Returning the favor

ormer Congressman Christopher Shays shakes hands with Lt. Governor Michael Fedele during a press conference at the Circle Diner, in Fairfield, Conn. Friday, May 14th, 2010. Shays announced his endorsement for Fedele's campaign for Governor.

ormer Congressman Christopher Shays shakes hands with Lt. Governor Michael Fedele during a press conference at the Circle Diner, in Fairfield, Conn. Friday, May 14th, 2010. Shays announced his endorsement for Fedele’s campaign for Governor.

They are political BFFs — best friends forever.

The alliance between former Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele and former Congressman Christopher Shays endures.

Shays is co-hosting a fundraiser for Fedele’s mayoral bid July 17 at the Woodway Beach Club in Stamford.

Fedele’s campaign website does not specify a donation amount to attend the reception, which is being co-hosted by Harry Day, deputy minority leader of the Stamford Board of Representatives and a club member.

Shays is evidently reciprocating after Fedele taped a video testimonial last year for Shays during his ill-fated GOP Senate primary campaign against Linda McMahon.

The two Republicans go back more than two decades, with Fedele having represented the same 147th General Assembly District (Stamford) as Shays in Hartford.

Fedele can commiserate with Shays when it comes to bitter primary losses, having fallen short in his attempt to win the GOP’s nomination for governor in 2010 to Tom Foley.

Foley, ironically, also hosted a fundraiser for Fedele in recent weeks.

Neil Vigdor