Lamont Sheds La Luz, Flanagan Johnson. Hires Reiss, Promotes Malloy Veteran Harris in Office Renovation.
Governor Ned Lamont is replacing spokesperson Maribel La Luz with NBC Connecticut political reporter Max Reiss as the Greenwich millionaire seeks to steady his drifting administration, Daily Ructions has learned. Complaints about Lamont’s communication shop have been one of the few constants six months into his erratic tenure.
Chief communications strategist Colleen Flanagan Johnson is also departing. Lamont, in what may prove a regrettable decision, has moved OPM official and Democratic functionary Jonathan Harris into his office as a senior adviser. Harris soiled his reputation with his involvement at the center of a 2014 campaign finance scandal that saw state Democrats pay a $325,000 settlement to keep finance records secret. Harris was a loyalist of unpopular former Democratic Governor Dannel P. Malloy.
Democrats and Republicans have found common ground in complaining about the unsteady messaging from Lamont and his team.