This story is updated with quote from Gov. Ned Lamont.
Former Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell died Thursday morning in Florida following a brief illness at the age of 78, according to her family and multiple news reports.
The 87th governor and first female Republican top lawmaker, Rell held the state’s highest office from 2004-2011. She replaced Gov. John Rowland, for whom she served as lieutenant governor, in 2004 after he resigned following a conviction of charges that he concealed the extent of his involvement in two federal election campaigns.
She is remembered for her bold approach to state government that went a long way in protecting Connecticut families and businesses, according to the National Governors Association.
The Connecticut Senate Republican Caucus shared their response to Rell’s passing.
“Jodi Rell loved Connecticut, she loved public service, and she served our state with dignity and grace,” they said in a prepared statement. “As our 87th Governor, she had an incredible connection with Connecticut residents that helped her lead us through some very difficult days. She was the genuine article. She emphasized transparency in government. She was a leader and a role model for all our citizens.
“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the Rell family. Our hearts are full knowing that she is reunited with her beloved Lou.”
Gov. Ned Lamont, who ordered all state government buildings to lower state flags to half-staff in Rell’s honor, called the former governor “the very best of Connecticut values.”
“Governor Rell represented the very best of Connecticut values, expanding healthcare and childcare, and making Connecticut one of the first states in the country to recognize same-sex unions,” Governor Lamont said. “She became governor almost reluctantly and at a time of great turmoil, and she used her newly acquired authority to bring stability to state government in a way that was very much needed at the time, focusing on strengthening state ethics laws and rebuilding the trust of the residents of our state.”
Congressman Joe Courtney, a Democrat who served with Rell in the Connecticut General Assembly from 1987-1994, issued the following statement on the social media app X:
“Deepest condolences to Jodi Rell’s family on her passing. I served in the General Assembly for eight years with her on committees and had an opportunity to see up close her principled, civil approach to public office. During her time as governor, she succeeded by using the same approach to deal with difficult issues on a bipartisan basis, which explained her immense popularity both before and after her time as governor.”
Rell’s legacy
On Jan. 3, 2007, Gov. Rell was sworn in after being elected for the first time as governor. She had held elected office in Connecticut for more than two decades. She was the state’s 105th lieutenant governor for more than nine years and the Brookfield resident represented the 107th House district in the state House of Representatives where she held key leadership posts, including deputy House minority leader and assistant House minority leader.
According to her bio on the state of Connecticut website, in February 2009, Rell unveiled her 2009 budget plan for Fiscal Years 2010-2011 – a budget that shrunk state government and made it more accountable to taxpayers. The highlights included no tax increases; no cuts to municipal aid or education aid; mandate relief; a ‘Green Collar’ job initiative; Office of Accountability; and other initiatives to address the state’s $6 billion budget deficit.
Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Rell attended Old Dominion University and Western Connecticut State University. She received honorary doctor of law degrees from the University of Hartford in 2001 and the University of New Haven in 2004.
