Executive and Legislative Nominations expected to reconsider DOC Ombudsperson vote at Tuesday meeting. With Update.

Governor Ned Lamont’s office has been negotiating to reverse the rejection of his nominee for the newly created Department of Corrections Ombudsperson. On a tie vote of the committee, Hilary Carpenter failed to win the approval of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee for the pension boosting position.

Carpenter, a public defender, was not the first choice of the Corrections Advisory Committee for the job. She was the third of three. The committee’s first choice was Ken Krayeske. He’s regularly done battle with DOC. Aggressive oversight of the secretive Department of Corrections is unlikely in the job description Lamont has in mind for the new position.

Tuesday’s meeting is the only opportunity the committee will have to overturn its defeat of Carpenter’s nomination with a motion to reconsider made by a member who voted against her. Two Democrats and one Republican were absent from the 20-member committee’s last meeting. Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney (D-New Haven) abstained on Carpenter’s nomination.

Republicans, who rarely win committee votes, have been eager to make a deal with Lamont’s office in exchange for ushering Carpenter through the confirmation process.

The meeting will follow the conclusion of an 11 a.m. public hearing.

UPDATE: Representative David Yaccarino (R-North Haven) made the motion to reconsider. It passed on a voice vote. Yaccarino explained that members did not mean to defeat Carpenter’s nomination. Yaccarino said they had originally hoped to advance Carpenter’s nomination for more discussion. Most legislators know that that requires a vote in the affirmative.

The roll call on Carpenter’s nomination will remain open until 3 p.m.

What are 30 pieces of silver going for these days at the Legislative Office Building? We may never know.

Published March 26, 2024