George Jepsen | |
---|---|
24th Attorney General of Connecticut | |
In office January 5, 2011 –January 9, 2019 | |
Governor | Dan Malloy |
Preceded by | Richard Blumenthal |
Succeeded by | William Tong |
Chair of the Connecticut Democratic Party | |
In office 2003–2005 | |
Preceded by | John Olsen |
Succeeded by | Nancy DiNardo |
Majority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate | |
In office 1997–2003 | |
Preceded by | James T. Fleming |
Succeeded by | Martin Looney |
Member of the Connecticut State Senate from the 27th district | |
In office January 1991 –January 2003 | |
Preceded by | Richard Blumenthal |
Succeeded by | Andrew McDonald |
Member of the ConnecticutHouseofRepresentatives from the 148th district | |
In office January 1987 –January 1991 | |
Preceded by | Richard Cunningham |
Succeeded by | Anne McDonald |
Personal details | |
Born | Hattiesburg,Mississippi,U.S. | November 23,1954
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Diana Sousa |
Children | 2 |
Education | Dartmouth College (BA) Harvard University (MPP,JD) |
Website | Government website |
George Christian Jepsen [1] (born November 23,1954) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 24th attorney general of Connecticut from 2011 to 2019.
Jepsen was a State Senator from Connecticut's 27th Senate district,representing Stamford and part of Darien,and served in the Connecticut Senate from 1991 to 2003. [2] During his time in the Senate,he served as Senate Majority Leader from 1997 to 2003. [2] Prior to that,he served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1987 to 1991,representing part of Stamford in Connecticut's 148th House district. [2] After leaving the State Senate,he became Chairman of the Connecticut State Democratic Party from 2003 to 2005. [3] [4] [5]
Jepsen was born in Hattiesburg,Mississippi. [6] A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College,he earned his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School with honors and also earned a master's degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government. [2] To help pay for his education,he worked as a teaching fellow in constitutional law for former Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox. [2]
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Following graduation, Jepsen worked as staff counsel for Carpenters Local Union 210 for Western Connecticut. [2] [7] For nearly ten years, Jepsen negotiated contracts for wages and benefits, represented injured workers, ensured job safety, and advocated for different bidding practices. [2]
In private practice, Jepsen worked at some of Connecticut's top law firms. [2] His legal experience included work with the probate court, estate planning, representing small business in contract negotiations, government compliance, and real estate transactions. [2] He also defended individuals in the criminal courts and served as counsel to clients in the civil courts. [2] Jepsen successfully worked on complex legal issues as part of a successful appellate team in a number of cases before the Connecticut Supreme Court. [2]
Jepsen served 16 years in the Connecticut General Assembly, first as State Representative from the 148th House District, and then as a State Senator from Connecticut's 27th Senate District, the last six as Majority Leader. [2] As a legislator, Jepsen worked in a variety of areas including clean energy, gun safety, and civil rights. [2] Jepsen assisted in the development of laws that reformed HMO and insurance practices. [2] As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen worked to develop bills that protect Connecticut's natural assets. [2]
Jepsen co-authored the Open Space Trust Fund, an initiative that sets aside $10 million in funding for the purchase of open space. [2]
Jepsen worked to pass legislation to revitalize blighted areas in brownfields, including efforts to expand state financial assistance to re-developers. [2] This was incentivized by tax credits to businesses that invested in redevelopment of contaminated properties in the state. [2]
Jepsen helped the passage of legislation to replace Connecticut's "Sooty Six" power plants with cleaner plants that have lower emissions. [2] These six old coal-burning plants were contributing to Connecticut's unique air pollution problem and rise in asthma rates. [2] This initiative also involved new funding to upgrade sewage treatment plants for cleaner rivers. [2]
As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen became a national leader against the National Rifle Association. [2] He helped pass landmark legislation prohibiting the sale or possession of assault weapons, mandating trigger locks, and necessitating tougher background checks. [2] This work was nationally recognized by the Brady Campaign and the Million Mom March. [2]
As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen worked to ban sexual orientation discrimination, to strengthen hate crime laws, and to expand Connecticut's living will laws. [2]
Jepsen supported health insurance reform to improve covered services for mental illness and emergency room conditions. [2] He helped mandate that health insurers cover the costs of mammograms and birth control and helped pass legislation to outlaw “drive-through” mastectomies and childbirth deliveries, so insurers cover at least a 48-hour hospital stay. [2]
Jepsen announced on January 6, 2010, that he would form an exploratory committee for Attorney General, [8] receiving the Democratic Party's endorsement on May 22. [9]
On July 12 Jepsen announced he had qualified for public financing in the Citizens Election Program. [10]
On November 2, 2010, he was elected as attorney general of Connecticut [11]
Jepsen was reelected in 2014, defeating Republican opponent Kie Westby. [12]
Connecticut House of Representatives 148th District Election, 1986 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | George Jepsen | 2,779 | 53.72 |
Republican | Marie Hawe | 2,394 | 46.28 |
Connecticut House of Representatives 148th District Election, 1988 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | George Jepsen (inc.) | 4,263 | 55.28 |
Republican | James Rubino | 3,448 | 44.72 |
Connecticut State Senate 27th District Election, 1990 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | George Jepsen | 11,827 | 52.10 |
Republican | Werner Depuy | 10,082 | 44.41 |
Petition | Richard Cunningham | 793 | 3.49 |
Connecticut State Senate 27th District Election, 1992 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic* | George Jepsen (inc.) | 18,692 | 54.12 |
Republican | Nick Pavia | 15,843 | 45.88 |
*Jepsen was also listed on the A Connecticut Party line.
Connecticut State Senate 27th District Election, 1994 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | George Jepsen (inc.) | 11,545 | 60.82 |
Republican | Mike Morris | 7,438 | 39.18 |
Connecticut State Senate 27th District Election, 1996 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | George Jepsen (inc.) | 19,212 | 63.97 |
Republican | Vincent Mobilio | 10,820 | 36.03 |
Connecticut State Senate 27th District Election, 1998 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | George Jepsen (inc.) | 13,071 | 66.76 |
Republican | Joseph Valdes | 6,509 | 33.24 |
Connecticut State Senate 27th District, 2000 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | George Jepsen (inc.) | 19,732 | 66.69 |
Republican | Joseph Bongiorno | 9,855 | 33.31 |
Connecticut Attorney General Election, 2010 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic* | George Jepsen | 591,725 | 53.71 |
Republican | Martha Dean | 480,310 | 43.59 |
Green* | Stephen Fournier | 29,759 | 2.70 |
*Jepsen was also listed on the Working Families Party line; Fournier was also listed on the Independent Party line.
Connecticut Attorney General Election, 2014 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic* | George Jepsen (inc.) | 590,225 | 56.73 |
Republican* | Kie Westby | 427,869 | 41.12 |
Green | Stephen Fournier | 22,361 | 2.15 |
*Jepsen was also listed on the Working Families Party line; Westby was also listed on the Independent Party line.
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