Andy Thibault

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Cool Justice
Who's Afraid Of Lisa Moody?
By ANDY THIBAULT, Columnist
Law Tribune Newspapers
January 9, 2006

`Methinks there could be a little sexism in the wind'

I was scared to ask - after reading in the Hartford Courant that Lisa Moody was widely feared - but I forged onward, asking a few commissioners: Are you afraid of Lisa Moody?

Widely feared must mean a lot of people. One commissioner laughed. Several were more concerned with the investigation of the governor's chief of staff's campaign work on the job, causing them to clam up tight.

All roads to Gov. Jodi Rell stop at a checkpoint held by Chief of Staff Moody. Some commissioners - who had informal and direct access to Gov. John Rowland - don't seem to like that.

Besides commissioners, the governor's staff reports to Moody. Because Moody has a major say in hiring and firing, I understand that could cause a little trepidation.

Moody made a big mistake handing out fundraiser invitations at work. She promptly admitted her error and apologized. The governor followed with a measured and appropriate response, suspending Moody without pay for two weeks.

So, what's the rub about ethics at the governor's office and the state capitol? It will be an easy story to write and rewrite and rewrite as the chief state's attorney's investigation progresses. But, to paraphrase Journal Inquirer Managing Editor and Columnist Chris Powell, Rell is still cleaner than many of her critics. Rell refuses to take money from state contractors and lobbyists. How she will raise money against her challengers is a good story to follow.

It should be noted that Moody's solicitations, although not illegal, violated her boss's policy. It is illegal for commissioners to make such entreaties, hence their current reticence.

Did anyone notice there are a lot more women in power at the capitol these days? Besides Moody, women in key positions usually dominated by men include the president of the Connecticut Development Authority, commissioner of environmental protection and the state's top computer officer. Twelve of 25 commissioners are women. That's more than double the amount of women commissioners who served in prior administrations.

Methinks there could be a little sexism in the wind. Would the boy commissioners have ratted out another guy? Are there any commissioners angling for Moody's job?

Moody, a former deputy mayor of Vernon, has worked at the capitol for more than 20 years. About a dozen of those years have been with Rell. A strong personality, Moody is the one who has to say no to people and confront powerful politicos. It's a good way to make enemies.

The Moody case - dubbed by some as The Marco Polo Affair, after the restaurant where the fundraiser in question occurred - is an important story which could make the upcoming governor's race more interesting. Rell blunted some of the impact by pledging to return all the money and suspending Moody.

The commissioners who might have solicited more attendees are the ones facing legal jeopardy now. The ongoing saga might be dubbed, As The Commissioners Turn.
                                                                                                         

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