Hartford Courant

Cover Girl Energizes Capitol

Model Brinkley Touts Conservation Funds

May 28, 2003

By MARYELLEN FILLO, Courant Staff Writer

She may not have swayed any votes, but supermodel Christie Brinkley had weary legislators swooning in the Capitol hallways Tuesday.

"I'm putting this picture up in my barbershop," proudly announced Rep. Roger Michele, D-Bristol, clutching a 5-by-7 autographed, color print of him with the demure and striking former Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover girl.

"I have one taken with Bill Clinton, but I keep that one in my office here," said Michele, one of several legislators who interrupted another grueling legislation session to wait for a picture and autograph from the supermodel. "But this will be the first celebrity picture I'll be hanging on the wall at my business."

While the California-born model, actress and artist was accommodating and even coy as she posed for pictures and shook hands with dozens of legislators, staff members and fans who followed her during her three-hour visit, she made it repeatedly clear she had a political motive in mind.

"How could anyone think about taking money away from conservation?" she asked during a press conference on a controversial plan to use $84 million in energy conservation fund money to shore up the state's sorely sagging budget. "Connecticut has a wonderful program to promote energy conservation, a model of what a state can do to protect its residents, children and environment," she said. "It must be preserved."

Gov. John G. Rowland's budget plan includes a move to divert money from the Energy Conservation & Load Management Fund and the Clean Energy Fund into the general fund. The $84 million in the funds comes from monthly tariffs imposed on utility customers. The money has been used for a variety of conservation initiatives that would end if the money is reallocated to the state's general fund.

Brinkley and her architect husband, Peter Cook, both members of the nonprofit activist group Stand for Truth About Radiation (STAR), were drafted by a local activist group, People's Action for Clean Energy (PACE), to make legislators and the public aware of the proposed funding shift.

"One of the best things about being a celebrity is to be able to use it to make a difference," Brinkley said after delivering a speech on the dangers of nuclear energy sources and the need to do more as a nation to protect the environment.

"We need to put more pressure on the government on these matters," she said. "We are all in this together."

Brinkley, well-known for her anti-nuclear stand, said she has tried to do her part to conserve energy by doing things such as shutting off lights and downgrading from a gas-guzzling luxury sport utility vehicle to a more fuel-efficient station wagon.

"We try to watch things like overutilizing the air conditioning, but you know how that goes when you're married," joked Brinkley.

Despite her appeal to protect the conservation fund, some legislators criticized the move to tap star power to sway votes.

Rep. Elizabeth Boukus, D-Plainville, was wary of the push to restore the conservation money. Though one of the legislators who proudly displayed her picture with Brinkley, Boukus said she doubts whether Brinkley's appearance would inspire legislators to put the money back.

"This is a tough, tough budget year," she said. "It's too soon to tell what can be restored."

For others, however, matters like budget shortfalls and energy conservation became almost secondary as they gazed at the striking California blonde who flashed a dazzling smile as she graciously acknowledged standing ovations from both the House and the Senate.

"I have liked her since I was young. She is a great role model " said Rep. James O'Rourke, D-Cromwell, who as president of People's Action for Clean Energy served as Brinkley's host for the day.

He was thrilled when he received a goodbye hug from the svelte mother of three. "I think her coming here will be a big shot in the arm for restoring the money where it belongs," O'Rourke said.