Bombs Away: Rell to Launch “Center for Public Service” at University Of Hartford with December 7th Fundraiser, 5th Anniversary of Marco Polo Debacle.

Pony up, so Governor M. Jodi Rell can spend her reading days at The Rell Center for Public Service at the University of Hartford. The new institution “will instruct and encourage integrity and responsible participation in government and public service.  The center will offer lectures, panel discussions, symposia, and forums on important local and regional issues. Teaching and learning opportunities will include internships and service-learning in government and public service as well as research and scholarly inquiry on the nature of integrity in government and public life.”

That’s very grand.  She may want to take some of those courses. The Rell Center will have a fundraising event in Cromwell on December 7th, the 5th anniversary of Rell’s calamitous campaign fundraising event that snagged a passel of her administration’s members in a money-raising scheme directed out of Rell’s chief of staff’s office.  Many notables appear on the invite for the Cromwell event, not all of them associated with integrity in the stewardship of public affairs.

Cocktails and dinner run $150 per person.  Double that to attend a private reception and dinner.  A VIP sponsorship is $5,000. No lobbyists or state contractors will be allowed to pay tribute, we’re sure of that, though the invite states no restrictions on donations.  One other notable omission from the honorary committee of statewide officeholders, the Congressional delegation, and legislative leaders:  Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele.  He’s got integrity.

Any guesses on what Rell ally may lead this repository of virtue?  Perhaps Snow White will pick Grumpy as the keeper of the flickering flame.