Hartford Business Journal

26 Hartford Business Journal • April 20, 2020 • www.HartfordBusiness.com 2020 POWER 50 Ned and Ann Lamont T he governor holds the ultimate power in Connecticut, serv- ing as the chief execu- tive officer of state government. While the governor can't make laws, an effective leader can set the policy agenda for and perception of the state. Gov. Ned Lamont, a former businessman turned politico, is in the second year of his first term. After his first year in office the jury remained out over how effective he can wield his office's power. He's been rebuffed on his most sig- nificant policy push, transportation funding and tolls, an issue that hurt him politically. He has delivered on a variety of campaign prom- ises, including increasing the state's minimum wage and creat- ing a paid family medical leave program for private-sector workers — both controversial policies opposed by the state's top business lobby. But all those issues seem like a distant memory. Lamont has found his leadership stride during the coronavirus out- break, taking bold actions — includ- ing shutting down key parts of the economy and closing schools — to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He's taken steps to provide econom- ic support to residents and busi- nesses, including a $50 million small business loan program that has seen significant demand. Lamont has also tried to estab- lish a stronger pact with the busi- ness community by bringing more private-sector leaders into his administration's orbit, including through com- missioner picks and the Gover- nor's Workforce Council. Lamont is married to a power player in her own right, Ann Lamont. She's a success- ful healthcare venture capitalist and one of the governor's closest advisers. Gov. Lamont admitted as much in a Janu- ary Hearst Media CT story, head- lined "Governor seeks Ann Lamont's expertise to help run state." The story detailed hundreds of emails Ann sent to top administra- tion officials to weigh in on key political issues. Gov. Lamont praised her "really good political sense." 1 Martin Looney and Joseph Aresimowicz S enate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and House Speaker Joseph Aresimowicz (D-Berlin) control the legislative agenda at the state Capitol. Holding the top positions in the Senate and House, respectively, the two Democrats — long the major- ity party in Connecticut politics — lead their respective caucuses and control committee appointments and which bills will come to their chamber's floor for debate. Looney, who has been in the Sen- ate for 27 years — the last five as Senate President Pro Tem — hasn't been afraid to exercise the power that comes with his position. With a niche in healthcare and in- surance matters, Looney has pushed through patient protection reforms, often in rare bipartisan fashion with his Republican counterpart Len Fasano. He has also taken on his own party at times. Recently, Looney was a nail in the coffin for Gov. Ned Lamont's latest highway tolling plan, after his cau- cus members wouldn't support the scaled down, trucks-only proposal. Aresimowicz, a longtime union member and current education coor- dinator for AFSCME Council 4, which represents more than 14,000 Connect- icut state employees, was promoted to House Speaker in 2018, after five years in that chamber's No. 2 position. His ascendancy to the top posi- tion was controversial, as Repub- licans criticized his labor ties as disqualifying, but the Office of State Ethics disagreed. Despite his loyalty to labor, Aresimowicz has shown an ability to separate his two jobs. In 2016, he drew criticism from his own union after he voted to pass a state budget that resulted in member layoffs. 2 First Lady of Connecticut, Ann Lamont. Senate President Martin Looney (left) stands with House Speaker Joseph Aresimowicz (center) during a press conference.

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