| George Jepsen | |
|---|---|
| George Jepsen in July 2010 | |
| 24th Attorney General of Connecticut | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Richard Blumenthal |
| Majority Leader of the Connecticut Senate | |
| In office 1997–2003 |
|
| Member of the Connecticut Senate from the 27th District | |
| In office 1991–2003 |
|
| Preceded by | Richard Blumenthal |
| Succeeded by | Andrew J. McDonald |
| Constituency | Stamford, Darien (part) |
| Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 148th District | |
| In office 1987–1991 |
|
| Constituency | Stamford (part) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 23, 1954 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Diana Sousa |
| Children | Christian Jepsen, William Jepsen |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College (B.A.) Harvard Kennedy School (M.P.P.) Harvard Law School (J.D.) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Website | Attorney General website |
George Jepsen (born November 23, 1954) is an American lawyer, politician, and incumbent Attorney General of Connecticut.
George Jepsen was a State Senator from Connecticut's 27th Senate District, representing Stamford and part of Darien, and served in the Connecticut Senate from 1991 to 2003.[1] During his time in the Senate, he served as Senate Majority Leader from 1997 to 2003.[1] Prior to that, he served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1987 to 1991, representing part of Stamford in Connecticut's 148th House District.[1] After leaving elected office, he became Chairman of the Connecticut State Democratic Party from 2003 to 2004.
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A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College, Jepsen earned his law degree from Harvard Law School with honors and also earned a masters degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government.[1] To help pay for his education, he worked as a teaching fellow in constitutional law for former Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox.[1]
Following graduation, Jepsen worked as staff counsel for the carpenter's union (UBC Local 210) for Western Connecticut.[1][2] For nearly ten years, Jepsen negotiated contracts for wages and benefits, represented injured workers, ensured job safety, and advocated for different bidding practices.[1]
Since entering private practice, Jepsen has worked at some of Connecticut's top law firms on a range of legal issues.[1] He has experience with probate court and estate planning.[1] He has represented small business in contract negotiations, government compliance, and real estate transactions.[1] He also defended individuals in the criminal courts and served as counsel to clients in the civil courts.[1] Jepsen also has successfully worked on complex legal issues as part of a successful appellate team in a number of cases before the Connecticut Supreme Court.[1]
George Jepsen served 16 years in the Connecticut General Assembly, first as State Representative from the 148th House District, and then as a State Senator from Connecticut's 27th Senate District, the last six as Majority Leader.[1] As a legislator, Jepsen worked hard to pass laws to protect the environment, civil rights, and legitimate businesses.[1] He crafted laws that preserve open space, clean water, clean air, and clean energy.[1] Jepsen fought special interests to ensure gun safety, by ensuring passage of the assault weapons ban.[1] He crafted laws that protect personal privacy and individual freedom, civil rights laws protecting the right to choose, the right to create a living will, and supported the right to marry regardless of gender.[1] He helped enact laws that reformed HMO and insurance practices, including requiring insurance companies to permit new mothers to stay in a hospital for more than 24 hours.[1] He successfully fought for laws to ensure fair elections and ethical government.[1]
As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen fought for a host of bills to protect Connecticut's natural assets.[1] He co-authored the Open Space Trust Fund, an initiative that sets aside $10 million in funding for the purchase of open space and he championed legislation that encourages corporations to turn unused land into open space.[1] Jepsen successfully worked to pass legislation to clean up brown fields to revitalize blighted areas, including efforts to provide municipalities property tax flexibility on brown field sites, and expand state financial assistance to re-developers.[1] He championed tax credits to businesses that invested in redevelopment of contaminated properties anywhere in the state.[1]
Jepsen helped the passage of major legislation to replace Connecticut's "Sooty Six" power plants with cleaner plants that have lower emissions.[1] "Sooty Six" was one of Connecticut's largest environmental debates. These six old coal-burning plants were contributing to Connecticut's unique air pollution problem and rise in asthma rates.[1] He also sought new funding to upgrade sewage treatment plants for cleaner rivers and a cleaner Long Island Sound.[1]
As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen championed several new laws that leveled the playing field and took on entrenched interest groups.[1] During the height of the National Rifle Association's political power, Jepsen became a national leader against the NRA and for gun control.[1] He passed landmark legislation prohibiting the sale or possession of assault weapons, mandating trigger locks, and demanding tougher background checks.[1] For his work, he was nationally recognized by the Brady Campaign and the Million Mom March.[1]
Jepsen led the effort that put the rights that women earned through Roe v. Wade into state law.[1] Both the National Organization for Women (NOW) and NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut (formerly the National Abortion Rights Action League) recognized him for his work. He further fought to ban sexual orientation discrimination, to strengthen hate crime laws, and to expand Connecticut's living will laws.[1]
He supported health insurance reform to improve covered services for mental illness and emergency room conditions.[1] He helped mandate that health insurers cover the costs of mammograms and birth control, and championed legislation to outlaw "drive-thru" mastectomies and child-birth deliveries, so insurers cover at least a 48-hour hospital stay.[1]
George Jepsen announced on January 6, 2010 that he would form an exploratory committee for Attorney General.[3]
On May 22, 2010 George Jepsen received the Democratic Party's endorsement for Attorney General.[4]
On July 12, 2010 George Jepsen announced he had qualified for public financing in the Citizens Election Program.[5]
On November 2, 2010, George Jepsen was elected as Attorney General of Connecticut[6]
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