Bob Stefanowski

{{Short description|Candidate for Governor of Connecticut in 2018 and 2022}}

{{Infobox person

|image = File:Bob Stefanowski Headshot.png

|name = Bob Stefanowski

|birth_name = Robert Vincent Stefanowski

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|5|21}}

|birth_place = New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Republican (2016–present)

|otherparty = Democratic (before 2016){{cite news |title=Bob Stefanowski Says He Didn't Know White Nationalist Promoter Was At Larry Kudlow Party |url=https://www.courant.com/2018/08/22/bob-stefanowski-says-he-didnt-know-white-nationalist-promoter-was-at-larry-kudlow-party/ |access-date=April 24, 2024 |work=Hartford Courant |date=August 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202082307/https://www.courant.com/2018/08/22/bob-stefanowski-says-he-didnt-know-white-nationalist-promoter-was-at-larry-kudlow-party/ |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |url-access=limited}}

|spouse = Amy Stefanowski

|children = 3

|education = Fairfield University (BS)
Cornell University (MBA)

|website = {{url|bobforgovernor.com|Campaign website}}

}}

Robert Vincent Stefanowski (born May 21, 1962) is an American businessman and politician.

Born and raised in North Haven, Connecticut, he is a former business executive of General Electric, 3i Group plc, UBS, and Dollar Financial Group. He resides in Madison, Connecticut.

Stefanowski was the Republican Party nominee for Governor of Connecticut in 2018 and 2022.{{cite web |last=Vigdor |first=Neil |date=August 14, 2018 |title=Bob Stefanowski wins Republican Nomination for Governor |url=http://www.courant.com/politics/elections/hc-pol-connecticut-governor-race-republican-20180813-story.html |website=Hartford Courant}}{{cite web |date=August 14, 2018 |title=In upset, Bob Stefanowski wins GOP nod for Connecticut governor |website=PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/in-upset-bob-stefanowski-wins-gop-nod-for-connecticut-governor}}{{cite web |date=August 14, 2018 |title=Connecticut Primary Election Results |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/14/us/elections/results-connecticut-primary-elections.html}}{{cite web |last=Foderaro |first=Lisa |date=July 22, 2018 |title=Candidates for Connecticut Governor Agree It's the Economy, Stupid |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/22/nyregion/connecticut-governor-race.html |newspaper=The New York Times}}

Early life

Stefanowski's father, Bob Stefanowski, was the scoreboard assistant for the Yale Bowl.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/17/nyregion/football-record-holder-never-wore-a-uniform.html|title=Football Record Holder Never Wore a Uniform|website=The New York Times|last=Cavanaugh|first=Jack|date=November 17, 1991}} Stefanowski graduated from North Haven High School in 1980. He earned a B.S. in accounting from Fairfield University in 1984 and an MBA from Cornell University in 1992.

Stefanowski began as an auditor in Hartford, Connecticut for PricewaterhouseCoopers after graduating from Fairfield University.

Business career

Stefanowski's tenure at General Electric began in 1994 where he held multiple senior roles through 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-bob-stefanowski-governor-20170922-story.html|title=Madison Financial Executive Seeks GOP Nomination For Governor|website=Hartford Courant|last=Blair|first=Russell|date=September 22, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=4941866&privcapId=18511|title=Executive Profile Robert V. Stefanowski|website=Bloomberg L.P.|date=2018}} In 2003, Stefanowski became president and CEO of GE Commercial & Industrial Finance and then proceeded in 2004–2005 to serve as president and CEO of GE Telecom, Media & Technology Finance. Stefanowski worked at the GE Capital headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut.

From 2008 to 2011, Stefanowski was chairman and managing partner of 3i Group plc in London, England. He then served as chief financial officer of UBS, where he restructured the Investment Bank to meet Basel III regulatory requirements.{{cite web|url= http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-businesspeople-running-for-connecticut-governor-20171116-story.html|title=Outsiders From the Business World Drawn to Connecticut Governor'sl race|website=Hartford Courant|last=Altimari|first=Daniela|date=November 15, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/gop_candidates_for_gov._mak/|title=Some Of His Best Friends|website=New Haven Independent|last=Breen|first=Thomas|date=November 15, 2017}}

From 2014 to 2017 he served as CEO of Dollar Financial Group in London and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

From early 2019 to present, Stefanowski has been employed by and in senior leadership and decision-making positions with Neom, a controversial planned futuristic development in the northwest of Saudi Arabia totally owned by the Saudi Government Wealth Fund, PIF.

