With Democratic Party control of the state's executive, legislative and judicial branches set for at least the next two years, big changes appear to be on the horizon, led largely by Lt. Gov.-elect and former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz.

Bysiewicz and Gov.-elect Ned Lamont had a heavy schedule of meetings this week in developing their comprehensive policy agenda for the administration's first 100 days. With swearing in scheduled for Jan. 9, both hit the road early Monday, with the lieutenant governor-elect speaking at a women's leadership forum at the Grace Academy in downtown Hartford. Between that and heading to a Monday afternoon energy summit in Newtown, she had tea with the Connecticut Law Tribune and said residents should expect swift, decisive changes.

“I feel like we have a lot of things to do really quickly, so you'll be seeing the policy committees making their reports this week,” Bysiewicz said, noting that increased Democratic majorities in the House and Senate should allow for faster decision-making. “We'll be having public hearings, and then also Ned and I are working with our transition team to put the leadership structure in place.” 

With transition team news coming out every couple of days, Lamont announced Bridgeport Superior Court Judge Robert Clark would serve as his general counsel, and he added three Updike, Kelly & Spellacy lawyers to the transition team.

At 57, Bysiewicz is one of the state's best-known political leaders, having re-emerged from the private sector to run for governor, and eventually joining forces with Lamont as primary season closed out. With 2018 marking a period of social and political change for the country, she said the time was right for her to return to public service, now as both the highest-ranking female and top office-holding attorney in state government. The return to political life follows a four-year stint running the Glastonbury office of Stamford's Pastore Shofi & Dailey, where she spearheaded capital-raising initiatives for private corporations.

Once in office, Bysiewicz said, she plans to focus on improving the economy and quality of life for state residents. “I think the reason Ned and I were successful is we are very optimistic people. We are saying, look, Connecticut is great. Is it perfect? No. Do we have things we need to do better? Absolutely, and here are ideas for that. Are we going to solve all of Connecticut's problems overnight? Certainly not, but I think that we can put our state on a very positive path, and it's always productive to see what have other states done.”

Between now and inauguration day, the Middletown native will continue meeting with “industry leaders, nonprofit leaders, religious leaders and small business leaders,” as part of a mission to compose a list of policy recommendations, to be completed by week's end.

Bysiewicz said she was particularly moved Monday by student presentations at the Grace Academy, which received standing ovations from a crowd she complimented as “powerful, smart, competent women and gentlemen of taste and discernment.” The school, which provides free tuition to city girls who show academic promise, gave several girls opportunities to take the podium, address the audience and ask policy questions, impressing the attendees.

The event underscored her and Lamont's contention that putting women in positions of power in government and in the private sector should be prioritized and encouraged. Initiatives such as providing paid family and medical leave and increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour have been among the most popular proposals discussed. The Lamont administration has already pledged to dedicate at least 50 percent of executive commissioner appointments to women.

Bysiewicz acknowledged pessimism exists regarding the state's economy, but she said committees are already exploring ways to right the ship. “We asked every one of our policy groups. 'How do you think we can grow the economy, and how can we save money,'” she said. “Having more women employed at higher salaries and wages will be uplifting and a benefit to the budget.”

An indicator of just how much interest residents have in the new administration's agenda came on Nov. 28, when more than 400 people showed up for a policy meeting at Eastern Connecticut State University. “We did that in the morning, and then in the afternoon I went to 'How to Be a Lieutenant Governor 101' at the National Lieutenant Governor's Association,” Bysiewicz said.  “It's been interesting to see Republicans, Democrats, unaffiliated folks, businesses, nonprofits and government people all working together, so it's really cool.”

Initiatives already gaining verbal approval from the Lamont-Bysiewicz team include moving forward on decriminalization of cannabis and allowing online sports betting in Connecticut, particularly since they are already happening in surrounding states. “I think we want to focus on legalizing marijuana because other states around us are moving in that direction, and it's just a matter of time,” Bysiewicz said. “Let's regulate it in a thoughtful way, just like we've regulated medical marijuana. We have a model for the country with our medical marijuana program, and to me one of the very compelling reasons to legalize is that in some states, like Colorado, deaths from opioid addiction have been reduced.”

While Bysiewicz and Lamont don't agree with the current administration on all issues, she said  they want to build on the successes Gov. Dannel Malloy has had with criminal justice reform, especially reducing prison populations. “I will say the current administration has done a good job with respect to getting nonviolent criminals out of jail,” she said. “If our goal in the corrections arena is to support getting violent offenders rehabilitated, and then once they pay their debt to society make sure they have the housing, job training and transportation they need to be productive citizens, then we'll want a commissioner who comes in with that mindset.”

As someone who has run for governor, attorney general and U.S. Senate before, plus served as secretary of state, Bysiewicz acknowledged she brings a wealth of experience to the table, but she emphasized the respectful bond she's developed with her running mate, who she calls “a big-picture guy.”

“He loves talking about lots of ideas, and he's always asking people from every walk of life about issues. Ned and I both have a very collaborative and open leadership style, and I think that's very different than the current administration's approach—and I think people like it. People like the opportunity to have their ideas be listened to and to make a difference,” Bysiewicz said.

Appreciating the work ahead, and having some political bumps and bruises along the way, Bysiewicz acknowledged this election win seems like perfect timing. “What I've learned in life is there's a plan for all of us,” she said. “You just don't know it in advance.”