Fonfara, John W.

Fonfara touts the passage of a sweeping energy bill in 2007 as his signal achievement since taking over the legislature's Energy and Technology Committee. On his web site, he promises the bill "will lead to savings for Connecticut consumers, increasing state investments in energy efficiency and conservation; new local energy production; clean, renewable energy sources; and, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions." The bill passed with the strong support of leaders in both chambers, but had its detractors in the House, where the measure passed over opposition from key members of the Energy and Technology Committee.

His Energy co-chair, Rep. Vickie Nardello, has said the bill does too little to control Connecticut's high energy costs and has called for the creation of a public power authority, an idea supported by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Citizen Action Group and AARP. Fonfara voted for the bill in committee, but it died on the Senate calendar in 2009 after passing the House, 96-45.

In 2010, Fonfara and Nardello managed to defrost what had been one of the chilliest relationships among two co-chairs. The result was a massive compromised bill produced in the last week of the session that would have promoted renewable energy and given government a stronger hand in the regulation of electric generation. It was favored by many environmentalists and consumer advocates and opposed by industry.

The Senate passed it on the second to last night of the session. The House gave its blessing at 6 a.m. on the last day. But Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed it.

Fonfara's overall voting record is in the Democratic mainstream. He has voted to increase the minimum wage, require private employers to offer paid sick leave, restrict junk food in schools, decriminalize medical marijuana, require hospitals to provide emergency contraceptives to rape victims, legalize gay marriage and abolish the death penalty.

Personal: Fonfara resides in Hartford. He has one child.