Ridgefield’s John Frey Named To Advisory Board At Governor Rell Center For Public Service

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Former state lawmaker and longtime Ridgefield public official John H. Frey has been appointed to the Board of Advisors for the Governor M. Jodi Rell Center for Public Service at the University of Hartford, the institution announced Wednesday.

Frey, a lifelong Ridgefield resident, currently serves on the Ridgefield Board of Police Commissioners and has spent more than 30 years in public service at the local, state, and federal levels. He represented the 111th District in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1999 to 2021 and has held positions on the Connecticut Real Estate Commission, the President’s Commission on White House Fellows, and most recently on the CT-Ireland Trade Commission.

In 2020, he received a presidential appointment to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, serving a four-year term.

Frey said he was honored to join the advisory board of a center created to uphold values he has long emphasized throughout his career.

“Governor Rell’s dedication to ethical leadership and public service has long inspired me,” Frey said in a statement. “I look forward to helping guide the Center as it prepares the next generation of leaders committed to integrity, civility, and service to their communities.”

Frey’s relationship with the late Gov. M. Jodi Rell dates back to their early years in the General Assembly, when both were rising figures in state politics.

Michael Rell, the former governor’s son and chair of the Board of Advisors, said Frey’s appointment strengthens the Center’s mission.

“John's extensive experience and commitment to public service, as well as his long-standing relationship with the Governor, will be invaluable as we continue to advance the mission of the Center and inspire future leaders to serve with honor and dedication,” he said.

The Rell Center, founded to promote ethics in government, civil discourse, and civic responsibility, works with University of Hartford students and community partners to encourage public engagement and leadership.