George Jepsen

George Jepsen
24th Attorney General of Connecticut
In office January 5, 2011 – January 9, 2019
Governor	Dan Malloy
Preceded by	Richard Blumenthal
Succeeded by	William Tong
Member of the Connecticut Senate from the 27th district
In office January 1991 – January 2003
Preceded by	Richard Blumenthal
Succeeded by	Andrew McDonald
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 148th district
In office January 1987 – January 1991
Preceded by	???
Succeeded by	Anne McDonald
Personal details
Born	(1954-11-23) November 23, 1954 (age 66) Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Diana Sousa
Children	2
Education	Dartmouth College (BA) Harvard University (MPP, JD)
Website	Government website

George Christian Jepsen^[1] (born November 23, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 24th Attorney General of Connecticut from 2011 to 2019.

Jepsen was a State Senator from Connecticut's 27th Senate District, representing Stamford and part of Darien, and served in the Connecticut Senate from 1991 to 2003.^[2] During his time in the Senate, he served as Senate Majority Leader from 1997 to 2003.^[2] Prior to that, he served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1987 to 1991, representing part of Stamford in Connecticut's 148th House District.^[2] After leaving the State Senate, he became Chairman of the Connecticut State Democratic Party from 2003 to 2005.

Biography[]

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College, Jepsen earned his law degree from Harvard Law School with honors and also earned a master's degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government.^[2] To help pay for his education, he worked as a teaching fellow in constitutional law for former Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox.^[2]

Professional career[]

Following graduation, Jepsen worked as staff counsel for the carpenter's union (UBC Local 210) for Western Connecticut.^[2][3] For nearly ten years, Jepsen negotiated contracts for wages and benefits, represented injured workers, ensured job safety, and advocated for different bidding practices.^[2]

In private practice, Jepsen worked at some of Connecticut's top law firms.^[2] His legal experience included work with the probate court, estate planning, representing small business in contract negotiations, government compliance, and real estate transactions.^[2] He also defended individuals in the criminal courts and served as counsel to clients in the civil courts.^[2] Jepsen successfully worked on complex legal issues as part of a successful appellate team in a number of cases before the Connecticut Supreme Court.^[2]

Political career[]

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Connecticut General Assembly (1987–2003)[]

Jepsen served 16 years in the Connecticut General Assembly, first as State Representative from the 148th House District, and then as a State Senator from Connecticut's 27th Senate District, the last six as Majority Leader.^[2] As a legislator, Jepsen worked to pass laws to protect the environment, civil rights, and legitimate businesses.^[2] He crafted laws that preserve open space, clean water, clean air, and clean energy.^[2] Jepsen helped pass laws improving gun safety, by ensuring passage of the assault weapons ban.^[2] He crafted laws that protect personal privacy and individual freedom, civil rights laws protecting the right to choose, the right to create a living will, and supported the right to marry regardless of gender.^[2] He helped enact laws that reformed HMO and insurance practices, including requiring insurance companies to permit new mothers to stay in a hospital for more than 24 hours.^[2] He successfully fought for laws to ensure fair elections and ethical government.^[2]

As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen fought for bills to protect Connecticut's natural assets.^[2] He co-authored the , an initiative that sets aside $10 million in funding for the purchase of open space and he championed legislation that encourages corporations to turn unused land into open space.^[2] Jepsen successfully worked to pass legislation to clean up brownfields to revitalize blighted areas, including efforts to provide municipalities property tax flexibility on brownfield sites, and expand state financial assistance to re-developers.^[2] He ushered in tax credits to businesses that invested in redevelopment of contaminated properties anywhere in the state.^[2]

Jepsen helped the passage of major legislation to replace Connecticut's "" power plants with cleaner plants that have lower emissions.^[2] "Sooty Six" was one of Connecticut's largest environmental debates. These six old coal-burning plants were contributing to Connecticut's unique air pollution problem and rise in asthma rates.^[2] He also sought new funding to upgrade sewage treatment plants for cleaner rivers and a cleaner Long Island Sound.^[2]

As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen became a national leader against the National Rifle Association and for gun control.^[2] He helped pass landmark legislation prohibiting the sale or possession of assault weapons, mandating trigger locks, and demanding tougher background checks.^[2] For his work, he was nationally recognized by the Brady Campaign and the Million Mom March.^[2]

As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen also led the effort that put the rights that women earned through Roe v. Wade into state law.^[2] Both the National Organization for Women (NOW) and NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut (formerly the National Abortion Rights Action League) recognized him for his work.^{[citation needed]} He further fought to ban sexual orientation discrimination, to strengthen hate crime laws, and to expand Connecticut's living will laws.^[2]

Jepsen supported health insurance reform to improve covered services for mental illness and emergency room conditions.^[2] He helped mandate that health insurers cover the costs of mammograms and birth control, and helped pass legislation to outlaw "drive-thru" mastectomies and child-birth deliveries, so insurers cover at least a 48-hour hospital stay.^[2]

Connecticut Attorney General election, 2010[]

George Jepsen speaking at a Department of Justice presentation.

Jepsen announced on January 6, 2010 that he would form an exploratory committee for Attorney General.^[4]

On May 22, 2010 George Jepsen received the Democratic Party's endorsement for Attorney General.^[5]

On July 12, 2010 George Jepsen announced he had qualified for public financing in the Citizens Election Program.^[6]

On November 2, 2010, George Jepsen was elected as Attorney General of Connecticut^[7]

Connecticut Attorney General election, 2014[]

Jepsen was reelected in 2014, defeating Republican challenger Kie Westby.^[8]

Electoral history[]

*Jepsen was also listed on the A Connecticut Party line.

*Jepsen was also listed on the Working Families Party line; Fournier was also listed on the Independent Party line.

*Jepsen was also listed on the Working Families Party line; Westby was also listed on the Independent Party line.

References[]

External links[]

• Official website of Attorney General George Jepsen