Good morning and welcome back to the Tip Sheet, a weekly newsletter from Tom Dudchik’s Capitol Report written by Mike Cerulli.

It’s finally here! The start of the legislative session is upon us. This week, we’ll offer some predictions on the governor’s state of the state address (in the form of a bingo card/drinking game). We’re also looking at the prospects of a special election to fill an anticipated vacancy in the 21st State Senate district and a staff shuffle in the comptroller's office.

If Kelly departs, who will fill his seat?

Last week, Capitol Report’s Tip Sheet reported on the behind-the-scenes speculation that State Sen. Kevin Kelly, the longtime Stratford senator who was ousted by his caucus after three years as minority leader, is poised to be appointed by the governor to the state judiciary.

Multiple legislative and executive branch sources have told the Tip Sheet that they do not expect Kelly to take the oath of office this week. Those sources described discussions that have included Kelly, the governor's office, and senior legislative leaders. The former minority leader operates a respected law practice in Stratford.

In the event Kelly declines to take the oath of office next week, his senate seat would be vacated and a special election would be triggered – a possibility first telegraphed by Kevin Rennie several weeks ago.

Kelly’s district includes Stratford, Shelton, Seymour, and Monroe. The district has favored Republicans, with Kelly running unopposed last year and winning by comfortable margins in each of his contested elections. Several potential candidates have been floated by key Republican and Democratic insiders.

On the Republican side, insiders have speculated about the intentions of Shelton State Rep. Jason Perillo, Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick, Shelton Board of Education member Jim Feehan, and Stratford Republican Chris Pia.

On the Democratic side, insiders have focused on two names: Jimmy Tickey and Chris Green. Green ran against Kelly in 2022, losing by almost 15 points. Tickey is a member of the Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission and has family ties around the district.

Word of Kelly’s potential nomination has swirled alongside other rumors about lawmakers who might decline to take the oath of office on opening day. Vacancies at the Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission need filling…

A State of the State bingo card…or drinking game

It’s time for Governor Lamont to deliver his seventh State of the State address, and so we present to you with the first annual Capitol Report State of the State bingo card...or drinking game. Let us know what other Ned-isms are on your State of the State bingo card and if you choose to turn it into a drinking game, please play responsibly.

Things to watch for…

…if the governor looks out into the crowd and tries to spot a commissioner or legislator. Thanking people by name in a political speech is always a dangerous game. As a wise politico once observed, the people you thank might forget the gesture over time but the people you neglect to mention will feel scorned for life. Still, the governor frequently pauses his State of the State addresses not only to call out specific attendees, but to try to locate them in the House chamber for recognition.

…if the governor talks about pizza. We all know how much Gov. Lamont enjoys a slice of New Haven pie. The state has heavily incorporated pizza into its marketing and branding efforts. Will one of the “big three” get a shoutout on Wednesday? Bonus points if he tells the story about Mick Jagger.

…if the governor starts a sentence with, “I love what it means in terms of…” If you’ve ever listened to the governor deliver impromptu remarks, you know this phrase or some variation of it is perhaps his favorite way to start a sentence.

…if the governor mentions trains. Transportation and infrastructure are always central features of the governor’s annual addresses. Will he maintain the trend?

…if the governor mentions Anthony Anthony. In several recent addresses, including speeches to the Connecticut Restaurant Association and the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, the governor has picked up the habit of calling out his chief marketing officer by name. Perhaps it’s the repetition that the governor finds amusing or perhaps it’s a genuine love of the tourism game. Will he name check his former comms chief? Bonus points if he mentions Connecticut’s new welcoming highway signs.

…if the governor takes a swig of Canada Dry (the zero sugar variety, mind you). Only real ball knowers (look that one up, boomers) will be familiar with this one. Be on the lookout for a little can of the governor’s favored refreshment.

…if the governor talks about banning phones in school. One of the flashiest proposals in last year’s State of the State was to promote the adoption of lockable pouches to secure students’ phones while they are in class. In 2024, the governor took a significant portion of his address to call out the negative effects of smartphones on children. His repeated name checks of Yondr, which produces lockable pouches, prompted House Speaker Matt Ritter to lean in after the speech and ask the governor what, exactly, is a Yondr pouch? Get with the times, Mr. Speaker!

