Vanity Plate Info Is Supposed to Be Shrouded in Secrecy

The public disclosure of a list of low-digit license plates issued to Gov. M. Jodi Rell's family, friends and staff shortly before she left office violated privacy laws, the new governor's legal counsel said Friday night. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's less-than-contrite reaction Saturday: He'll give a new plate to any recipient who feels aggrieved.

"If a mistake was made, we will gladly refund the money to any individual requesting it and promptly issue a new license plate," Malloy said in an emailed statement.

Republican State Chairman Chris Healy said Malloy needs to explain why the information was released on the VIP plates issued by the Rell administration to Rell, her family and prominent politicians, including Senate Minority Leader John P. McKinney, R-Fairfield, and the GOP's nominee for U.S. Senate last year, Linda McMahon.

"The governor has to explain what happened and what was the purpose of it. What was the purpose of handing any reporter selective identities of people who own certain license plates who happen to be Republicans?" Healy asked. "Was it the purpose to be spiteful?"

Andrew J. McDonald, the legal counsel to Malloy, said the purpose was to respond to a media request. The administration's top communication official, Roy Occhiogrosso, provided the list without realizing it was illegal to disclose the owners of the low-digit plates, he said.

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