Melissa Bailey Photo
Mayor John DeStefano’s even-keeled spokesman is leaving City Hall for the state Capitol, to be replaced by an alumnus of the New Haven Register city desk.
Adam Joseph’s last day as mayoral spokesman is Friday. Monday he begins work as press secretary for the Senate Democrats at the state legislature. He will oversee a staff of six people; he will report to new Senate Democrats Chief of Staff Derek Slap — who himself is a former spokesman for New Haven Mayor John DeStefano.
Joseph (pictured), who’s 30, has worked in New Haven City Hall for three years as a state legislative liaison, policy aide, and, since February, mayoral spokesman. He established a reputation as a reliable, smart distiller of information never flustered amid even the most hectic, harsh news cycles. He knows the state Capitol scene well; he previously served as an aide to then-Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz.
Joseph’s replacement as mayoral spokesman is Elizabeth Benton. Benton left her job as New Haven Register City Hall reporter in April 2010 to join the DeStefano administration as aldermanic liaison.
She is the 11th person to serve as John DeStefano’s official spokesperson since he became mayor on Jan. 1, 1994. Or maybe she’s the 12th; depends how you count. Click here to read more about that.