By Mark Pazniokas / CTMirror.org

Westport legislator Jonathan Steinberg is expected to be among the new committee chairman announced this week by the Democratic leadership of the newly elected state House of Representatives.

Steinberg, elected to a seventh term from Westport’s 136th District earlier this month, will be the new House co-chairman of the General Assembly’s Energy Committee, according to multiple sources.

Among other key appointments, state Rep. Maria Horn, D-Salisbury, is expected to be named the new co-chairwoman of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee on Wednesday by House Speaker Matt Ritter.

At least seven legislative committees will get new co-chairs in the term that begins Jan. 4.

Steinberg, D-Westport, is reportedly Ritter’s choice for co-chairman of the Energy Committee, a focal point for whatever policy changes will arise from the sharply increasing costs of electricity in Connecticut. Steinberg’s appointment will come later this week, sources said.

During his campaign this fall, Steinberg emphasized his experience and influence in Hartford as reasons for voters to support his re-election. He won the contest handily, amassing nearly 70 percent of the vote over Republican Alma Sarelli.

Steinberg’s move to Energy means he will be vacating his current post as co-chairman of the Public Health Committee. His Senate co-chair, state Sen. Mary Daugherty Abrams, D-Meriden, did not seek re-election.

Unlike the U.S. Congress, all committees of the state General Assembly are joint committees with House and Senate co-chairs and rank-and-file members.

Ritter and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, the choices of the House Democratic majority to continue as leaders, announced two returning co-chairs Tuesday: state Reps. Roland Lemar of New Haven at Transportation and Steve Stafstrom of Bridgeport at Judiciary.

While Horn takes over at Finance, state Rep. Toni Walker of New Haven will remain as co-chair of the legislature’s other money committee, Appropriations. Her reappointment also will be announced Wednesday.

Horn will succeed Sean Scanlon, D-Guilford, who was elected state comptroller in the Nov. 8 election.

Only in her second term, Horn is now co-chairwoman of the Public Safety and Security Committee, an assignment that gave her a leading role in the passage of the law legalizing sports betting in 2021.

Her move to Finance and the defeat of state Sen. Dennis Bradley, D-Bridgeport, means that Public Safety will be getting two new co-chairs. The House co-chair of Human Services is open due to the retirement of Catherine Abercrombie, D-Meriden.

Two other co-chair posts are open due to senators who did not seek re-election: Will Haskell, D-Westport, at Transportation, and Steve Cassano, D-Manchester, at Planning and Development.

Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, has not announced committee assignments.

Additional reporting by the Westport Journal.