Andrew J. McDonald

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sen. Andrew J. McDonald

Member of the Connecticut State Senate from the 27^th district
In office 2003 – present
Preceded by	George Jepsen

Political party	Democratic
Residence	Stamford, Connecticut

Andrew J. McDonald is an American lawyer and politician from Connecticut. A Democrat, he is a member of the Connecticut State Senate representing the state's 27th district, covering Stamford and Darien.

A Stamford native, McDonald won narrow election to the senate in 2002, defeating his Republican opponent, current Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele, by 53% to 47%. He was re-elected in 2004 with 61% of the vote and in 2006 with 62%. He serves as Deputy Majority Leader and as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Prior to his election, McDonald worked as Director of Legal Affairs for the City of Stamford from 1999 to 2002. He also served on the Stamford Board of Finance from 1995 to 1999, as the board's chairman from 1997 to 1999, and as Co-Chair of the Audit Committee from 1995 to 1997. He served on the Stamford Board of Representatives from the Cove from 1993 to 1995.

McDonald was educated at the Stamford Public Schools (Stark, Dolan and Stamford High School) before receiving his Bachelor's degree in Government from Cornell University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he graduated with honors. He served as Managing Editor of the Connecticut Journal of International Law and is currently a litigation partner with Pullman & Comley, LLC, in Stamford.

In 2006 and 2007 McDonald challenged the decision of Connecticut Chief Justice William J. Sullivan to delay publication of a court decision in an effort to promote the chief justice candidacy of his colleague, Justice Peter Zarella. Sullivan challenged the power of a legislator to subpoena him to appear at a hearing, which led to a court challenge. ^[1]

In 2007 McDonald opposed a special session of the General Assembly to address parole issues following the horrific home invasion murders in Cheshire, stating "Legislating by bumper sticker motto is not the way to go." ^[2] Other Democrats were more willing to respond as Congressman Chris Murphy proposed making home invasion a federal crime. [1] McDonald relented under public pressure and a special session was held January 22, 2008 to pass laws declaring home invasion a class A felony and reforming the parole board. McDonald opposed a Three Strikes Law favored by Governor Jodi Rell to mandate life terms to career violent criminals; that measure failed to pass.

Rell reiterated her call for a Three Strikes bill on March 31, 2008 following the kidnapping and murder of an elderly New Britain woman committed by a sex offender recently released from Connecticut prison. Following the New Britain crime McDonald lambasting the prosecutor who had handled the assailant's previous case, Waterbury State's Attorney John Connelly, who agreed to a plea bargain which sentenced the defendant to an eight year prison term.[2] Prominent defense lawyer Norm Pattis called McDonald a "knucklehead" for attacking Connelly as soft on crime, noting Connelly was responsible for most of the death penalty convictions in Connecticut. [3]

McDonald is gay and is one of six openly gay members of the Connecticut General Assembly, serving alongside Sen. Andrew M. Maynard (D-Stonington), as well as Reps. Mike Lawlor (D-East Haven), Jason Bartlett (D-Bethel), Art Feltman (D-Hartford) and Beth Bye (D-West Hartford).^[3] His campaigns have won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.