Kevin Kelly | |
Office: | Minority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate |
Term Start: | January 6, 2021 |
Term End: | February 16, 2024 |
Predecessor: | Len Fasano |
Successor: | Stephen Harding |
State Senate1: | Connecticut State |
District1: | 21st |
Term Start1: | January 5, 2011 |
Predecessor1: | Dan Debicella |
Party: | Republican |
Spouse: | Cindy |
Children: | 4 |
Education: | Assumption University (BA) Fairfield University (MA) University of Connecticut, Hartford (JD) |
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]
Kelly 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]
Kelly 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]
Kelly is married and has four children and five grandchildren.[4]
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