Hartford Business Journal

10 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JANUARY 3, 2022 5 To Watch in 2022 By Zachary Vasile zvasile@hartfordbusiness.com G ov. Ned Lamont may be one of the few politicians in the country to have seen his standing among constituents improve during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lamont received generally high marks from Connecticut residents for his decision to implement strict lockdown measures in the early half of 2020, during the first coronavirus wave, and for his move about one year later to ease restrictions and reopen the economy, ahead of most other blue states. His philosophy — which might be described as taking the health crisis seriously, but not swinging toward overly onerous measures — has played well in a state that tends toward political moderation, and where many people have been willing, at least in the near-term, to get vaccinated and follow basic health recommendations. What lays ahead over the next year for Lamont will likely be a pivot away from the emergency footing of the pandemic. That will include continuing efforts to strengthen the state's economy, still hampered by a labor shortage, and marshaling the federal resources disbursed by the Trump and Biden administrations to address long-standing roadblocks to future growth, including transportation bottlenecks and uneven workforce development. Most importantly, all eyes will be on Lamont as he campaigns for reelection in 2022 versus a still- undetermined Republican field. "We have a lot of unfinished business," the governor said during a recent interview with the Hartford Business Journal. "We're off to what I think is a strong start. This is — let's face it — a state that was dead in the water economically for a long time. I think people are taking a new look at the state now, and I want to keep that momentum going." Lamont said he has the experience and know-how needed to steer billions of dollars in federal stimulus and infrastructure cash into efforts that will make a difference in the lives of residents and businesses, including plans to accelerate rail service, smooth out choke points on major highways, expand broadband internet and set up more electric vehicle charging stations. "In particular with the federal resources coming our way, you want an executive who can make that happen," he said. "How you make sure that money makes a difference is an enormous priority for the next three years." The governor also noted that while every state is guaranteed some funding, there's even more money to be had in competitive grants, and Connecticut will need an advocate to capture as much as it can. "We're not always at the front of the line when it comes to competitive grants," he said. "We'll be in the front of the line this time if I have anything to say about it." Recruitment efforts When asked to assess the general state of Connecticut's economy, Lamont thought back to the beginning of his term as a point of comparison. "I think everyone was pretty down on the state 30 months ago," he said. "GE had just left, and the Gearing up for reelection, Lamont says tackling labor shortage, shoring up state economy key focus areas Gov. Ned Lamont takes a question from a Hartford Business Journal reporter at his office in the state Capitol. NED LAMONT Governor State of Connecticut Education: Bachelor's degree in sociology, Harvard College; MBA, Yale School of Management Age: 68 HBJ PHOTO | STEVE LASCHEVER

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