Equity in Name Only: How the Social Equity Council Became a Political Network

A CT CannaTimes Investigative Report — November 6 2025

The False Independence

The Connecticut Social Equity Council (SEC) was designed to give people harmed by cannabis prohibition a seat at the table. But every person with voting power on the Council already answers to the State.

The SEC is not independent — it is the State. Its members are drawn directly from the Governor’s cabinet, legislative leadership, and the very agencies that enforce Connecticut’s cannabis laws.

Official roster:

https://portal.ct.gov/socialequitycouncil/about-us

Who They Really Are — Each Member’s Power Connection

Andréa Comer — Chair (Treasurer’s Designee)

Chief of Staff to State Treasurer Erick Russell. Her dual role links the SEC’s budget and oversight to the office controlling Connecticut’s public funds.

https://www.4-ct.org/andrea-comer

Kyle Abercrombie — Department of Economic and Community Development Designee Represents DECD, the agency that administers economic-development grants and tax incentives for businesses, including those in cannabis. https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/OPM/Budget/Legislative-Proposals-2021/DECD—Full-Packet.pdf

Tina Clark Beamon — Governor’s Appointee

Attorney and health-policy consultant long active in executive-branch initiatives. Formally appointed November 5 2024. https://portal.ct.gov/socialequitycouncil/-/media/social-equity-council/meetings-2024/sec-regular-meeting-november-12-2024-minutes-revised.pdf

Corrie Betts — House Minority Leader Appointee

Appointed through the House Republican Leader’s office but best known as President of the Greater Hartford NAACP. No record confirms partisan registration beyond his appointing authority. https://www.ctinsider.com/politics/article/ct-cannabis-license-reinvestment-pause-audit-19507365.php

Fanita Borges — Governor’s Appointee

Hartford-area community banker and outreach coordinator linked to the Governor’s network of economic initiatives. https://www.liberty-bank.com/personal/loans/contact-a-loan-officer/fanita-borges

Greg Davis — Speaker of the House Appointee

Former legislative aide aligned with House Speaker Matt Ritter and later nominated for a state judgeship. Represents the Democratic House leadership bloc within the Council. https://www.cngcorp.com/w/ui-cng-scg-expand-local-government-relations-team-with-two-new-hires https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/bloomfield-deputy-mayor-superior-court-judge-17876142.php

Avery Gaddis — Senate Minority Leader Appointee

Long-time strategist for the Connecticut Senate Republicans and former Director of Urban Affairs for the caucus. Represents Senate Republican leadership interests. https://www.nhregister.com/connecticut/article/Senate-Republicans-name-urban-ambassador-11374614.php

Andréa K. Hawkins — Governor’s Appointee

Co-owner of a management-consulting firm frequently contracting with state workforce and diversity programs.

Michael A. Jefferson, Esq. — Senate President Appointee

Attorney and veteran Democratic organizer from New Haven, appointed by Senate President Martin Looney. Direct legislative ties through Senate leadership.

https://kiyamamovement.com/our-founder/

Daniel Karpowitz — Office of Policy and Management Designee

Undersecretary in the Governor’s budget office (OPM), overseeing criminal-justice and policy planning. His position means the Governor’s budget office sits within the Council.

https://portal.ct.gov/opm/root/directories/division-contacts

https://portal.ct.gov/OPM/CJ-About/Homepage/Undersecretary-Bio

Melvin Medina — Black & Puerto Rican Caucus Appointee

Appointed by the BPRC Chair, ensuring the legislative caucus retains direct influence over SEC decisions. https://portal.ct.gov/socialequitycouncil/-/media/social-equity-council/meetings-2024/social-equity-council-regular-meeting-june-4-2024-minutes-draft.pdf

Ojala Naeem — House Majority Leader Appointee

Innovation-hub executive and small-business advocate favored by Democratic leadership.

Charles Venator Santiago, Ph.D. — Puerto Rican & Latino Caucus Appointee University of Connecticut professor and legislative policy advisor aligned with the PRLC’s equity agenda.

Edwin Shirley — Senate Majority Leader Appointee

Democratic organizer and Senate staffer representing the upper chamber’s majority bloc.

Shirley Skyers-Thomas — Department of Consumer Protection Designee

Deputy Commissioner of the DCP, the agency that regulates cannabis licensing and enforcement. The state’s regulator literally holds a vote on the equity body. https://osc.ct.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Comptroller-SEC-Report-FINAL.pdf

Kelli-Marie Vallières, Ph.D. — Governor’s Appointee

Chief Workforce Officer heading the Governor’s Office of Workforce Strategy, a cabinet-level agency.

https://portal.ct.gov/ows/aboutus

Kevin E. Walton Sr. — Governor’s Appointee

Education and inclusion advocate involved in faith-based state programs.

https://coachkew.com/

The Inside Bench — Staff with State Power Ties

Brandon L. McGee Jr. — Chief Executive Officer. Former Connecticut State Representative (District 5, 2013–2022) and former Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Housing. His legislative career and executive experience place a former law-maker at the Council’s helm.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_McGee_(politician)

https://towyouth.newhaven.edu/meet-brandon-mcgee-chief-executive-officer-the-connecticut-social-equity-council/

Tiffany Araujo — Liaison, Office of Workforce Strategy (OWS). Current state-agency liaison from the Governor’s Workforce office. Her dual employment links the Council to a cabinet-level agency. https://portal.ct.gov/socialequitycouncil/-/media/Social-Equity-Council/Meetings-2/February-6-2024—SEC-Council-Meeting-Minutes-Draft.pdf

Georgette Cicero — Administrative Assistant. Internal staff support; no legislative record found.

https://portal.ct.gov/socialequitycouncil/about-us

Jessie Coleman — Social Equity Program Success & Strategy Analyst. Program staff; no public legislative connections identified.

https://portal.ct.gov/socialequitycouncil/about-us

Mari Collazo Cruz — Chief Legal Officer. Internal counsel for the Council; no elected or legislative role found.

https://portal.ct.gov/socialequitycouncil/about-us

Kristina Diamond — Chief Operations Officer. Operational executive within the SEC; no legislative record found.

https://portal.ct.gov/socialequitycouncil/about-us

Jennifer Edwards — Community Reinvestment Officer. Implements reinvestment programs authorized by state law; no elected role found.

https://portal.ct.gov/socialequitycouncil/about-us

Vera Lembrick — Community Reinvestment Officer. Community-program lead within SEC structure; no external legislative ties located.

https://portal.ct.gov/socialequitycouncil/about-us

Jennifer Stevens — Accountant. Financial staff within agency; no legislative connection found.

https://portal.ct.gov/socialequitycouncil/about-us

Caesar Valentin — Social Equity Program Success & Strategy Analyst. Program analyst position; no public legislative office found.

https://portal.ct.gov/socialequitycouncil/about-us

Why This Matters

Seventeen voting members and a staff led by a former state representative, supported by liaisons and executives from the Governor’s cabinet. Every seat and most staff roles flow through state appointments or state agency structures. None are chosen by a public vote within the communities most harmed by prohibition.

The Social Equity Council was meant to watch the State. Instead, it is the State — a closed loop of legislative and executive power operating under the language of equity.

Disclosure: All affiliations refer to publicly listed positions or appointing authorities. No partisan registration is implied unless verified through official records. All citations are direct URLs to official state or credible media sources for reader verification.