Connecticut’s Nappier pushes for Disney resolution vote

Connecticut Treasurer Denise L. Nappier sent a letter to George J. Mitchell, chairman of the Walt Disney Co., Burbank, Calif., who seeking to halt efforts to prevent shareholders from voting on her resolution that the chairman and CEO positions be permanently split. Ms. Nappier, on behalf of the $20 billion Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds, Hartford, had filed the resolution, but Disney officials asked the SEC to permit the company to omit the vote from its annual proxy meeting early next year, according to a news release from Ms. Nappier. "I am convinced that it would be extremely beneficial and appropriate for the board to receive direct input from shareholders on whether the positions of chairman and CEO should remain held by different people," wrote Ms. Nappier. The pension fund owns 1.05 million shares of Disney stock, worth roughly $26.5 million. Disney officials were not immediately available for comment.