Secretary Of The State Denise Merrill Announces Resignation

CONNECTICUT — Secretary of the State Denise Merrill announced she would resign, effective June 30, in order to care for her ailing husband.

Gov. Ned Lamont will appoint someone to fill Merrill’s post through the remainder of her term, which expires in January. Merrill announced earlier this year that she wouldn’t seek re-election for her position.

The secretary of the state is responsible for administering and maintaining the state’s election system, as well as a number of public records, including business registrations. Merrill helped oversee the modernization of the state’s business registration system.

Lamont called Merrill a dear friend and said her resignation was a loss for public service in the state.

“Denise has had a long history of serving the public good in Connecticut and has become one of the most respected secretaries of state in the country,” he said in a statement. “I am proud to have partnered with her on our collected efforts to increase access to voter registration, increase access to casting a ballot, increase election transparency, and streamline the way businesses interact with our state government."

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The news of Merrill’s resignation was first reported by the Associated Press. Merrill’s husband has Parkinson’s disease and had become very ill last year, according to the CT Mirror. Merrill told the Mirror that she was getting help caring for him, but she needs to be for him full-time. The decision was difficult, especially with an election coming up in November, she said.

Merrill’s time in Hartford spans 30 years. She was elected to her third term as secretary of the state in 2018. Prior to that, she was a state representative for 17 years in the 54th House district, which covers Mansfield and Chaplin. She served as House majority leader from 2009 to 2011.

Merrill is the second constitutional officer who will leave before the end of a term. State Comptroller Kevin Lembo left near the end of 2021 due to a serious heart condition. Lamont appointed Natalie Braswell, the assistant state comptroller, to fill the comptroller’s term. Braswell said she will not run for election in November.