Ken Dautrich
Researcher or Advisor?
Photo credit: University of Connecticut
Posted 10/12/09
When she was sworn into office after Gov. John Rowland resigned in a corruption scandal, Republican Gov. Jodi Rell promised a return to high ethical standards in state government. For most of her tenure, Rell has enjoyed spectacular poll ratings because voters perceived she did bring a dramatic change from the embarassing Rowland era.
Rell’s image has been so untouchable, envious Democrats and others have dubbed her “Snow White”. Whenever something pops up that challenges that squeaky clean persona, Democrats eagerly tug at Snow White’s hem. They jumped in last week after a troubling report by the New London Day newspaper that raised questions about a $220,000 publicly-funded Rell administration study on how to streamline state government.
The 30-month project, run by well-known University of Connecticut pollster and researcher Dr. Kenneth Dautrich included a now controversial focus group that was tested for its views on a host of budget-related and public issues. Problems have popped about what was done with the information from that focus group.
The Day article said it appears Dautrich wound up offering advice to Rell and her often controversial chief of staff Lisa Moody that seemed political in nature. Looking to Rell’s 2009 state budget address, Dautrich advised: “We recommend emphasizing the Governor’s leadership in tackling government waste. We recommend the Governor stick by her initial stance to not raise taxes.”
Those comments and others raised a serious issue. Did the Rell administration use taxpayer dollars to finance political advice for her budget strategy?
Democrats think so. “It’s beyond outrageous that Gov. Rell used taxpayer dollars to fund what was, in essence, a focus group to gauge support for her possible reelection bid next year,” said State Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo. Stamford Democratic Mayor Dannel Malloy, who’s exploring a run for governor next year, had his own questions. “Exactly how was the $220,000 spent?,” he asked. “What is a professor known for expertise in polling and research doing trying to streamline state government?”
Other Democratic elected officials alternately expressed outrage and disappointment over the Dautrich-Rell controversy. The Governor herself started her response by defending the UConn professor.
“I am very pleased with the work that Ken Dautrich did to define issues for reducing state spending,” said the Governor in her initial two-paragraph statement on the matter. In that same press release, Rell did not address the possible misuse of state funds for political purposes, except to say her administration “worked very hard to ensure that the work (Dautrich) did and the questions he asked were policy-based.”
As the political flap mushroomed Friday, it was revealed that at least two investigations have been launched into the matter, one by the State Auditors in conjunction with Democratic Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the other by UConn’s Office of Audit Compliance and Ethics.
Meanwhile, another Rell aide tied to the project, Mathew Fritz, issued a letter stating that the now infamous focus group used about $2000 of the $220,000 total allocated for the research project, or as Fritz put it, “a very small portion of a very comprehensive project to reinvent state government.”
Maybe so, but you can bet Rell and company now wish the focus group never met.
In her first verbal comments on the mess, Rell blasted Democratic criticism calling it “politics at its worst” and “a public spectacle” launched by “people who are looking to have my job.” The Governor added: “Zero of that (project) was political. I know some have said let’s do an investigation. I would welcome that.”
Going further, Rell said the treasurer of her exploratory committee for a possible reelection campaign will check with state elections officials to determine if the focus group and Dautrich’s input could, in any way, be seen as an in-kind campaign contribution from public funds. Rell said if necessary her committee would “pay a fine” or whatever else is needed to correct the situation.
What are the political ramifications of this new controversy? A couple of scenarios are possible. Rell’s poll ratings dipped in the last major state poll, apparently because voters were cranky about the state budget struggle. The downward trend could continue if voters feel Rell’s “Snow White” image has been tarnished.
Before Democrats get excited about that possibility they might want to consider a possible backlash. Right now, the Governor is pondering whether or not to run for reelection next year. Her gaggle of grandchildren is growing, making retirement very attractive. Yet if Rell believes Democrats are bashing her over the Dautrich controversy (on top of the heat they produced in the budget battle) to persuade her not to run, she might just dig in her heels out of pride, and jump into the 2010 campaign full force.