Williams, Donald E. Jr.

Williams' rise into the Senate's top leadership post, president pro tempore, was a consequence of Gov. John G. Rowland's fall. The disgraced governor's resignation in July 2004 set off a cascade of changes at the Capitol. By constitution, Lt. Gov. Jodi Rell succeeded Rowland and Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin Sullivan succeeded Rell. Into the Senate leadership void stepped Williams, a softspoken lawyer and onetime radio newsman from the "Quiet Corner" of Northeastern Connecticut.

With the election of Dannel P. Malloy as the first the Democratic governor in 20 years, Williams no longer is top dog at the Capitol. Williams has clashed with Rell and lobbyists on issues important to him, such as health reform and childhood nutrition. He corralled the votes to restrict junk food in schools, a bill praised by nutrition advocates and derided by others as paternalistic. And he managed to override Rell's veto of Sustinet, a program that Williams hopes will be the first step on the road to universal health care.

But any conflict involving Williams always seems to stay at a low simmer. He is so mild-mannered that Secretary of the State Denise Merrill has called him the Clark Kent of the Senate. He is an introvert by nature, an unusual personality type for a legislative leader.

Williams' tenure as Senate president pro tem has coincided with two strong election cycles for Democrats, who won 24 of the Senate's 36 seats in 2008 and 23 in 2010. Williams started the 2011 session with a caucus depleted by three resignations, leaving him with 20 seats until three special elections are held Feb. 22. The resignations may have a salutatory effect for Williams, who has been plagued by rumors he would move on, either taking a legislatively appointed auditor"s job or joining the Malloy administration.

The two senators who quit to join the Malloy administration were Andrew McDonald of Stamford and Donald DeFronzo of New Britain, each mentioned as possible successors to Williams. The third was Thomas Gaffey, another who was thought to have an eye on moving up. Now, they are gone, and Williams still is the top leader in the Senate.

Williams has no strong ties to the new governor. He backed Ned Lamont in the Democratic primary, as did House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden. Pragmatism dictates that the trio will find a way to get along.

Williams is the former first selectman of Thompson.

Personal: He is married and has a daughter. He and his wife live in Brooklyn.