Iowa Civil Rights News

Amalia Vazquez Bzdyra, an attorney from Wallingford, has been reappointed by Governor John G. Rowland to another one-year term as chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO). This is Attorney Bzdyra’s second reappointment to the top spot of the civil rights agency’s nine-member policy-making body. Governor Rowland first appointed Attorney Bzdyra, a native of Cuba, to serve as the commission’s chairperson in March 2000.

Employed by the Connecticut Hospital Association as Vice President of Governmental Relations, Attorney Bzdyra represents the interests of the Association’s members, which include all of the state’s 31 hospitals, before the Connecticut General Assembly and the federal government. Prior to joining the Association, she was the Director of Legal, Legislative and Policy Affairs at the Office of Policy and Management.

Upon learning of her reappointment, Attorney Bzdyra said, "I am humbled and honored that Governor Rowland continues to have confidence in my ability to chair the Commission." She added that she gains deep personal satisfaction through her work with the CHRO, whose mission is to eliminate discrimination through civil rights law enforcement and to establish equal opportunity and justice for all persons within the state. Attorney Bzdyra stated, "I enjoy working with my fellow commissioners who are also firmly committed to the advancement of civil and human rights. I look forward to another year in which we further advance the mission of CHRO."