Tom Foley Wins GOP Nod for Connecticut Governor

As Greenwich businessman Tom Foley narrowly sailed to victory in Tuesday's Republican primary, Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele wished him well among a crowd of disappointed supporters at the Italian Center in Stamford. In recent weeks, Fedele had closed the gap considerably and was appearing to gain momentum but it proved to be too little, too late.

"We fell short tonight of our goal but we've been here before back in 2002 [when Fedele lost a state Senate race] but here I am and I've had the wonderful opportunity to serve the great state of Connecticut for the last three-and-half years," said Fedele, who also thanked his wife Carol and his children. "We put out a good message ….we almost had it happen but we didn't this time, and it's just not meant to be right now for Mike Fedele. We came close."

Unofficial results reportedly show that Foley received about 42 percent of the vote with Fedele garnering about 39 percent followed by Hartford-area business developer Oz Griebel receiving 19 percent.

In Westport, Foley received 881 votes, compared to 491 for Fedele and 139 for Griebel.

Despite his loss, Fedele's running mate, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, cinched the contest against Farmington Valley businesswoman Lisa Wilson-Foley.

Early on in his bid for the Governor's mansion, 53-year-old Fedele faced several obstacles including not capturing the expected endorsement from his running mate four years earlier after he publicly stated he had Governor M. Jodi Rell's full support. The outgoing governor said she was going to remain neutral during the primary process. Another Republican leader, Senate Minority Leader John McKinney (R-28) backed political newcomer Oz Griebal ahead of the May Republican State Party Convention instead of Fedele.

However, Fedele received the support of House Minority Leader Larry Cafero of Norwalk (R-142), former Congressman Christopher Shays (R-4) and scores of other prominent Nutmeg Republicans. Fedele also failed to become the endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate at the GOP convention which went to Foley who distinguished himself as a political outsider in an anti-incumbent and anti-establishment climate. Further, Fedele drew criticism for his role in the Rell administration which will pass on a $3.37 billion budget deficit for the coming fiscal year to Connecticut's next governor.

Fedele also struggled to raise $250,000 in small contributions needed to qualify for Connecticut's Citizen Election Program while millionaire Foley self-funded the contest and hit the airwaves with commercials long before Fedele was able to do so.

Fedele, a longtime Stamford resident, came from the most ordinary background and rose to be a highly successful businessman, founding the Stamford-based Pinnacle Group, a national information technology firm. The Republican was born in Minturno, Italy and moved to the United States with his parents as a young child. On the campaign trail, he often talked about his humble roots, the struggles he and his family faced and his fulfillment of the American dream.

The father of three grew up in Stamford's West end, attended the city's public schools and went on to graduate from Fairfield University. In 1983, Fedele was elected to Stamford's Board of Representatives, where he served two terms and subsequently served in Connecticut's General Assembly from the 147th district for a decade. In 2006, Fedele was tapped as Governor M. Jodi Rell's running mate and became 107th Lieutenant Governor of the state of Connecticut.

Fedele has long been the favorite son of the City that Works and one who has stayed involved in the community there. Chris Meek, head of the Stamford-based Our CT GYP, who also volunteers with Fedele at Stamford's Yerwood Center, called Fedele a "phenomenal individual."

"He's been a role model for our state and a role model for its citizens," Meek said.