Kevin P. Lembo was elected comptroller on Nov. 2, 2010, becoming the first openly gay candidate to win statewide office in Connecticut.With more than a half-dozen gay legislators having been elected to the General Assembly in 20 years, Lembo's sexual orientation never defined his candidacy, though it seemed to contribute to his huge victory in the Democratic primary. His opponent was backed by the Family Institute of Connecticut, which opposes gay marriage."I've never been just a 'gay guy.' I've always been a policy guy who happens to be gay," Lembo told the Hartford Advocate during his campaign.For six years, Lembo was a senior aide to his predecessor, Comptroller Nancy S. Wyman, then he became the state's first healthcare advocate in 2004, helping consumers in their dealings with health insurance companies. Last year, his nine-person office reported challenging 2,600 denials of coverage, helping obtain care with $6.7 million.Gov. M. Jodi Rell proposed eliminating the budget for Lembo's office as a cost-cutting move -- although the office was funded through an assessment on insurance companies, not from taxpayer dollars. Her action came several months after Lembo strongly criticized the Rell-backed Charter Oak Health Plan for low-income adults, a public coverage program, as not meeting the benefit levels required for private health care coverage.Lembo initially explored a bid for lieutenant governor. However, he left that race when his former boss Wyman announced she would leave the comptrollers office after 16 years to run instead for lieutenant governor. Wyman immediately endorsed Lembo to take over as comptroller.Lembo ran the policy section of the comptroller's office for six years before becoming the state health care advocate."There is no learning curve for me as state comptroller, no on-the-job training that we cannot afford," he said. "I am ready to begin to work on day one to tackle the complex issues that face our state and restore confidence in our government's ability to get the job done.""I enjoy being a nerd and diving into these policies and budgets," he told The Mirror in May.Previous experience: Office of the Connecticut Comptroller, 1998 to 2004; Connecticut Healthcare Advocate, 2004 to 2011.Personal: Lembo, 46, is married to Charles Frey. They have three sons and live in Guilford.