Kevin Lembo

In 2019, Lembo and a coalition of health care reform advocates, fought for the creation of a public health care option. The effort ultimately failed when Cigna, a major insurance carrier in the state, threatened to leave Connecticut if a public option became law, as revealed by Lembo to the Hartford Courant. Although Lembo and several allies continued to support the bill, other Democratic supporters abandoned the policy, leading to its demise in the legislature.

In 2018, Lembo authored legislation forcing pharmaceutical corporations to disclose details of how they set prescription drug prices. The bill passed the General Assembly unanimously. As Comptroller, he has often clashed with drug companies, banning compound drug sales that cost millions of dollars per year and uncovering a kickback scheme that has resulted in a lawsuit by the State Attorney General.

Lembo co-chaired the Connecticut Retirement Security Board in 2016, earning passage of legislation aimed at giving private-sector workers access to retirement savings accounts if one is not offered by their employer. The program is estimated to serve approximately 600,000 Connecticut workers.

Lembo was targeted by the anti-gay American Family Association in 2016 after removing them from a state-sponsored charitable giving campaign. The AFA responded by flooding the Comptroller's Office with phone calls and emails.

As Comptroller, Lembo has launched several transparency websites and won a political victory when Governor Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, signed an Executive Order creating a database of state business tax credits at Lembo's insistence. In 2013, the Council on Freedom of Information awarded Lembo the Bice Clemow Freedom of Information Award in recognition of his commitment to transparency.

In 2010, Lembo won the endorsement of the Connecticut Democratic Party at their state convention, and later defeated Waterbury, CT mayor Michael Jarjura in the August 10, 2010 Democratic primary. In the November 2 general election, he defeated Republican candidate Jack Orchulli. Lembo won a second term by defeating Republican Sharon McLaughlin in 2014. After declining to pursue a run for Governor in 2018, Lembo won a third term as Comptroller by defeating Republican Kurt Miller of Seymour in a landslide victory.

In 2004, Lembo became Connecticut's first State Healthcare Advocate, and was reconfirmed to the position in 2008. Along with Nancy Wyman, his predecessor in the Comptroller's office, he was co-chair of the state SustiNet healthcare plan.

In 2004, Lembo was commissioned as a Kentucky colonel for his work as an advocate for children in foster care. For his work promoting open government, he received the Bice Clemow Award from the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information in 2013. Lembo earned the AARP Legislative Achievement Award in 2016 for his leadership of the Connecticut Retirement Security Board. GLAD gave Lembo its Social Justice Award in 2017. The Norwich, CT chapter of the NAACP honored Lembo with its 2019 Robertsine Duncan Memorial Award given to an individual or organization for outstanding efforts to ensure quality education for children while being an advocate on behalf of the community, city and state.

Lembo earned a B.A. at Charter Oak State College in 2002, and a Master's in Public Administration from California State University in 2004.

Kevin P. Lembo (born September 6, 1963) is a Democratic elected official, currently the Connecticut State Comptroller, the statewide elected official responsible for reporting on state finances, administering health care plans for public employees and retirees, and paying the state's bills. He first took office on January 5, 2011. Lembo is the first openly gay individual to be elected to statewide office in Connecticut.