The Connecticut Democracy Center Appoints Three New Board Members

The Connecticut Democracy Center, the statewide organization providing tools and opportunities for robust civic engagement, has appointed three accomplished businesspeople to its board of directors for a two-year term. 

Jonathan Harris is currently the Director of Regulatory Affairs for Connecticut at Eversource Energy.  For six sessions, he served as Counsel to the Speaker of the House in the General Assembly, and was in private practice for 25 years, concentrating on commercial and real estate law. Jonathan served West Hartford as Town Councilor and Mayor and was elected to the state Senate in 2004, holding that seat for three terms. Upon retiring from the Senate, he served as Deputy Treasurer of Connecticut, Executive Director of the State Democratic Party and Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. 

Eric Rigoli is a Connecticut Native who works as an attorney for Robinson & Cole in Hartford, Connecticut. Before working at Robinson & Cole, Eric worked as an intern for the Honorable Judge Vanessa Bryant in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, and previously served as an intern to State Senator Art Linares in the Connecticut State Assembly. Eric is a five-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, specializing in Aviation Safety and Aviation Quality. During that time, he received numerous awards for his service, including three Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medals, two Admiral Flag Letters and Letters of Appreciation, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, and a National Defense Medal.

James Turner is a Vice President on the derivatives sales desk at Webster Bank. James specializes in helping the Bank and its clients mitigate interest rate risk through the use of derivative products such as swaps, caps, floors, and collars.  As part of giving back to the community, James has been a guest speaker to both Manchester H.S. and the University of New Haven to discuss the importance of investing and financial knowledge. James holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Business Administration from Rutgers University.

The Connecticut Democracy Center provides tools and opportunities for civic engagement, encouraging people of all ages to engage in civic life and strengthen their communities. From the non-partisan coverage of the state legislature on Connecticut Network (CT-N), to the comprehensive civic resources and instructions available on ctdemocracycenter.org, to the immersive education available through the Kid Governor and History Day programs, to the stories linking history to present day civics at Connecticut’s Old State House, the Connecticut Democracy Center provides the building blocks for informed civic action, today and tomorrow.