In July 2004, Senator Williams was elected to serve as the President Pro Tempore, the highest-ranking legislator in the Connecticut General Assembly.

Shortly after his election in 1993 he authored legislation creating the first enterprise corridor zones in rural areas to help attract and retain jobs in northeastern Connecticut.

In 2005 he was able to provide millions of dollars to preserve farmland and open space, protect historic sites, and increase the supply of affordable housing in northeastern Connecticut.

In approving the legislation, Governor M. Jodi Rell said, "If there is a crown jewel in this bonding bill, it is the program that will continue the glorious transformation of higher education in Connecticut.

Democrats failed to override the veto because Senator Joan Hartley, chairman of the higher education committee, believed the CSU bonding lacked accountability.

[4] After a revised bonding package passed, it was revealed that Williams' ally Thomas Gaffey had an undisclosed intimate relationship with the lobbyist for the CSU system.

[3] Archived 2014-04-07 at the Wayback Machine Senator Williams was the News and Public Affairs Director for WINY radio in Putnam, Connecticut, from 1980 to 1983.