ct_gov_KENNELLY

U.S. REP. BARBARA KENNELLY

• Kennelly was born in and is a life-long resident of Hartford, Connecticut. Her father, John Bailey, was a legendary figure in Connecticut politics -- a longtime chairman of the Connecticut Democratic Party and chairman of the Democratic National Committee under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

• Kennelly graduated high school from Mount St. Joseph Academy in West Hartford and received a B.A. in economics fron Trinity College of Washington, D.C. in 1958. She continued her studies as Harvard Business School and received a certificate in business administration in 1959. Later on in life she recevied a masters in government from Trinity College in Hartford.

• Kennelly had strong ties to Connecticut Democratic politics before ever running for office. Her father was well-known in political circles, and her husband, James Kennelly, was a longtime legislator and Speaker of the House in Connecticut from 1975-78. James Kennelly passed away in 1995.

• Before going to Washington, Kennelly served on the Hartford City Council (1975-79) and as Secretary of State (1979-82). She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election in January 1982 to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Democratic Rep. William Cotter.

• Kennelly has represented ConnecticutÂ's 1st congressional district since 1982. She has been asily re-elected in the heavily Democratic district . In 1996, she won with 74% of the vote.

• Kennelly is the fourth highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives. As vice-chair of the House Democratic Caucus, she is the first and only woman to serve in the elected leadership. She also sits on the powerful Ways and Means Committee and is ranking member on the Social Security Subcommittee.