Double Your Impact on Connecticut Journalism

Governor Ned Lamont's Response to State Car Misuse

Governor Ned Lamont addressed the misuse of state cars by a senior aide on Monday. The aide, Jonathan Dach, who has been in the governor's inner circle since his first day in office and served as chief of staff for 18 months before taking on a policy role in July, was under review. Lamont defended a portion of the after-hours use of the two state cars assigned to his office, stating that Dach's duties extended beyond an eight-hour day or five-day work week. However, he emphasized the need for fastidiousness and leading by example. The misuse of the state cars was reported by Inside Investigator, an independently managed project of the conservative Yankee Institute, which used state records to examine the use of the cars between June 2023 and September 2024. The cars are equipped with telemetric data collectors that record various details about their use.

The data showed that on numerous occasions, the vehicles reached speeds in the 90s, and on three occasions, vehicle speeds surpassed 100 miles per hour. For example, on November 14, 2023, the state vehicle reached 113 mph while traveling from New London to Hartford; on February 9 and April 1 of 2023, the vehicle reached 102 mph. Based on destinations, much of the travel was attributed to Dach, although not all and not during the drives where speed limits were greatly exceeded. Lamont said the speeding was a concern and that they were looking into it as there are 10 people with access to the cars.

Dach's Explanation and Commute

Dach, who lived in New Haven for much of his time working for Lamont and typically commuted by train, moved to an apartment in Hartford's Coltsville neighborhood. A state car was often parked near his apartments. He acknowledged that the lion's share of the trips, including those taken after hours and over weekends, were for work-related purposes such as staffing the governor, meeting with colleagues, and visiting state-funded projects. However, he also admitted to occasional personal errands, which he apologized for and promised to make amends for.

One trip made by Dach in a state car was to Albany, N.Y. a year ago for the elevation of Judge Rowan Wilson to chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals. Dach had clerked for Wilson. Currently, he lives in Manhattan and his job involves remote work and periodic trips to the Capitol. He oversees energy policy, works on housing and municipal issues, and represents Lamont on the University of Connecticut board of trustees.

The Importance of CT Mirror's Reporting

CT Mirror's reporting keeps the people of Connecticut informed on the most pressing issues. With the goal of raising 0,000 by December 31 during NewsMatch, every gift to CT Mirror is matched up to ,000 per gift, doubling your support for original journalism. By making a tax-deductible donation today, you can create more trusted reporting across the state and help ensure that the important stories are told.