Kevin C. Kelly is an American lawyer and politician from Connecticut. A Republican, he has been a member of the Connecticut State Senate since 2011, elected from the 21st District.[1][2] He was the Senate Republican Minority Leader from 2021-2024.[3]
Kevin Kelly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate | |
| In office January 6, 2021 – February 16, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Len Fasano |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Harding |
| Member of the Connecticut State Senate from the 21st district | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Dan Debicella |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Cindy |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Assumption University (BA) Fairfield University (MA) University of Connecticut, Hartford (JD) |
Education
editKelly earned a B.A. from Assumption College in 1982, an M.A. from Fairfield University in 1985, and a J.D. from University of Connecticut School of Law in 1997.[4][5]
Legal and political career
editKelly was formerly a town attorney.[4] He has a law office, Kevin Kelly & Associates, in Stratford,[4] specializing in elder law.[6] Before opening his legal practice, Kelly spent 13 years as an investigator for the Connecticut Department of Social Services.[6]
In 1992, Kelly ran for the Connecticut House of Representatives in the 121st district. However, he lost the election to Terry Backer.[7]
Since 2011, he has been a State Senator, representing part of the Naugatuck River Valley in the Connecticut Senate, including all of the town of Shelton and part of the towns of Monroe, Seymour, and Stratford.[4]
In 2010, Kelly defeated James Miron, a former mayor of Stratford. In 2012, Kelly ran unopposed for the seat. In 2014, Kelly won reelection, defeating Democrat Prez Palmer. In 2016, Kelly won a fourth term in the Senate, again defeating Palmer.[4] In 2018, Kelly won a fifth term in the Senate, defeating Democratic nominee Monica Tujak Brill.[4] He ran unopposed in 2020.[8]
In 2016, Kelly expressed support for Trump's presidential candidacy.[9] In November 2020, the Senate Republican caucus elected Kelly to the post of Senate Minority Leader, replacing Len Fasano, who retired; Kelly appointed Paul Formica as his deputy.[10][11] As of 2020, Kelly was the ranking member of the Senate committees on Aging, Insurance and Real Estate, and Children, and a member of the Regulation Review Committee.[6]
In the state Senate, Kelly has championed efforts to make pregnancy a "qualifying life event" for purposes of health insurance enrollment; the legislation was supported by the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children and Seniors.[12]
In 2020, Kelly voted against a police reform and accountability bill.[13]
Personal life
editKelly is married and has four children and five grandchildren.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Connecticut Senate races". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
- ^ "Kevin C. Kelly". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "About Kevin". Connecticut Senate Republicans. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g John Burgeson, Kelly loses Stratford but prevails in the 21st, Associated Press (November 7, 2018).
- ^ "Kevin Kelly's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ a b c Ethan Fry, Kevin Kelly: Republican, candidate for state Senate District 21, CT Post (September 28, 2020).
- ^ "Our Campaigns - CT State House 121 Race - Nov 03, 1992".
- ^ Mark Pazniokas, Helped by Trump, Democrats gain in CT General Assembly, CT Mirror (November 4, 2020).
- ^ Majority of local GOP candidates won't take stand on Trump, Connecticut Post (October 17, 2016).
- ^ "Jacqueline Smith: The state Republican leader who wanted to be a catcher". 4 December 2020.
- ^ Eugene Driscoll, Kevin Kelly Named Senate Republican Leader, Valley Independent Sentinel (November 6, 2020).
- ^ Bill Cummings, Stratford lawmaker seeks health care access for pregnant women, Associated Press (February 27, 2018).
- ^ Kevin Kelly, Op-Ed: Kelly talks opposition to police reform bill, Shelton Herald (July 29, 2020).