Political career

=2018 campaign for governor=

In September 2017, Stefanowski announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor of Connecticut in 2018. He campaigned on phasing out the state income tax, corporate income tax, reducing business entity taxes, and eliminating the gift tax and the estate tax, in addition to using zero-based budgeting and creating a Taxpayer Bill of Rights.{{cite web|url=http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-stefanowski-gop-convention-20180404-story.html |title=Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Bob Stefanowski Will Bypass GOP Convention|website=Hartford Courant|last=Vigdor|first=Neil|date=April 4, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-laffer-connecticut-income-tax-20171204-story.html|title=Laffer, GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Push To Eliminate CT Income Tax|website=Hartford Courant|last=Keating|first=Christopher|date=December 5, 2017}} Stefanowski's tax-cut proposals were backed by Republican economic commentators Arthur Laffer and Larry Kudlow.{{cite news|url=http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-laffer-connecticut-income-tax-20171204-story.html|title=Laffer, GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Push To Eliminate CT Income Tax|website=Hartford Courant|date=December 5, 2017}} During his campaign, Stefanowski pledged to oppose further gun-control measures in Connecticut.{{cite web|url=http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-herbst-gun-owners-20180730-story.html|title=GOP Candidates Pursue Gun Owners Ahead Of Pivotal Statewide Primaries|website=Hartford Courant|last=Vigdor|first=Neil|date=July 31, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/07/31/us/politics/ap-us-connecticut-republicans.html|title=GOP Sees Chance to Beef Up Its Power in Blue Connecticut|newspaper=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=July 31, 2018}}

His campaign ran television commercials, beginning in January 2018, in the Hartford-New Haven and New York media markets; his ads criticized Democratic governor Dannel P. Malloy, promoting Stefanowski's economic proposals (co-authored with Laffer){{cite web|url= http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-bob-stefanowski-ads-20180124-story.html|title=Stefanowski Begins Running Ads on Cable and Broadcast TV|website=Hartford Courant|last=Altimari|first=Daniela|date=January 24, 2018}} and criticizing Malloy's acceptance of publicly funded elections.{{cite web|url=http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-bob-stefanowski-governor-20170922-story.html|website=Hartford Courant|title=Madison Financial Executive Seeks GOP Nomination For Governor|last=Blair|first=Russell|date=September 22, 2017}} The Wall Street Journal reported that Stefanowski funded his campaign with a combination of fundraising and his own money, but that he had declined to state how much of his own money he would spend.{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/connecticut-republicans-confronted-with-choices-1531060200|title=Connecticut Republicans Confronted with Choices|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|last=De Avila|first=Joseph|date=July 8, 2018}}

He received endorsements from former Republican competitor Peter Lumaj, state representative Noreen Kokoruda, state senator Len Suzio, former U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker, Middletown Planning and Zoning Commissioner Tyrell Brown, Middletown Board of Education member Edward Ford, Jr., and Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti.{{cite news|url=http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-peter-lumaj-endorses-bob-stefanowski-20180611-story.html|title=Peter Lumaj Backs Bob Stefanowski In Governor's Race|website=Hartford Courant|date=June 11, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bobforgovernor.com/state-senator-len-suzio-r-13-endorses-bob-stefanowski-governor/|title=State Senator Len Suzio (R-13) Endorses Bob Stefanowski|website=Hartford Courant|date=June 12, 2018|access-date=June 22, 2018|archive-date=June 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617093635/https://www.bobforgovernor.com/state-senator-len-suzio-r-13-endorses-bob-stefanowski-governor/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-dave-walker-bob-stefanowski-endorsement-20180613-story.html|title=David Walker Backs Bob Stefanowski For Governor|website=Hartford Courant|date=June 13, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://patch.com/connecticut/madison-ct/madison-lawmaker-endorses-gop-gubernatorial-candidate|title=Madison Lawmaker Endorses GOP Gubernatorial Candidate|work=Madison Patch|date=June 16, 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://www.courant.com/community/middletown/hc-news-middletown-tyrell-brown-edward-ford-elections-20171115-story.html|title=20-Year-Olds Make History As Black Republicans While Middletown Grows More Diverse|work=Hartford Courant|date=December 18, 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.courant.com/politics/capitol-watch/hc-pol-lauretti-endorses-stefanowski-20180723-story.html|title=Mark Lauretti Backs Bob Stefanowski In GOP Primary For Governor, Won't Rule Out Independent Run|work=Hartford Courant|date=July 23, 2018}}

At the May 2018 state Republican convention at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, the party endorsed Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton; Stefanowski attended the convention but bypassed the formal vote, opting not to place his name into nomination.{{cite web|url=http://www.courant.com/politics/elections/hc-pol-republican-convention-nomination-governor-20180512-story.html|title=Mark Boughton Wins Republican Endorsement For Governor, But Primary Battle Looms|website=Hartford Courant|last=Altimari|first=Daniela|date=May 12, 2018}} Stefanowski secured a spot on the Republican primary ballot by collecting the requisite number of signatures.{{cite web|url=https://ctmirror.org/2018/06/18/bob-stefanowski-qualifies-gop-primary/

|title=Bob Stefanowski qualifies for GOP primary|website=Connecticut Mirror|last=Pazniokas|first=Mark|date=June 18, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Stafanowski-makes-GOP-primary-13005006.php |title=Stefanowski makes GOP primary|website=Stamford Advocate|last=Dixon|first=Ken|date=June 18, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/connecticut/articles/2018-06-18/stefanowski-secures-spot-on-gop-governor-primary-ballot|title=Stefanowski Secures Spot on GOP Governor Primary Ballot|agency=Associated Press|date=June 18, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/stefanowski_makes_history_in_qualifying_for_primary_ballot/|title=Stefanowski Makes History in Qualifying for Primary Ballot|website=CT News Junkie|last=Stuart|first=Christine|date=June 18, 2018}}

