In trying to win election as the next Connecticut governor, Ned Lamont appears prepared to again spend a good chunk of his business fortune. He spent $17 million of his own money running for Senate four years ago.I bumped into Lamont during a social get together that preceded last week's forum on health care and jobs presented by the Norwich NAACP at Kelly Middle School. There was Lamont, the day after declaring his candidacy for the Democratic nomination Feb. 16, moving around the school cafeteria and introducing himself to group members and other guests as they munched on tuna and egg salad sandwiches.

I bumped into Lamont during a social get together that preceded last week's forum on health care and jobs presented by the Norwich NAACP at Kelly Middle School. There was Lamont, the day after declaring his candidacy for the Democratic nomination Feb. 16, moving around the school cafeteria and introducing himself to group members and other guests as they munched on tuna and egg salad sandwiches.Lamont gained national attention when he seemingly came out of nowhere to defeat incumbent Sen. Joe Lieberman in 2006 - the former vice presidential candidate for the Democratic Party in 2000- in a primary bid. Lamont's highest public office was as a Greenwich selectman. Of course, Lieberman had the last laugh, running as a petitioning candidate and winning the general election that year.

Lamont gained national attention when he seemingly came out of nowhere to defeat incumbent Sen. Joe Lieberman in 2006 - the former vice presidential candidate for the Democratic Party in 2000- in a primary bid. Lamont's highest public office was as a Greenwich selectman. Of course, Lieberman had the last laugh, running as a petitioning candidate and winning the general election that year. During our brief conversation, Lamont commented on how the race for governor and his prior attempt for a Senate seat could not be more different. As the chief executive officer of a business, Lamont sees a more logical transition to an executive position in government - governor.

During our brief conversation, Lamont commented on how the race for governor and his prior attempt for a Senate seat could not be more different. As the chief executive officer of a business, Lamont sees a more logical transition to an executive position in government - governor. And the one big issue that propelled Lamont to the primary upset of Lieberman four years ago is non-existent in a state race - his opposition to the invasion of Iraq, a position that put him in stark contrast to the hawkish Lieberman. Instead the big twin issues in the governor's race are the economy (meaning job creation) and addressing Connecticut's continuing budget crises.

And the one big issue that propelled Lamont to the primary upset of Lieberman four years ago is non-existent in a state race - his opposition to the invasion of Iraq, a position that put him in stark contrast to the hawkish Lieberman. Instead the big twin issues in the governor's race are the economy (meaning job creation) and addressing Connecticut's continuing budget crises.Lamont will try to make this case: Who better to fix the economy than a successful businessman? And who better to reorganize state government than an executive who has learned to manage a business? Lamont Digital Systems, which he founded in 1984, is now a spectacularly successful company serving more than 250 college campuses with foreign language, remote teaching and other cable-dependent services.

Lamont will try to make this case: Who better to fix the economy than a successful businessman? And who better to reorganize state government than an executive who has learned to manage a business? Lamont Digital Systems, which he founded in 1984, is now a spectacularly successful company serving more than 250 college campuses with foreign language, remote teaching and other cable-dependent services. This a-businessman-knows-best approach is the same argument another wealthy Greenwich capitalist, Tom Foley, is making in trying to win the Republican nomination for governor.

This a-businessman-knows-best approach is the same argument another wealthy Greenwich capitalist, Tom Foley, is making in trying to win the Republican nomination for governor. "Tom believes the same expertise and problem-solving skills he used to fix problems in his businesses can be used to fix our economy and our broken government in Hartford," states the Foley campaign Web site.

"Tom believes the same expertise and problem-solving skills he used to fix problems in his businesses can be used to fix our economy and our broken government in Hartford," states the Foley campaign Web site."Ned is committed to bringing this experience in business to the hard work of reforming state government," reads the Lamont site.

"Ned is committed to bringing this experience in business to the hard work of reforming state government," reads the Lamont site.Of course, both these business candidates are not offering many details on what exactly are the great business ideals that will transfer to running a state government. Lamont does talk about evaluating programs based on whether they actually work, adapting to changing environments and undertaking a comprehensive strategic plan to create jobs. Foley pledges to make Connecticut more employer friendly, chop $1 billion from state spending and "increase transparency."

Of course, both these business candidates are not offering many details on what exactly are the great business ideals that will transfer to running a state government. Lamont does talk about evaluating programs based on whether they actually work, adapting to changing environments and undertaking a comprehensive strategic plan to create jobs. Foley pledges to make Connecticut more employer friendly, chop $1 billion from state spending and "increase transparency."Sounds good.

Sounds good.This businessman - or woman - can do a better job argument is a political phenomenon seen of late throughout the country. Republican Meg Whitman, the former chief executive officer of EBay, is leading the polls in the California governor's race.

This businessman - or woman - can do a better job argument is a political phenomenon seen of late throughout the country. Republican Meg Whitman, the former chief executive officer of EBay, is leading the polls in the California governor's race.In a year when citizens are generally upset with the performance of government at all levels, running as a non-politician could have much appeal. And these candidates have another advantage, the ability to spend barrels of money to promote their candidacies without having to devote much time to fundraising or, in the case of Connecticut, meeting the requirements to gain public financing.

In a year when citizens are generally upset with the performance of government at all levels, running as a non-politician could have much appeal. And these candidates have another advantage, the ability to spend barrels of money to promote their candidacies without having to devote much time to fundraising or, in the case of Connecticut, meeting the requirements to gain public financing.Can success in business translate into success in government, particularly given the complexity of current problems? Evidence is scant. The desire of rich entrepreneurs to use their wealth to get elected is a fairly new occurrence. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire businessman has had a good run since his election in 2001. He won a third term last year after convincing the City Council to amend the city's term-limit restrictions.

Can success in business translate into success in government, particularly given the complexity of current problems? Evidence is scant. The desire of rich entrepreneurs to use their wealth to get elected is a fairly new occurrence. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire businessman has had a good run since his election in 2001. He won a third term last year after convincing the City Council to amend the city's term-limit restrictions. Yet I'm skeptical. It's one thing for a CEO to issue orders, quite another for a governor to persuade a legislature. Then there is the matter of dealing with the powerful state unions, the underfunded pension obligations, and the arbitration and other labor friendly laws that serve the interests of labor. No decisive business decision will quickly change those realities.

Yet I'm skeptical. It's one thing for a CEO to issue orders, quite another for a governor to persuade a legislature. Then there is the matter of dealing with the powerful state unions, the underfunded pension obligations, and the arbitration and other labor friendly laws that serve the interests of labor. No decisive business decision will quickly change those realities.And while businesses seek to sell popular products or services, governments must provide many services whether popular or not.

And while businesses seek to sell popular products or services, governments must provide many services whether popular or not.A business can fix problems by shifting to a more trendy product line. Cool. A governor can only fix a budget problem by either raising taxes or reducing services or both. Not cool.

A business can fix problems by shifting to a more trendy product line. Cool. A governor can only fix a budget problem by either raising taxes or reducing services or both. Not cool.The most perplexing question, of course, is why would anyone want to expend their fortune on winning the thankless job of being governor?

The most perplexing question, of course, is why would anyone want to expend their fortune on winning the thankless job of being governor?

Paul Choiniere is editorial page editor.