Maryanne Connelly
Encyclopedia
Maryanne Connelly is a Democratic
politician in New Jersey
and the former Mayor of Fanwood, New Jersey. She has also twice unsuccessfully sought a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Connelly was first elected as Police Commissioner of Fanwood in 1986. Connelly served as a councilwoman
in Fanwood before her 1995 election as mayor. In 1998, she challenged Congressman Bob Franks
in his bid for a fourth term. She received 44% of the vote in her challenge to Franks. In 1999 she did not seek a second term as mayor, saying that she was focusing on a 2000 bid for Congress.
announced she would not seek the Senate seat. Democratic Party leaders, no longer considering Franks' seat to be unwinnable, decided to support Union County
Manager Michael Lapolla for Congress instead of Connelly. Following this decision, Connelly did not bow out of the Congressional race as party leaders suggested. She continued her campaign and defeated Lapolla in the primary.
In the 2000 general election, Connelly faced Republican Mike Ferguson
, who had defeated Tom Kean Jr., Assemblyman Joel Weingarten
, and Patrick Morrissey in the Republican Party primary. Following a competitive race, Ferguson defeated Connelly. She received 48% of the vote. Connelly was recognized by the National Organization for Women
with a NOW Woman of Courage Award
for the race.
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...
politician in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and the former Mayor of Fanwood, New Jersey. She has also twice unsuccessfully sought a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Connelly was first elected as Police Commissioner of Fanwood in 1986. Connelly served as a councilwoman
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
in Fanwood before her 1995 election as mayor. In 1998, she challenged Congressman Bob Franks
Bob Franks
Robert Douglas "Bob" Franks was a Republican politician. He was a former U.S. Representative from New Jersey.-Biography:...
in his bid for a fourth term. She received 44% of the vote in her challenge to Franks. In 1999 she did not seek a second term as mayor, saying that she was focusing on a 2000 bid for Congress.
2000 Congressional bid
Democratic Party leaders originally backed Connelly in her 2000 Congressional bid, until in September 1999, when Franks announced his candidacy for New Jersey's vacant U.S. Senate seat. Franks became a Senate candidate after Gov. Christine Todd WhitmanChristine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...
announced she would not seek the Senate seat. Democratic Party leaders, no longer considering Franks' seat to be unwinnable, decided to support Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
Manager Michael Lapolla for Congress instead of Connelly. Following this decision, Connelly did not bow out of the Congressional race as party leaders suggested. She continued her campaign and defeated Lapolla in the primary.
In the 2000 general election, Connelly faced Republican Mike Ferguson
Mike Ferguson (New Jersey)
Michael A. "Mike" Ferguson is an American Republican Party politician who served as member of the United States House of Representatives representing New Jersey's 7th congressional district from 2001 to 2009.-Life and early career:...
, who had defeated Tom Kean Jr., Assemblyman Joel Weingarten
Joel Weingarten
Joel M. Weingarten is an American Republican Party politician who served two full terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 21st Legislative District from 1996 to 2002....
, and Patrick Morrissey in the Republican Party primary. Following a competitive race, Ferguson defeated Connelly. She received 48% of the vote. Connelly was recognized by the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
with a NOW Woman of Courage Award
National Organization for Women (NOW) Woman of Courage Award Winners
Since 1994, the National Organization for Women has presented the Woman of Courage Award annually at the National NOW Conference and periodically at issue-based summits organized by NOW and/or the NOW Foundation...
for the race.