Democratic State Treasurer Denise Nappier Friday morning issued a public apology over an episode Tuesday night in which her official car was ticketed for parking in a handicapped space near the West Hartford restaurant in which she was the speaker at a meeting of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Connecticut Chapter.
She also said she has paid the $107 ticket; Nappier's director of government relations, Christine Shaw, said she dropped off Nappier's personal check at West Hartford town offices Thursday evening, when they stay open later than normal.
Here is Nappier's statement: "As a threshold matter, I apologize for the entire incident involving the ticketing of my official state vehicle. The parking of the vehicle in a handicapped zone was a serious mistake -- one which I did not know of nor do I condone.
"The parking ticket was properly issued by the Town of West Hartford, and the Treasury employee who requested an adjustment of that ticket was not authorized to do so. The full amount of the fine was paid on February 17th with my personal funds, as I accept full responsibility for the conduct of my staff.
"As an elected state official, I take seriously the trust placed in me as a public servant. I do not hold myself or my staff above the law, and I deeply regret the violation."