Stonington Student To Serve In Kid Governor's Cabinet

STONINGTON, CT — A Stonington student was sworn in to serve in the Connecticut Kid Governor's cabinet at a ceremony Friday, according to a statement. Claire Li, a fifth-grader at West Vine School in Stonington, was sworn in during a virtual inauguration ceremony from Connecticut's Old State House.

Reese Naughton of Southington was the winner of the election and will be sworn in as the 2021 Connecticut Kid Governor. Houda and Reese will take the oath of office from Secretary of the State Denise Merrill.

State and federal officials including Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congressman John Larson, Attorney General William Tong, Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona, State Senator Rob Sampson, and others spoke at the event.

After she was officially sworn in and delivered her inaugural address, Kid Governor Reese and her cabinet participated in a news conference, answering questions pre-submitted by fellow 5th graders.

Following the inauguration ceremony, students from around the state participated in a virtual educational program on the three branches of state government. Officials answered student questions about their roles in state government. The day will concluded with exciting virtual games of civics trivia.

Reese was elected by the state's 5th graders in the November 2020 Statewide Election for Connecticut's Kid Governor. More than 6,000 students from 263 classes and 110 schools across the state participated in the election.