Just days into his own term as Connecticut’s 89th Governor, Ned Lamont helped to welcome Ella Briggs to her new position as the state’s kid governor.
“Don’t think you’re too young to get involved, we really want to hear your point of view,” Lamont said. “Great things happen when you speak out when you’re young.”
Ella, a student of the Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary Magnet School in Avon, was elected by other fifth-graders across the state, and was sworn in by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill.
“As you’re new kid governor I will begin important conversations with students and adults all over this great state,” Briggs said.
Ella’s platform - Pride Hope Love.
“I will encourage schools and school districts across Connecticut start gay-straight alliance, otherwise known as GSAs safe spaces where members of the LGBTQ community and allies can feel pride in who they are,” said Briggs.
The kid governor program is run by the Connecticut Democracy Center. In a year where there is a more diverse Congress than ever, Ella said she’s glad to add her voice to that list of leaders.
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“People who don’t know me seem surprised that at such a young age, I’m already very confident with the person that I am, and that I desire to help people,” said Briggs. “What people don’t realize is that all my life I’ve been surrounded by strong female leaders.”
It’s a list that includes Jahana Hayes, who is now the first African American woman from Connecticut in Congress.
“I believe in civic education,” said Hayes. “It just makes my heart so proud to see young people getting involved so early.”
Ella’s one year term starts today and she plans to get right to work.
