In the first 30 days since his election, Governor-elect Dan Malloy has been particularly busy - bouncing around the country in an effort to gain as much knowledge as possible before becoming governor.
He traveled to Colorado to learn from other governors about the tricks of transitions, budgets, and being the state's top elected official. He has also traveled twice to Washington, D.C. - meeting with the state's Congressional delegation, Obama administration officials, and then again with governors both incoming and experienced.
On Monday, Malloy was finally back in Hartford for his first formal meeting with his transition team. His chief of staff and co-transition director, Tim Bannon, remarked that he had not seen the governor-elect much lately.
Malloy delivered a pep talk to 45 professionals in the room - including 25 who were at an extended table with him and another 20 who were seated in folding chairs along the wall in a large function room at the state Capitol.
Noting that the state's budget deficit is projected at about $3.5 billion in the next fiscal year, Malloy said the daunting challenges ahead could make some citizens to view things negatively and become depressed. But Malloy had a different message.
"The people of Connecticut should now have - and will in the future have - reason to be hopeful,'' Malloy told the crowd. "Connecticut's best days are ahead of it - not behind it - and you're part of the initial team to put that vision together.''
He thanked his steering committee and the co-chairs of 12 different working groups that will focus on issues ranging from agriculture and education to housing and transportation. The co-chairs of the working groups include some well-known advocates who come to the Capitol to push their cause. The human services working group will be overseen by Ron Cretaro and Terry Edelstein, two of the best-known advocates among Connecticut's non-profit providers, and Toni Fatone, who stepped down last year as the leader of the state's for-profit nursing homes.
Former gubernatorial candidate and former state legislator Juan Figueroa is co-chairing the healthcare group, while former Rep. Jessie Stratton co-chairs the environment group. The room was filled with hard-core Democrats, including some who have run for elective office and some who will be running in the future. Two of those sitting at the table with Malloy - Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and Democrat Shawn Wooden - are both running right now in the mayoral race.
The groups have been asked to generate ideas that can be implemented without spending any more money - at a time when the state is deep in the red.