Former Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland brings the insight and candor of a political leader who has seen great success and has learned exceptional lessons from the challenges faced at the end of his public service career.
Elected to the Connecticut State House of Representatives in 1980 at the age of 23, John Rowland rose rapidly to serve three terms in Congress before being elected the youngest Governor in Connecticut history in 1994. He was, in fact, the nation’s youngest governor and was called by the Wall Street Journal “one of our nation’s rising stars.”
His exceptional public service career resulted in a renaissance throughout the cities of Connecticut. His vision made technology, education and quality of life issues the driving forces to meet the challenges of the new millennium. In the Statehouse, his leadership was also marked by fiscal restraint and record budget surpluses.
In July of 2005, he resigned from office during a federal investigation and, a year later, pleaded guilty to a tax charge, serving 10 ˝ months in a federal prison camp.
In his own words, however, his success produced an “arrogance of power” and “sense of entitlement” that left him moving farther away from the real power of faith and renewal with others. Today, he is a much sought after inspirational speaker and is extensively involved in community outreach services.
