Scott Bates of Stonington will not be continuing on in his role as deputy secretary of the state under new Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas.

Bates had served in the position for six years but on Tuesday Thomas announced in a news release that Jacqueline Kozin, a Democrat who has worked in non-profits, advocacy organizations, political campaigns and government agencies, would be her new deputy.

“Our agency is responsible for a number of critical duties, like protecting the right to vote and expanding ballot access as well as supporting Connecticut’s business community,”  Thomas said. “Jacqueline's wide ranging professional experience, keen understanding of government and strategic mind will serve the office well.  I am thrilled she will join the office and look forward to working with her to engage more voters and elevate businesses."

Bates’s term ends once the new administration takes over on Jan. 4.

“Our office was able to advance an important agenda in challenging times, all due to teamwork. I was fortunate to be on this team,” Bates said in an emailed statement to The Day.

In a Dec. 20 Facebook post, Bates said a public farewell to his position, and detailed some of the initiatives the Secretary of the State’s Office undertook during his tenure.

“We expanded access to absentee voting (increasing by 700% in 2020), launched innovative strategies to combat misinformation and brought our operations into the digital age,” he wrote. “Thank you to Secretaries of State Denise Merrill and Mark Kohler for the chance to serve my home state.”

Kohler took over for Merrill in June, who resigned at the time so that she could spend more time caring for her ill husband. When it became clear Bates would stay on, critics of the Connecticut Port Authority as well as state Republicans wondered why.

Bates had served as the Connecticut Port Authority board chairman from the authority's formation in 2014 to his abrupt resignation in 2019, just before the quasi-public agency overseeing a major redevelopment project at State Pier in New London became embroiled in scandal over skyrocketing spending and allegations of improprieties. His involvement with the port authority created something of a political opportunity for Republicans.

About a month after Kohler took over, Republican Bob Stefanowski who ran unsuccessfully in November for governor, held a news conference in New London where he called for Bates to step down.

The port authority has come under fire for escalating costs of the construction project at State Pier in New London that has risen from $93 million to more than $255 million. State Pier is being transformed into a hub for the offshore wind industry.

The Secretary of the State’s office said Tuesday that Bates not continuing on as deputy is customary, as the new administration chooses their staff. Incumbent Gabe Rosenberg, though, will continue to serve as chief of staff and general counsel for Thomas.

s.spinella@theday.com