Lt. Gov. Michael C. Fedele

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Present term: January 2007 to January 2011

Election history: Fedele was elected as Gov. M. Jodi Rell's running mate in 2006 with 63 percent of the vote.

He previously was elected to the five two-year terms in state House of Representatives, beginning in 1992. In 2002, he lost a contest for an open Senate seat to Democrat Andrew McDonald, 11,482 to 10,180.

Fedele ran for governor in 2010, losing a Republican primary on Aug. 10 to Tom Foley.

Background: Fedele never finished college, but he's had a successful business career. He is the founder of the Pinnacle Group, an information-technology company that is based in Stamford.

In announcing his candidacy for governor, Fedele said that creating a business-friendly environment will be central to his campaign. "I am running for governor because I believe that Connecticut is facing a defining moment -- and that is the revitalization of our economy," he said during his announcement.

Fedele is running with all the advantages and disadvantages of any lieutenant. The advantages include a flexible schedule and broadly defined duties that allow him to visit every community. The main disadvantage is the challenge to establish his own identify without criticizing his current boss.

Even before he announced, Fedele's efforts to raise his profile reportedly provoked a mild confrontation with Rell's protective chief of staff, M. Lisa Moody.

Fedele had a rocky few moments after Rell announced she would not run. In response to a question, Fedele said that he expected Rell's endorsement based on private conversation. Weeks later, an endorsement did not appear imminent.

Fedele was born in Italy and moved to the U.S. with his family as a toddler.

He married and the father of three children.

Education: Fairfield University, Norwalk State Technical College

2008 Financial Disclosure: Fedele received a salary from his company. He owns a half-dozen pieces of real estate in Stamford and a laundromat in Greenwich called Launderland.

He has shares in a dozen mutual funds and stock in companies ranging from Yamana Gold to Proctor & Gamble.

He filed a confidential addendum listing any debts exceeding $10,000. He declined to release the addendum, as is his choice under the law.

A note on financial disclosure: Every spring, officials are required to disclose the ownership of real estate, the source of any income exceeding $1,000 in the previous calendar year and securities worth more than $5,000. They also are required to file an addendum in which they report any debt of more than $10,000; this may by law be kept confidential.