CONN. GOV. ROWLAND RESIGNS:

John Rowland, a member of a prominent Connecticut insurance and political family and himself a former insurance agent, resigned as governor of Connecticut rather than testify before a legislative panel investigating his possible impeachment. Following the state Supreme Court’s ruling on June 18 that he would have to testify before the legislative committee, Rowland opted to exit office rather than prolong the political battle. “I acknowledge that my poor judgment has brought us here,” the Republican said in his resignation speech. Rowland, who is 47, will be replaced on July 1 for the rest of his term by Republican Lt. Gov. M. Jodi. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin Sullivan, a Democrat, will become lieutenant governor. The next gubernatorial election is in 2006. Rowland was born in Waterbury, the descendant of a family steeped in Connecticut insurance and politics. He worked as an insurance agent for his family’s Waterbury agency until 1984, when he was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. The Republican had previously won seats in the state House in 1980 and 1982. He ran for governor in 1990 but lost to independent Lowell P. Weicker Jr. He won in his second try in 1994 against Democrat Bill Curry. If Rowland had completed his current term, he would have become the longest-serving governor in state history.