Tara Downes

MPA (Fellows), 2020

Assistant State Comptroller, CT Office of the State Comptroller


Tara Downes comes to the University of Connecticut’s MPA Fellows Program with a twenty-year career in state policy and communications. A New York native, Tara began her career as a print news reporter in Connecticut, covering government issues and breaking news throughout the state. Tara made the shift to state government as policy and communications advisor to the state attorney general where she managed policy and media relations involving litigation on the national financial crisis, illegal pharmaceutical marketing, and environmental protection. Tara now serves as Assistant State Comptroller in the Connecticut Office of the State Comptroller.  Prior to this position, she was Director of Communications to the State Comptroller where she oversaw communications involving health care policy, pension payment reform and the State’s financial and economic outlook. Tara received her B.A. in Print Journalism from Hofstra University.

Tara Downes
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