Matthew P. Denn
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| Matthew P. Denn | |
 Insurance Commissioner of Delaware |
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| State Insurance Commissioner | |
|---|---|
| Born | about 1966 Wilmington, Delaware |
| Residence | Wilmington, Delaware |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Michele |
Matthew P. "Matt" Denn, is a lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He is a member of the Democratic Party and is the incumbent State Insurance Commissioner of Delaware.
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[edit] Early life and family
Denn was born in Wilmington, Delaware, son of Morton Denn, a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Delaware. He grew up in suburban Hockessin in New Castle County and moved to California during high school. A graduate with honors of the University of California, Berkeley, he received his law degree from Yale Law School in 1991. He now lives in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife, Michele, and twin children, Zachary and Adam.
[edit] Professional career
Returning to Delaware in 1991, Denn worked for two years with Delaware Volunteer Legal Services and then went into private practice, becoming a partner with the law firm of Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor in 2000. There he argued cases involving insurance disputes, personal injuries, real estate, commercial and corporate disputes, and bankruptcies, and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Young Lawyers Section of the Delaware State Bar Association. In 1998, he was appointed chairman of Delaware's new Child Protection Accountability Commission, a commission set up in the aftermath of the deaths of several children in state care. He also served on a variety of boards and commissions, including Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Delaware, the Wilmington Civil Rights Commission, and the Kutz Home. Denn has also served as an adjunct professor at Widener University Law School in the area of constitutional law.
[edit] Political career
As Governor Ruth Ann Minner's legal counsel from 2001 through 2003, Denn wrote several of the Governor's major legislative initiatives, such as the Patients Bill of Rights (regulating health insurance companies), anti-terrorism legislation, environmental legislation, and legislation protecting school teachers from lawsuits. He also represented the Governor on a variety of task forces, including the Governor's Strategic Economic Council and the Governor's Cancer Task Force.
Denn ran for a seat in the State Senate in 1998, losing to incumbent State Senator Bob Conner and receiving approximately 45% of the vote. He was elected Delaware State Insurance Commissioner in 2004 defeating Democratic Party primary rival, Karen Weldin Stewart, and Republican Party candidate, Dave Ennis, a member of Delaware General Assembly from New Castle County. He has served as Insurance Commissioner since January 4, 2005.
Since taking office, Denn has been seen as a strong advocate for consumers. He has required insurance companies to provide promptly pay doctor and hospitals; required an annual notice to homeowners from insurance companies of potentially costly gaps in their coverage; expanded his department's Consumer Services unit; began seizing the license plates of cars without insurance and jacked up fines against insurance companies. He is Delaware's foremost advocate to create a health insurance pool for individuals and small business.
Denn is considered to be a possible candidate for Lt. Governor of Delaware in 2008.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Donna Lee Williams |
Insurance Commissioner of Delaware January 18, 2005 – present |
Incumbent |
[edit] Public offices
Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. The Insurance Commissioner takes office on the third Tuesday of January and has a four year term.
| Office | Type | Location | Elected | Took Office | Left Office | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Commissioner | Executive | Dover | 2004 | January 18, 2005 | January 20, 2009 |
[edit] Election results
| Year | Office | Election | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
| 2004 | Insurance Commissioner |
Primary | Matthew P. Denn | Democratic | 18,436 | 58% | Karen Weldin Stewart | Democratic | 13,363 | 42% | ||
| 2004 | Insurance Commissioner |
General | Matthew P. Denn | Democratic | 182,619 | 53% | David H. Ennis | Republican | 163,027 | 47% |
[edit] References
- Insurance Commissioner. State of Delaware. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
[edit] External links
[edit] Places with more information
- University of Delaware Library 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965.
- Newark Free Library 750 Library Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 731-7550.
- Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library 2nd and High St., Odessa, Delaware (302) 378-8838.
- Historical Society of Delaware 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161.
