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Kevin Sullivan (politician)
Encyclopedia
Kevin B. Sullivan, a Democrat
, was Connecticut's
86th Lieutenant Governor
. He was elected to the State Senate in 1986 and served as Senate President Pro Tempore from 1997 - 2004.
, ever since he was a child. He attended public schools there. In 1971, he graduated from Trinity College
. Later, he studied law at the University of Connecticut School of Law
, graduating in 1982.
and served on the Town Council for five years. As Mayor, he presided over the first tax cut in the town's recent history.
's resignation, Lieutenant Governor M. Jodi Rell
became governor. Sullivan, the Senate President Pro Tempore, was then sworn in as Lieutenant Governor on July 1, 2004.
Early in her term, Rell appointed Sullivan as chairman of the state mental health cabinet and his work led to major improvements in mental health care and coverage.
Sullivan chose not to be a candidate for Lieutenant Governor or Governor in 2006. He was a strong supporter of John DeStefano, Jr.
in the 2006 Democratic Gubernatorial primary over Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy
(DeStefano lost to incumbent Jodi Rell
). Sullivan was succeeded as lieutenant governor by Michael Fedele
on January 3, 2007.
and then became the President and CEO of Children's Museum of Connecticut
. He is also the author of a training program called, "Why Bad Government Happens to Good People."
Sullivan was chosen as Commissioner of the Department of Revenue Services by Governor Dannell Malloy and assumed this position as of January 5, 2011.
Sullivan is married to educator and West Hartford
Town Councilwoman Dr. Carolyn Thornberry.
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...
, was Connecticut's
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...
86th Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor (United States)
In the United States, 43 of the 50 states have a separate, full-time office of lieutenant governor. In most cases, the lieutenant governor is the highest officer of state after the governor, standing in for that officer when he or she is absent from the state or temporarily incapacitated...
. He was elected to the State Senate in 1986 and served as Senate President Pro Tempore from 1997 - 2004.
Early life
Kevin Sullivan has lived in West Hartford, ConnecticutWest Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
, ever since he was a child. He attended public schools there. In 1971, he graduated 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...
. Later, he studied law at the University of Connecticut School of Law
University of Connecticut School of Law
The University of Connecticut School of Law is the only public law school in Connecticut and one of only four in New England. The school was recently ranked forty-sixth out of the 190 American Bar Association-accredited law schools in the United States and is considered a Tier 1 school by U.S...
, graduating in 1982.
Mayor
Prior to his election to the State Senate, he was mayor of West HartfordWest Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
and served on the Town Council for five years. As Mayor, he presided over the first tax cut in the town's recent history.
State Senator
In the State Senate, Sullivan focused on education reform, fiscal accountability and mental health care. He became the leader of the State Senate after organizing the 1997 campaign to take back the majority.Lieutenant governor
Upon Governor John G. RowlandJohn 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...
's resignation, Lieutenant Governor M. Jodi Rell
M. Jodi Rell
Mary Jodi Rell is a Republican politician and was the 87th Governor of the U.S. state of Connecticut from 2004 until 2011. She was the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut under Governor John G. Rowland, who resigned during a corruption investigation. Rell is Connecticut's second female Governor,...
became governor. Sullivan, the Senate President Pro Tempore, was then sworn in as Lieutenant Governor on July 1, 2004.
Early in her term, Rell appointed Sullivan as chairman of the state mental health cabinet and his work led to major improvements in mental health care and coverage.
Sullivan chose not to be a candidate for Lieutenant Governor or Governor in 2006. He was a strong supporter of John DeStefano, Jr.
John DeStefano, Jr.
John DeStefano, Jr. is the current mayor of New Haven, Connecticut. He was the Democratic candidate in 2006 for Governor of Connecticut, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell. He was also the named defendant in the landmark 2009 U.S. Supreme Court case of Ricci v...
in the 2006 Democratic Gubernatorial primary over Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy
Dan Malloy
Dannel Patrick "Dan" Malloy is the 88th and current Governor of Connecticut. He was the Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut from December 1995 until December 2009. Malloy had been endorsed by the Connecticut Democratic Party on May 22, 2010 over 2006 Democratic U.S...
(DeStefano lost to incumbent Jodi Rell
Jodi Rell
Mary Jodi Rell is a Republican politician and was the 87th Governor of the U.S. state of Connecticut from 2004 until 2011. She was the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut under Governor John G. Rowland, who resigned during a corruption investigation. Rell is Connecticut's second female Governor,...
). Sullivan was succeeded as lieutenant governor by Michael Fedele
Michael Fedele
Michael Fedele is an Italian-American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 107thThe State of Connecticut recognizes Michael Fedele as the 107th Lieutenant Governor, using a standard that had counted Colonial period lieutenants as well as counting lieutenants who had...
on January 3, 2007.
Later
After leaving office as Lieutenant Governor, Sullivan taught media and public policy at Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...
and then became the President and CEO of Children's Museum of Connecticut
The Children's Museum, Connecticut
The Children's Museum is the oldest and largest museum for children in Connecticut, United States. The museum was founded in 1927 as the Children's Museum of Hartford, and was known until recently as The Science Center of Connecticut. The Museum is geared towards young children, and is committed...
. He is also the author of a training program called, "Why Bad Government Happens to Good People."
Sullivan was chosen as Commissioner of the Department of Revenue Services by Governor Dannell Malloy and assumed this position as of January 5, 2011.
Sullivan is married to educator and West Hartford
West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
Town Councilwoman Dr. Carolyn Thornberry.