Joseph Rodriguez will again be commuting to Hartford to work in the office of U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Rodriguez was a research aide and outreach worker in the senator’s Hartford office for 3½ years before he was tapped by Mayor Toni Harp to be her liaison with the Board of Alders starting in August 2014.
He has decided to return to Blumenthal’s office and will hold the position of deputy director in that office.
Blumenthal, D-Conn., on Friday said he was happy for Rodriguez’s return.
“He was heartbroken when he left and I’m ecstatic that he is returning,” Blumenthal said.
The senator called Rodriguez “a natural leader,” who has “great people skills,” as well insight into policy issues.
He said the experience he has gotten working in New Haven only adds to his abilities.
Rodriguez, 28, will be working in constituent services, which Blumenthal called “the bread and butter of my office.” He said no matter the problem, they go to bat for residents.
“He does that very tenaciously and tirelessly,” Blumenthal said.
Rodriguez was an alder from Fair Haven for two terms from 2008 to 2011 in New Haven and is currently the chairman of the Connecticut Hispanic Caucus.
Rodriguez said he will miss working in the city, but he is excited to rejoin Blumenthal’s office where previously he worked on small business programs and Latino outreach, among other things.
He said he plans to work through Feb. 26 in his alder liaison job so he can help with the budget preparation in New Haven that is due on March 1. He will report to Blumenthal’s office on Feb. 29.
While Rodriguez is leaving, Michael Harris is back working in the administration as a special assistant to the mayor assigned to lobby the General Assembly for the city.
Harris had the aldermanic liaison job for seven months before Rodriguez took it.
At that time, he also worked with the state’s delegation watching bills of interest to New Haven and got to participate on a number of projects, including the administration’s programs addressing homelessness, as well as development of the budget and reaching out to at-risk with Youth Services Director Jason Bartlett.
To read full article: http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20160212/new-havens-joseph-rodriguez-leaving-city-hall-to-work-for-blumenthal-again
