George Jepsen

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.

George Jepsen
24th Attorney General of Connecticut
In office
January 5, 2011 – January 9, 2019
GovernorDan Malloy
Preceded byRichard Blumenthal
Succeeded byWilliam Tong
Member of the Connecticut Senate
from the 27th district
In office
January 1991 – January 2003
Preceded byRichard Blumenthal
Succeeded byAndrew McDonald
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
from the 148th district
In office
January 1987 – January 1991
Preceded by???
Succeeded byAnne McDonald
Personal details
Born (1954-11-23) November 23, 1954
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Diana Sousa
Children2
EducationDartmouth College (BA)
Harvard University (MPP, JD)
WebsiteGovernment website

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

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 Open Space Trust Fund, 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 "Sooty Six" 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. 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
Connecticut House of Representatives 148th District Election, 1986
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George Jepsen 2,779 53.72
Republican Marie Hawe 2,394 46.28
Connecticut House of Representatives 148th District Election, 1988
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George Jepsen (inc.) 4,263 55.28
Republican James Rubino 3,448 44.72
Connecticut State Senate 27th District Election, 1990
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George Jepsen 11,827 52.10
Republican Werner Depuy 10,082 44.41
Petition Richard Cunningham 793 3.49
Connecticut State Senate 27th District Election, 1992
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic* George Jepsen (inc.) 18,692 54.12
Republican Nick Pavia 15,843 45.88

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

Connecticut State Senate 27th District Election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George Jepsen (inc.) 11,545 60.82
Republican Mike Morris 7,438 39.18
Connecticut State Senate 27th District Election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George Jepsen (inc.) 19,212 63.97
Republican Vincent Mobilio 10,820 36.03
Connecticut State Senate 27th District Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George Jepsen (inc.) 13,071 66.76
Republican Joseph Valdes 6,509 33.24
Connecticut State Senate 27th District, 2000
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic George Jepsen (inc.) 19,732 66.69
Republican Joseph Bongiorno 9,855 33.31
Connecticut Attorney General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic* George Jepsen 591,725 53.71
Republican Martha Dean 480,310 43.59
Green* Stephen Fournier 29,759 2.70

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

Connecticut Attorney General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic* George Jepsen (inc.) 590,225 56.73
Republican* Kie Westby 427,869 41.12
Green Stephen Fournier 22,361 2.15

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

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References
  1. Diana Sousa to Wed George C. Jepsen in May, December 17, 1989, The New York Times
  2. "George Jepsen Biography Page". ct.gov/AG. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  3. "Local Dems meet AG candidate". The New Britain Herald News. June 5, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  4. Bailey, Melissa (January 6, 2010). "Jepsen's Running For AG". New Haven Independent. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  5. "Jepsen wins AG nomination | The Connecticut Mirror". Ctmirror.org. May 22, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  6. Phaneuf, Keith (July 12, 2010). "Jepsen qualifies for public financing in AG's race". CT Mirror. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  7. "Jepsen Declares Victory in Attorney General Race". courant.com. November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  8. Mahony, Edmund H. (November 4, 2014). "Jepsen Wins Again In Attorney General Race". Hartford Courant.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Dick Blumenthal		 Attorney General of Connecticut
2011–2019		 Succeeded by
William Tong
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