It was a great honor to serve the people of Connecticut as your governor. I remember fondly your warm support which still brightens my days. However, I have been disappointed watching what is happening in Connecticut as our state still struggles to recover from the recession that began in 2008. Most of the United States has recovered all the jobs lost during the recession and then some, but not Connecticut. There are many reasons for this, but one is certainly the policies and leadership of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

With the election of a governor and the state legislature just weeks away, I want to add my voice to the public discussion of who would be best to lead our state for the next four years.

For far too long, Connecticut has been under one-party rule - not the balanced two-party system our founders intended. Gov. Malloy, with the support of the Democrat-controlled legislature, enacted the largest tax increase in Connecticut history - a tax increase that has acted like a brake on the economy.

The overall impact of Gov. Malloy's policies is that jobs and people are leaving the state at far too high a rate. Many people can't find work and many who have jobs can no longer afford to live in Connecticut.

Connecticut needs to make a change in the office of governor. Tom Foley, someone I have known for over 20 years, has very different skills and experience from the current governor. Mr. Foley has 35 years of business experience, but also government experience, having served his country in Iraq and then again in Ireland. He understands both the business world and how government works.

Tom and his wife Leslie are family people with three-year-old twins. They want to make sure Connecticut is a place where their children and their children's children want to stay. But they know that will not happen without a new direction in Connecticut and a change in leadership.

One of my proudest achievements as governor was the enactment of campaign finance reform that produced a cleaner and more honest system of financing campaigns. Sadly, Gov. Malloy reversed that progress by re-allowing political donations by state contractors. Mr. Foley immediately called "foul" and said he would not solicit or accept contributions from state contractors and, when elected governor, he will restore the stronger campaign finance rules in place when Gov. Malloy was elected.

Tom's positive nature, ability to listen, sense of humor, high ethical standards and ability to work well with people will be a breath of fresh air at the Capitol. I have no doubt he can bring people together to solve our problems and get Connecticut headed in a better direction.

Exercising our right to vote is the best way I know to make one's voice heard and to bring about the change we so desperately need. This election is an important one for Connecticut's future. I will be voting for Tom Foley for governor on Nov. 4. It is my sincere hope that you will as well.

M. Jodi Rell served as the 87th governor of Connecticut.