Ernie Konnyu

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Ernest Leslie Konnyu (born May 17, 1937, in Tamási, Hungary) is a former Republican U.S. Representative from California's 12th congressional district.

Konnyu attended parochial schools in Jefferson City and St. Louis, Missouri and the University of Maryland, College Park and earned his B.S. at Ohio State University in 1965. He served in the United States Air Force at the rank of captain from 1959 to 1969 and as a major in the Air Force Reserve from 1970 to 1981. He served as director of internal audit at National Semiconductor in Santa Clara, California from 1974 to 1980.

Konnyu represented California's 22nd Assembly District, including part of Santa Clara County, from 1980 to 1986. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 and served one term after incumbent Ed Zschau opted to make an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate.

Konnyu's one term in Congress was scarred with several claims of sexual harassment. A female member of his staff complained that Konnyu told her to remove her nametag because it drew attention to her breasts which he was said to have described as small. Another staffer said that in a discussion on her office attire, Konnyu allegedly instructed her to stand up and turn around so he could look her over. A female lobbyist also scolded Konnyu in a Washington, D.C. bar for touching her knee and for his conduct toward women. The numerous controversies cost him the Republican primary in 1988 to Tom Campbell, who went on to win the general election.

Konnyu resides in Saratoga, California.

[edit] References

• Ernie Konnyu at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Ernie Konnyu at Congressional Bad Boys

Political offices
Preceded by Richard D. Hayden	California State Assemblyman, 22nd District 1980-1986	Succeeded by Chuck Quackenbush
Preceded by Ed Zschau	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 12th congressional district January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1989	Succeeded by Tom Campbell