Desperation: Nappier Turns to Silvester Era Deputy.

State Treasurer Denise Nappier has recruited Richard Gray, who served in the treasurer’s office under the disgraced Paul Silvester, to serve as her deputy, Daily Ructions can report. Nappier defeated Silvester in a 1998 squeaker. She spent much of her first term (she’s now in her 5th) condemning Silvester and seeking to reverse the abuses of his dark tenure in office.

Silvester, readers will recall, went to prison for a corruption spree after he was appointed to fill the vacancy that occurred when incumbent Christopher Burnham resigned under unusual circumstances that raised ethics questions.

Gray served as a deputy under Silvester. He went on to become involved through felonious former Governor John G. Rowland’s administration in some controversial deals and doomed  under the auspices of the Capital City Economic Development Authority. Last year, Gray entered into a secret severance agreement with the University of Connecticut, where he served as budget chief.

Gray’s appointment confirms Nappier’s enduring reputation as a bit of a nightmare to work for.  She must have been turned down by plenty of other possible candidates to have gotten to Gray, who once represented everything Nappier opposed.