Going. Staying. Gone. Av Harris’ Public Health Odyssey

Av Harris has plenty of experience in the press, politics and government. He has seen, shared, explained, reported, and participated in a wide range of events. Even he must be astonished at this past year at the state’s Department of Public Health.

As Director of Communications and Government Relations at DPH as 2020 began, Harris was at the center of the state’s initial response to the approaching global health crisis. On April 13th, as the pandemic was days from its peak in Connecticut, Harris resigned, effective May 7th, to begin “a new professional opportunity in my home state of Massachusetts.” Four days later, Harris, “upon further reflection,” rescinded his resignation.

In December, according to Harris lawyer Irene Bassock, her client’s supervisors assigned Harris on an astounding mission. He was asked to obtain information from Bridgeport police officers about the alleged violation of COVID-19 rules at a bar where a December double homicide occurred.

Harris, who was a top adviser to Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim before joining the Lamont administration in 2019, possesses a highly developed instinct for recognizing trouble–for himself and others. Harris averred that asking a state health department spokesperson to intervene in a homicide investigation was unusual and beyond the scope of his authority. Harris attempted to raise his concerns with others in the department. When he was not able to reach them, he contacted a lawyer in Lamont’s office.

For his prudence, Harris says he was fired early this month. Thursday the 14th was his last day. The news came in a curt letter from Deidre Gifford, who is doing double duty as commissioner of public health and the state’s sprawling social services department.

Harris has been embroiled in controversy before. In March 2020, he referred to opponents removing the religious freedom exemption for inoculation of required vaccines as “the American Taliban.” Harris made the comments on Facebook. The group responded by calling for him to step down from his job.

His position would have been safer if the Malloy administration and the legislature had not moved public information officer positions out of the civil service. At-will state employers continue to enjoy whistleblower protections.