Harris Lands State Position

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11.04.2010 - Hartford, CT - Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz and Communications Director Av Harris talk with the media about the ballot count from Tuesday's election. Photograph by MARK MIRKO | mmirko@courant.com

Av Harris, the former spokesperson for the Office of Secretary of the State, has been working for the past several weeks as a press aide to newly elected Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim.

Ganim wanted him to stay on, but Harris let it be known Friday he has declined the offer in favor of a new position as spokesman for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. He starts his new job January 4th.

In a written statement, Harris made clear his departure from Ganim’s office has nothing to do with the mayor’s criminal past. Harris felt forced to decline the Bridgeport job because he lives in western Massachusetts and has two daughters. The commute and long hours would have been impossible from a family perspective.