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Fedele served as lieutenant governor under Rell, who said she was pleased to join the growing list of other Republican officials lining up to support Fedele.
"Mike brings to this campaign an unmatched blend of business and government experience," Rell said in a statement. "He knows how government works, I know he is the best candidate to lead Stamford, and I know he will be an outstanding mayor."
In addition to Rell, Fedele has received endorsements from current Stamford Mayor Mike Pavia, Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, and New Canaan First Selectman Rob Mallozzi III, among others.
Earlier this year, Pavia announced he would not seek re-election after his current term expires on Dec. 31. He replaced former Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy in 2009 after Malloy ran successfully for governor.
Fedele will face Martin, a Board of Finance member who beat state Rep. William Tong in a primary Tuesday, on the Nov. 5 ballot. Martin ran against Pavia and lost in 2009.
“For four years in the Governor’s Office and in the legislature before that, I worked with Mike and saw first-hand the kind of leader and public servant he is,” said Rell, who will headline a fundraiser for Fedele on Sept. 26 in Darien at the Water’s Edge at Giovanni’s.
State Rep. Patricia Billie Miller and Malloy had endorsed Tong before his loss in the primary. Martin received the endorsement of the Stamford Democratic City Committee.
Fedele and Martin will face petitioning candidate John Zito and Independent Kathleen Murphy in the November general election.
It looks like a close election is in store: A recent non-scientific poll on The Daily Voice showed the vote at 45 percent for Martin, 42 percent for Fedele, 3 percent for Zito with 53 percent undecided and 5 percent not planning to vote. See the poll results here.
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