After saying he wants a fresh start in state government, Gov.-elect Ned Lamont renominated nine of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s commissioners Monday.

The commissioners cover a wide variety of areas, including consumer protection, labor, tax collection, banking, veterans affairs and mental health services.

Lamont on Monday night also nominated state Sen. Timothy Larson, D-East Hartford, as the leader of the state Office of Higher Education, which licenses the state’s private colleges and universities, regulates career schools and oversees financial aid programs.

“Tim is a natural relationship builder and someone who can connect the dots between our state’s independent colleges and universities and post-secondary career schools and the business community in which we want graduates to find gainful employment,” Lamont said. “I’m looking to him to help create a pipeline between these institutions and the industries that are looking for qualified, local applicants.''

Larson’s departure from the General Assembly will set off legislative maneuvering at the committee level because he had already been named by Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney as the Senate chairman of the public safety committee and vice chairman of the transportation committee. Public safety is influential at the state Capitol as the committee that oversees gambling, and Larson has been among the most outspoken supporters of a proposed casino in East Windsor.

In addition, Capitol sources said that two more Democratic legislators — Rep. James Albis of East Haven and Sen. Terry Gerratana of New Britain — will be leaving to take jobs in the Lamont administration. They will join Sen. Beth Bye of West Hartford and Rep. Chris Soto of New London, who had previously announced that they were leaving the legislature for positions in the new administration that begins Wednesday.

Earlier Monday, Lamont nominated Vanessa Dorantes, a 27-year veteran of the state Department of Children and Families to replace Joette Katz, who served as commissioner for eight years under Malloy.

Lamont has picked a series of outsiders so far to lead the departments of transportation, emergency services, prisons, and others.

When asked Monday what kind of message he is trying to send with his choices for commissioners, Lamont responded: "That we are making a fresh start in each and every one of these departments. That we have folks that are bringing in new ideas and new energy, like Vanessa [Dorantes], like in transportation. You get an opportunity every four or eight years to get a fresh start. I think that’s what we’re trying to say.''

The current commissioners who have been asked to remain include Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon at the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services; former Hamden mayor Scott Jackson at the Department of Revenue Services; Jorge Perez at banking; and Amy Porter at rehabilitative services.

In addition, Lamont is renominating Tom Saadi at the Department of Veterans Affairs; Jordan Scheff at the Department of Developmental Services; Michelle H. Seagull at consumer protection; Vicki Veltri at the Office of Health Strategy; and Kurt Westby at labor.

The commissioners are subject to approval by the General Assembly, but governors are traditionally given wide leeway in choosing their cabinet. As a result, many of the commissioners are approved by large margins in legislative votes.

“These leaders represent several agencies that interface with the public in a number of critical areas, and I appreciate their continued leadership as we begin my administration,” Lamont said. “In renominating these individuals, I have asked them to come to the table prepared to share new ways of approaching old and emerging problems as we make Connecticut state government more user-friendly, accessible and digitally focused. I look forward to working with them on these important priorities.”