In August 2018 primary, Stefanowski won the Republican nomination, receiving 29.4% of the vote, surpassing Boughton (21.3%), David Stemerman (18.3%), Tim Herbst (17.6%), and Steve Obsitnik (13.4%).{{cite web|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/home|title=November 2018 State Election|publisher=Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State|accessdate=November 12, 2018}} Following Stefanowski's nomination, on August 15, 2018, Donald Trump endorsed the campaign.{{cite web |last=Trump |first=Donald |title=It is about time that Connecticut had a real and talented Governor. Bob Stefanowski is the person needed to do the job. Tough on crime, Bob is also a big cutter of Taxes. He will win in November and make a Great Governor, a major difference maker. Bob has my total Endorsement! |url=https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1029724286121074689 |website=Twitter}}

In the November 2018, general election, Stefanowski was narrowly defeated by Democrat Ned Lamont.{{cite web|url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/11/07/ct-governors-race/|title=Stefanowski Concedes To Lamont In Connecticut Governor's Race|date=November 7, 2018}}

=2022 campaign for governor=

On January 19, 2022, Stefanowski declared his intent to run for governor again in the 2022 election. He won the Republican nomination at convention on May 6, 2022, with Laura Devlin selected as his running mate.{{Cite web |last=Pazniokas |first=Mark |date=2022-05-07 |title=GOP nominates Bob Stefanowski for rematch with Gov. Ned Lamont |url=http://ctmirror.org/2022/05/06/gop-nominates-bob-stefanowski-for-rematch-with-gov-ned-lamont/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=CT Mirror |language=en-US}} In the November 2022, general election, Stefanowski was defeated by Democrat Ned Lamont again in a rematch by a larger margin.

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change

|title=Connecticut gubernatorial election, 2018 — Republican primary

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party= Republican Party (United States)

|candidate= Bob Stefanowski

|votes= 42,119

|percentage= 29.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party= Republican Party (United States)

|candidate= Mark D. Boughton

|votes= 30,505

|percentage= 21.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party= Republican Party (United States)

|candidate= David Stemerman

|votes= 26,276

|percentage= 18.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party=Republican Party (United States)

|candidate= Tim Herbst

|votes= 25,144

|percentage= 17.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party=Republican Party (United States)

|candidate= Steve Obsitnik

|votes= 19,151

|percentage= 13.4

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes= 143,195

|percentage= 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change |

|title=Connecticut gubernatorial election, 2018 — general election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ned Lamont

|votes = 694,510

|percentage = 49.37

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate =Bob Stefanowski

|votes = 650,138

|percentage = 46.21

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Independent (United States)

|candidate = Oz Griebel

|votes = 54,741

|percentage = 3.89

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Rod Hanscomb

|votes = 6,086

|percentage = 0.43

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 1,406,803

|percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Connecticut gubernatorial election, 2022 — general election{{cite web |title=2022 General Election - Governor |url=https://electionhistory.ct.gov/eng/contests/view/35080|website=Connecticut Secretary of State}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Ned Lamont (incumbent)

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 710,186

| percentage = 55.97

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Bob Stefanowski

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 546,209

| percentage = 43.05

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Robert Hotaling

| party = Independent Party of Connecticut

| votes = 12,400

| percentage = 0.98

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Michelle Louise Bicking (write-in)

| party = Green Party (United States)

| votes = 98

| percentage = 0.0

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,268,893

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

Personal life

Stefanowski lives in Madison with his wife, Amy, and his three daughters.{{cite web|url=https://www.ctpost.com/politics/article/How-rich-are-Bob-Stefanowski-and-Ned-Lamont-13267353.php |title=How Rich are Bob Stefanowski and Ned Lamont|website=CT Post|last=Dixon|first=Ken|date = September 30, 2018}}

His first book Making M&A Deals Happen was published by McGraw Hill Publishing in February 2007. He is a Wharton Fellow, and has served as adjunct faculty to NYU Stern, London Business School, Cambridge University, and as a visiting professor of management practice at Oxford University.{{cite web|url=https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/aboutus/governance/china-advisory-council/robert-stefanowski/|title=Robert Stefanowski Biography|website=University of Cambridge|date=2019}}

Stefanowski is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).{{cite web|url=https://www.ctpost.com/business/danhaar/article/Dan-Haar-Bob-Stefanowski-vows-I-m-not-going-13757373.php |title=Bob Stefanowski vows 'I'm not going to go away'|website=CT Post|last=Haar|first=Dan|date=April 11, 2019}}