rell’s office did not make it public until late this morning, after a 10 a.m. bill signing in Bridgeport during which reporters might have questioned her directly had they been informed.