…if the governor makes any sort of pop culture reference. We all know the governor likes to name check celebrities. Last year, he invoked Beyoncé when he discussed the issue of locking up phones in schools. In previous years, he has quoted the musical Hamilton. There is no shortage of possibilities for this year. Perhaps a Sabrina Carpenter lyric? He's never tried that one.

We will check back next week to see how we did with these predictions.

The Scanlon Shake-up

Dan Malloy had his Malloyalists. Sean Scanlon appears to be quietly cultivating his own cadre of Scanlonites as he weighs his ambition against the political realities of the next statewide election. The 38-year old Guilford native has made no secret of his interest in moving up in the world.

The state comptroller has made several key staff changes in the past few weeks. The changes indicate a desire to further bolster his public outreach efforts and reward loyal lieutenants.

“People who started out two years ago as more junior are now part of the senior team,” Scanlon, who built his early career as a staffer to Chris Murphy, told the Tip Sheet.

Madi Csejka, Scanlon’s primary press contact, is getting a promotion to director of communications from her current title of press secretary. Csejka has done stints on Gov. Ned Lamont’s re-election campaign and at the State Department of Education.

Kass Kruh joined Scanlon’s team as executive assistant at the beginning of his term and will now serve as director of scheduling. Kruh’s resume includes experience as a legislative staffer and, interestingly, as a part-time axe throwing instructor for more than a year.

Kruh has also stepped into the spotlight as an advocate on a deeply personal issue. She was recently a featured speaker at an event marking Overdose Awareness Day. Her emotional remarks, in which she recounted the loss of both of her parents to overdose deaths, are worth a watch.

Christina Pen, Scanlon’s longest serving aide and former campaign manager, is now deputy chief of staff – a promotion from her role as director of external affairs. The Tip Sheet previously reported that Josh Barnes, a former campaign manager for Rep. John Larson, will step into an external affairs role.

Kruh, Csjeka, Barnes, and Pen now form the backbone of Scanlon’s in-house operation focused on public-facing efforts. Their positions mirror similar roles on the staffs of other potential 2026 gubernatorial candidates.

It’s no secret that these appointed jobs, which usually come with good salaries and state healthcare benefits, are often given to staffers who know how to straddle the line between strictly official business and the shadow campaigning that high-profile politicians are always engaged in.

Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz’s staff also includes scheduler, a director of communications, a deputy director of communications, and a senior advisor who all bring campaign experience.

Attorney General William Tong’s staff similarly includes a communications director, a deputy communications director, a director of outreach, and a senior advisor.

On the more operations-focused side of the comptroller’s office, Elizabeth McDermott was recently promoted from director of operations to assistant comptroller.

“Betsy is somebody who has worked at the comptroller’s office for three comptrollers,” Scanlon told the Tip Sheet. “She knows how the office works. She knows how government works.”

McDermott and Csejka will receive salary bumps as part of the shake-up, according to Scanlon, who said the raises are intended to “put them in line with the positions that they’re attaining.”

The comptroller’s office maintains a useful database where journalists, concerned citizens, and staffers interested in their colleagues’ paychecks can see how much each state worker makes.

You can peruse those records, which include all of the comptroller's staff, here.

The Tip Sheet also asked Scanlon about the top staff job in the comptroller’s office. Many around the Capitol have been quietly whispering about what the future might hold for Scanlon’s current chief of staff. Did the comptroller care to comment on insider speculation that there might be a new chief of staff on the way?

“I still have one and his name is Rob Blanchard,” Scanlon said.

Three more things to read this week:

• Yale professor and executive guru Jeff Sonnenfeld penned a personal remembrance of President Jimmy Carter. Professor Sonnenfeld’s reflections are certainly worth a read.

• Art House, the seasoned political and policy veteran, penned his own reflection on his experiences with Carter in the Hartford Courant.

• A team at the CT Mirror published a detailed investigation into car towing practices in Connecticut. Expect that piece to spur action from legislators.

We’ll be back next week!