Barbara B. Kennelly
Encyclopedia
Barbara Bailey Kennelly was a Democratic
member of the United States House of Representatives
from Connecticut
.
, the daughter of long-time Democratic Party leader John M. Bailey
. She graduated from Trinity Washington University
in 1958 and received a master's degree from Trinity College
in 1971. She was married to the late James J. Kennelly, an attorney who served as a Connecticut State Representative and Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives
. She has three daughters, one son, and nine grandchildren.
from 1979 until 1982.
Kennelly was elected to Congress in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William R. Cotter. She represented Connecticut's First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives
from January 12, 1982 until January 3, 1999. She did not seek re-election in 1998, running instead for governor of Connecticut against Republican
incumbent John G. Rowland
, to whom she lost.
The Barbara B. Kennelly Post Office Building in Hartford is named in her honor.
On July 1, 2009, she spoke to the Presidential Classroom Scholars Program on the US House floor.
Kennelly is also a member of the board of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems
, a non profit prominent in the assistance of elections in many countries.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Family and Education
Kennelly was born in Hartford, ConnecticutHartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, the daughter of long-time Democratic Party leader John M. Bailey
John Moran Bailey
John Moran Bailey was a U.S. political figure.He dominated Connecticut Democratic politics as a party boss for many years. He served as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1961 until 1968, and was generally seen as one of the main behind-the-scenes backers of John F...
. She graduated from Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University, founded in 1897 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, is a Roman Catholic university located in Washington, D.C. across from Catholic University of America and the Dominican House of Studies...
in 1958 and received a master's degree from Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
in 1971. She was married to the late James J. Kennelly, an attorney who served as a Connecticut State Representative and Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
. She has three daughters, one son, and nine grandchildren.
Politics
In 1975, Kennelly was elected to the Hartford City Council, where she was a member until 1979. She served as the Secretary of the State of ConnecticutSecretary of the State of Connecticut
The Secretary of the State of Connecticut is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is an elected position in the state government and has a term length of four years....
from 1979 until 1982.
Kennelly was elected to Congress in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William R. Cotter. She represented Connecticut's First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from January 12, 1982 until January 3, 1999. She did not seek re-election in 1998, running instead for governor of Connecticut against Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent John G. Rowland
John G. Rowland
John Grosvenor Rowland was the 86th Governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004; he is a member of the Republican Party. He is married to Patty Rowland, his second wife, and the couple have five children between them...
, to whom she lost.
Other activities
From 2002 to 2011 she served as President of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.The Barbara B. Kennelly Post Office Building in Hartford is named in her honor.
On July 1, 2009, she spoke to the Presidential Classroom Scholars Program on the US House floor.
Kennelly is also a member of the board of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems
International Foundation for Electoral Systems
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems is an international, non-profit organization founded in 1987. This Washington, D. C.-based development organization provides assistance and support for elections in new and emerging democracies...
, a non profit prominent in the assistance of elections in many countries.
External links
- Barbara Kennelly in Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame
- Barbara Kennelly Papers Archives & Special Collections, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut