Radio personality and moderator John Dankosky, Director of Events for CT Mirror, will host a conversation with Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas to kick off In The Room, a monthly in-person interview series with top elected officials. Snacks will be served.

Registration is required. Register at the link above.

John Dankosky divides his time between CT Mirror, where he heads up its events programming and serves as a multi-platform consultant, and the NPR/PRI program Science Friday. Previously, he was executive editor of the New England News Collaborative and the host of the weekly program NEXT. He has appeared weekly on The Wheelhouse, WNPR’s news roundtable program. His 25 years in public media also include serving as vice president of news for Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network, host of WNPR’s Where We Live, and regular fill-in host for Science Friday.

Stephanie Thomas, who was sworn in as Connecticut’s Secretary of the State on January 4, 2023, has led a distinguished 30-year career advising and problem-solving for nonprofit organizations, running her own business, and serving as a State Representative of the 143rd District (Norwalk, Wilton, Westport). Since taking office, Secretary Thomas has led the implementation of significant election reforms in the state, including the roll-out of early voting and a new centralized voter registration system. In September 2023, she secured a historic investment of $25 million to replace the state’s aging tabulators, marking Connecticut’s first voting machine upgrade since 2006. During her term, Secretary Thomas will also institute the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of Connecticut and automatic voter registration at several Connecticut agencies. A former small business owner, Secretary Thomas has worked to pass business-friendly legislation, and has created a monthly e-newsletter that aggregates funding and training resources in one place to save business owners’ time.