Connecticut Governor Fires Health Commissioner

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Tuesday that he has fired public health commissioner Renee Coleman-Mitchell following several mistakes in the office last year, an ABC News local affiliate reports.

According to ABC 7 New York, Lamont replaced Coleman-Mitchell with Department of Social Services head Deidre Gifford because of multiple missteps made by her office, including its delayed response to protecting nursing homes from the coronavirus and its refusal last year to publicly release vaccination rates at the state’s schools, according to a state official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has required every state agency to even more closely align with each other and sync our operations to deliver a coordinated response for the people of Connecticut. I am determined to continue these efforts for the duration of our emergency response and beyond,” Gifford said in a statement, according to the Connecticut Mirror.

"I appreciate Commissioner Coleman-Mitchell's willingness to join my administration and lead one of our most vital state agencies, which is responsible for overseeing so many critical public health needs," Lamont said in a statement. "Her service over the last year has been a great deal of help, particularly in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic that has brought disruption to many throughout the world. I thank her for her advocacy on behalf of the health and safety of our residents, and for being a dedicated partner in service to the State of Connecticut.”

ABC notes that Coleman-Mitchell worked in the state Public Health Department for 18 years, and was previously the section chief of the agency and managed its chronic disease program.

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