Williams calls on Rell to fire Rowland appointees

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Democratic leader of the state Senate has called on Gov. M. Jodi Rell to rid her administration of all remaining top officials appointed by former Gov. John G. Rowland.

Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams of Danielson accused the Republican governor on Wednesday of not doing enough to "clean house" in the wake of the corruption scandal that enveloped her predecessor's administration and ultimately forced Rowland to resign from office.

"Never before ... have we witnessed the corruption that we saw in the Rowland administration," Williams told reporters. "And this (new) administration is still largely the Rowland administration. There's not a single agency or department that does not have people appointed by Gov. Rowland."

His comments marked one of the first public criticisms of Rell lodged by a top Democrat, possibly signaling an end to the "honeymoon" some pollsters say Rell has enjoyed since becoming governor in July. Her public approval rating is near 80 percent.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ct--rowland-rell1216dec15,0,6004171.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire