Matthew James Connealy is a former Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

 state senator from Decatur, Nebraska

Decatur, Nebraska

Decatur is a village in Burt County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 618 at the 2000 census. This town is named after one of its incorporators, Stephen Decatur, who claimed to be the nephew of war hero Stephen Decatur, Jr....

 in the Nebraska Legislature

Nebraska Legislature

The Nebraska Legislature is the supreme legislative body of the State of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County....

, and current Executive Director

Executive director

Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...

 of the Nebraska Democratic Party

Nebraska Democratic Party

The Nebraska Democratic Party is the official arm of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of 2009, the only statewide elected official in the party is United States Senator Ben Nelson.-Historically prominent Nebraska Democrats:...

.

Personal life

He was born on December 11, 1951, in Oakland, Nebraska

Oakland, Nebraska

Oakland is a city in Burt County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,367 at the 2000 census. Oakland continues to build on its strong foundation with its bi-annual Swedish Festival and is known by its proclamation from the Swedish Consul-General and Nebraska Governor as the "Swedish...

 and graduated from Decatur High School

Decatur High School

Decatur High School could refer to:*Decatur High School — Decatur, Alabama*Decatur High School — Decatur, Arkansas*Decatur High School — Decatur, Georgia...

in 1970. He also attended the University of St. Thomas

University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)

The University of St. Thomas is a private, Catholic, liberal arts, and archdiocesan university located in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States...

 in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...

, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 1970 to 1973. He is a former member of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss...

 Governor's Agriculture Advisory Committee. He is also a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church. He unsuccessfully ran for 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...

 in 2004 in being defeated by Jeff Fortenberry

Jeff Fortenberry

Jeffrey Lane "Jeff" Fortenberry, born December 27, 1960) is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Lincoln and includes most of the eastern third of the state outside the immediate Omaha area.-Early life, education and...

. In 2006 Connealy again unsuccessfully sought elective office as Nebraska Public Service Commissioner district 3. Connealy is now the Executive Director of the Nebraska Democratic Party.

State legislature

He was elected in 1998 to represent the 16th Nebraska legislative district and reelected in 2002. He currently sits on the General Affairs committee and is the vice chairperson of the Revenue, Urban Affairs, and Building Maintenance committees. Since Nebraska voters passed Initiative Measure 415 in 2001 limiting state senators to two terms after 2001, he is unable run for reelection barring a court challenge of the measure.

External links

• 2004 Elections Washington Post