Search

(WTNH) – Greenwich businessman Tom Foley will formally announce on Thursday that he is now running for the Republican nomination for Governor.

Foley has been running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate but has apparently decided, now that Governor Rell is out of the race, that he sees a better opportunity in running for Governor.

Former Congressman Rob Simmons and former WWE/CEO Linda McMahon are considered the front runners for the Senate nomination and the opportunity to challenge Democrat Christopher Dodd next year.

Foley is expected to make his formal entrance into the Governor’s race at an event in Hartford Thursday.

As reported here earlier, Lt. Governor Michael Fedele will formally announce for Governor on Wednesday.

When Fedele was sworn in three years ago as the state’s Lt. Governor, he was practically unknown outside of Stamford where he owns a successful computer services business.

Aside from ceremonial duties, the Lt. Governor is rarely seen on television and has remained in the shadow of the immensely popular Governor who selected him as her running mate in 2006. He had served 10-years as a State Rep. from Stamford.

He came to this country from Italy at the age of three, speaks fluent Italian and at age 54, can only be described as an example of the American Dream.

He told News Channel 8 today that Governor Jodi Rell is a role-model for being a good governor.

“I’ve learned a lot from her, I’ve learned a lot from her on being governor and how she’s been poised and graced and moving through some very difficult times,” said Fedele.

He acknowledges the severe difficulties ahead for state government during a continued recession but says his number one objective is job creation.

“There are some that view the business community in Connecticut as the ‘bad guys.’ Being a businessman, I know that we’re not the ‘bad guys’ we’re the economic engines that create jobs and we need to work with them, sit down with them, and say, ‘how are we doing?’ How are we helping you grow your business?’” said Fedele.

State House Minority Leader Larry Cafero of Norwalk has also decided to enter the race; he says he expects to formally announce before the end of the month.

State Senate Republican Leader John McKinney of Fairfield is also considering entering the race and says he will make a decision by the first of the new year.