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) |
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]