Gerry Connolly
Gerry Connolly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 11th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas M. Davis |
| Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors | |
| In office 2003–2007 | |
| Succeeded by | Sharon Bulova |
| Member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from the Providence district | |
| In office 1995–2003 | |
| Succeeded by | Linda Smyth |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Cathy Connolly |
| Residence(s) | Mantua, Virginia |
| Alma mater | Maryknoll College Harvard University |
| Occupation | Public Administration |
| Signature |  |
| Website | www.gerryconnolly.com |
Gerald E. 'Gerry' Connolly (born March 30, 1950) is a member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia's 11th congressional district. He was first elected in November 2008. Connolly is a member of the Democratic Party.
Early life, education and career
Connolly graduated from Maryknoll College in Illinois with a B.A. in Literature in 1971, and completed a Master of Public Administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government in 1979.
Connolly worked from 1979 through 1989 with the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, where he managed committee oversight of international economic issues, international narcotics control, and United Nations and Middle East policies, and published reports on U.S. policy in El Salvador, Central America, Israel and the Persian Gulf region.[1] From 1989 through 1997 he was Vice President of the Washington Office of SRI International. He was also Director of Community Relations for SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation).[2]
In local politics, Gerry served on the Fairfax Government Reorganization Commission from 1992 through 1993. In 1995 he was elected Providence District Supervisor, serving for nine years.
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee assignments
Political positions
Economics
Connolly voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.[3] However, he has repeatedly voted against other large spending bills, including opposing the release of $350 billion in bank bailout funds[4] and a $154 billion spending bill[5] because of concerns they would add to the federal deficit.[6]
He was a cosponsor of pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budget legislation that was signed into law in February 2010.[7]
Energy
Connolly voted in favor of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009,[8] saying it would strengthen national securing while spurring innovation in the energy industry.[9] In 2010, he voted in favor of ending a moratorium on deepwater drilling rigs that met certain safety standards.[10] Connolly is one of the 35 congressmen who founded the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.[11]
Healthcare
In 2009, Connolly was an early supporter of the Democratic health care plan, which ultimately became the America's Affordable Health Choices Act, as well as the public health insurance option; saying at a live chat with constituents in September to a woman from Washington, D.C. that "One of my principles for health care reform is that it increases the choices you have. By setting up a health insurance exchange, we can give your family more insurance choices, hopefully including one that your daughter's doctor chooses to accept". Connolly voted against the Stupak-Pitts Amendment,[12] and later for the America's Affordable Health Choices Act in March 2010.
Connolly cited deficit reduction in explaining his health care vote.[13] However, the impact of the bill on the deficit continues to be a matter of debate.[14][15]
Veterans
Connolly was a cosponsor of the Helping Active Duty Deployed Act[16] and the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act.[17]
Personal life
Connolly and his wife Cathy have lived in Mantua since 1979. Their daughter is a student at a Virginia university. He serves on the Boards of Directors for Fairfax Partnership for Youth, the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area, the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Washington Initiative Board of Trustees, the Medical Care for Children Partnership, the Institute for Regional Excellence, and the University of Virginia - Virginia Institute of Government. He previously served as president of the Mantua Citizens Association (MCA) president and two terms as president of the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations.
Connolly is also a company member of The Providence Players of Fairfax, a community theatre in Fairfax County, having acted in several of their shows.[18]
Campaign history
2008
Connolly defeated Republican nominee Keith Fimian by more than ten points for the open seat held by Republican incumbent Tom Davis.[19] The Independent Green Party candidate on the ballot was Joseph P. Oddo.
2010
Connolly is being challenged by Republican nominee Keith Fimian, who lost to Connolly in 2008, Libertarian David L. Dotson, Independent Green David William Gillis, Jr., and Independent Christopher F. DeCarlo.
Electoral history
References
- ^ Meet Gerry Gerry Connolly for U.S. Congress
- ^ Representative Gerald E. 'Gerry' Connolly (VA), Project Vote Smart
- ^ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 46". 28 January 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
- ^ "The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010". 28 May 2010.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help); Unknown parameter|http://waysandmeans.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=ignored (help) - ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll991.xml
- ^ "Connolly Cites Deficit in Voting Against $115 Billion Spending Bill". 28 May 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
- ^ "Connolly, Fimian make another swing for Virginia district". 23 July 2010.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help); Unknown parameter|http://www.marketwatch.com/story/story/print?guid=ignored (help) - ^ http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=26496&can_id=95078
- ^ http://connolly.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=44&parentid=6§iontree=6,44&itemid=162
- ^ http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=31678&can_id=95078
- ^ http://www.house.gov/inslee/SEEC/members.html
- ^ "Washington Post - Rep. Gerald Connolly On Health Reform". The Washington Post. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
- ^ Stone, Andrea (April 4, 2010). "Congressman in Trouble After Health Care Vote". AOL News. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
- ^ "Report: Health overhaul will increase USA's tab". USA Today. April 23, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ Health Care Reform Will Cost More, Cover More: Health And Human Services Department. Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved on 2010-07-12.
- ^ Helping Active Duty Deployed Act of 2009
- ^ http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-1016
- ^ "Falls Church News & Notes". Falls Church News Press. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
- ^ "CQ Politics - District Detail: VA-11". CQ Politics. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
External links
- Congressman Gerald E. Connolly official U.S. House site
- Gerry Connolly for Congress official campaign site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Fimian, Connolly Square Off Burke Connection, October 1, 2008
- Connolly Seeks Higher Office, Julia O'Donoghue, Fairfax Connection, October 8, 2008
- Connolly: ‘Is there enough spending to be cut?’, Robert Costa, National Review, June 11, 2010
- 1950 births
- Living people
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia
- Virginia Democrats
- John F. Kennedy School of Government alumni
- American Roman Catholic politicians
- American politicians of Irish descent
- People from Fairfax County, Virginia
- Members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
- Harvard University alumni
- Northern Virginia politicians