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18 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 6, 2026 GOVERNMENT & POLITICS G ov. Ned Lamont was sworn in as the 89th governor of Connecticut on Jan. 9, 2019, and began his second term on Jan. 4, 2023. His back- ground spans public service, entrepreneur- ship and civic engagement, including ex- perience in local government, state fiscal oversight and private-sector leadership. Over the past 12 months, Lamont said his administration has focused on affordabili- ty, opportunity and fiscal discipline. He cit- ed actions aimed at maintaining long-term budget stability, expanding access to early childhood education, continued investment in workforce development and initiatives to address health care affordability, includ- ing efforts to reduce medical debt. Looking ahead, Lamont said affordability pressures — including housing, energy and health care costs — remain the state's most significant challenges. He also pointed to opportunities created by Con- necticut's strong fiscal position to make targeted investments in housing, work- force development and key growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing, health care, bioscience, clean energy, defense and technology. He is running for a third term this fall. What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? Effective leadership requires steady, prag- matic decision-making along with the abil- ity to bring people together and get things done; and a relentless focus on results that improve people's everyday lives. In a time of uncertainty, I value calm leadership, fiscal responsibility and a willingness to listen, collaborate, adapt and lead with facts and results. What do you value most about living or doing business in CT? Connecticut provides access to a highly educated, highly productive workforce sup- ported by strong schools, world-class higher education and a health care system that keeps employees healthy and on the job. Combined with Connecticut's quality of life, which include safe communities, short commutes, access to major markets and a great place to raise a family, busi- nesses get reliability, talent and stability that translate directly into long-term competitiveness. M att Ritter, a lifelong Hartford resident, is speaker of the Con- necticut House of Represen- tatives and represents the 1st Assembly District. He was first elected to the General Assembly in 2010, after serving three years on the Hartford City Council. Ritter played a central role in the legisla- ture's work in 2025, which extended into a special session. During that session, lawmakers approved a $500 million emer- gency fund aimed at mitigating the effects of potential federal funding cuts. Ritter said the measure was intended to prevent spikes in health insurance pre- miums, address food insecurity and limit other impacts tied to reduced federal support. V incent J. Candelora serves as House Minority Leader in the Con- necticut General Assembly and is also affiliated with Connecticut Sportsplex in North Branford. An attorney by training, he graduated from Connecticut College and Dickinson School of Law at Penn State. Over the past year, Candelora said the House Republican Caucus has focused on utility affordability and oversight of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, while advancing alternative state budget pro- posals centered on tax relief and spending controls. He cited efforts to highlight waste, fraud and abuse in state govern- Meet Connecticut's 2026 Power Players H artford Business Journal this week unveils its 2026 Power Players list, a section that highlights private- and public-sector, nonprofit, higher education, real estate and other professionals in Connecticut who are not only top leaders within their organizations but also of the broader business community. HBJ's seventh annual Power 50 class was chosen by HBJ's editorial staff. This is not an awards section. We identified newsmakers and movers and shakers who are having a broad impact within the state. The rankings include a mix of established players and some fresh faces to our region. Our Power Players issue has become a must-read, so if you have ideas for who should be on next year's list, please let us know. We don't accept nominations, but we certainly welcome outside input. GreG Bordonaro | Editor gbordonaro@hartfordbusiness.com During the regular 2025 session, Ritter said lawmakers approved investments in child care and special education and enacted energy reforms projected to generate more than $750 million in savings over the coming years. He said the legislature also addressed prescription drug costs and housing affordability. Looking ahead to the 2026 session, Ritter said lawmakers will debate legislation related to elections, including no-excuse absentee ballots, school financing and policies tied to the safety and welfare of children. Streamlining permitting and regulatory processes for businesses will also remain a focus. Ritter is also a partner at law firm Shipman & Goodwin, where he chairs the public finance practice group. What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? In Connecticut, we are so fortunate. We are not Washington, D.C. Republicans and Democrats at the state Capitol routinely work together on big issues. When we disagree, we do our best to find common ground. And even when there is no com- mon ground, we always treat each other with respect. What do you value most about living or doing business in Connecticut? I am a lifelong Hartford resident. This is my home. It is where I practice law and where I serve my community as a state representative. I value the lifelong relation- ships I have forged and the new people I meet every day who make this such a great state. ment as contributing to policy debates now on the legislative agenda. Looking ahead, he said maintaining the state's fiscal guardrails will be a key challenge amid pressure to increase gov- ernment spending. He views preserving fiscal discipline as essential to rebuilding reserves and delivering structural tax relief to residents facing rising costs. What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? Effective leadership requires being princi- pled and confident in your decisions while maintaining the humility to entertain open discussion and genuinely consider other perspectives. What do you value most about living or doing business in Connecticut? Connecticut is admittedly a challenging place to do business, but over the years at the Sportsplex I've found tremendous reward in watching young people work hard to improve their performance and achieve their goals in sports. Despite the frustrations of our business climate, it's that experience that reminds me why Connecticut is worth fighting for. What is one change that would make Con- necticut more competitive economically? We need better balance in the legislature. One-party dominance has led to policies that prioritize government growth over economic competitiveness. More political balance would foster the healthy debate and compromise necessary to create an environment where businesses can thrive and create more opportunity and prosperi- ty for workers. Matt Ritter Speaker of the House, House of Representatives Connecticut Legislative Branch Industry: Government Education: Bachelor's degree, Colby College; law degree, UConn School of Law Vincent J. Candelora House Minority Leader Connecticut Legislative Branch Industry: Government Education: Bachelor's degree in economics and government theory, Connecticut College; law degree, Dick- inson School of Law at Penn State Birthplace: New Haven Ned Lamont Governor State of Connecticut Industry: Government No. of employees: 50,000+ Education: Bachelor's degree in sociology, Harvard College; MBA, Yale School of Management Birthplace: Washington, D.C.