Sen. Harding: “It’s a sad day for Brookfield and for the State of CT.”

Sen. Stephen Harding (R-Brookfield) issued the following statement on the passing of fellow Brookfield resident and former Gov. M. Jodi Rell.

“It is a sad day for Brookfield and for the state of Connecticut. I grew up in Brookfield and came to know the Rell family very well. My then-State Representative was Rep. Jodi Rell, and I later was fortunate enough to be elected to her very same state rep. seat.

She put public service and people above politics. She was principled in her Republican beliefs, but did everything she could to not make decisions based on politics. That’s the reason why she was so beloved as a governor and why she had such skyrocketing popularity. That’s the reason she won the 2006 gubernatorial election by such a large margin.

I have greatly admired her for many years and always will.

One of the greatest joys in my career was that once in a while, Gov. Rell would send me a handwritten note. The notes were always thoughtful, positive and upbeat. I treasured those notes, and I still have them today. That was how Gov. Rell lived and how she treated others. With compassion. With kindness. Those handwritten notes are even more meaningful to me today.

She was an incredible person: A wonderful mother, wife and grandmother in addition to being a great governor and a friend to so many.”