Mary Ann Daly

MPA Fellows, Class of 2027

Legislative Assistant, CT Department of Transportation

Mary Ann Daly is a Legislative Assistant with the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (CTDOT) Office of Legislative Affairs. She serves as the department’s primary point of contact for inquiries from state legislators regarding CTDOT operations, projects, programming, and responses. Acting as a hub within the agency’s broader network of bureaus and divisions, Mary Ann plays a key role in tracking CTDOT’s ongoing work, legislative proposals, and policy positions around transportation issues.

Her expertise stems from 25 years as a Senior Constituent Engagement Coordinator for the Connecticut House Democratic caucus—a role that required collaboration with legislators from diverse districts across the state. In this capacity, Mary Ann provided frontline public service, assisting constituents passionate about policy issues, navigating government services, or seeking help to improve their quality of life. She frequently served as a liaison between the public, interest groups, activists, lobbyists, and elected officials, while also organizing events, managing media relations, and supervising interns and staff.

With her knowledge of state and local government, Mary Ann was elected to the Windham Board of Finance, where she oversees her community’s annual expenditures, revenue, bonding, debt service, and investments in infrastructure. She has worked diligently to ensure the town’s commitments—from education to civil services—align with its residents’ fiscal capacity and values.

Beyond her public service, Mary Ann chairs the Board of Directors for Thread City Classical Dance, a nonprofit dance school in Willimantic, CT. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College. A Brooklyn, NY, native, Mary Ann now resides in Willimantic with her husband, children, and their mischievous dog.