Matthew P. Denn

Matthew P. "Matt" Denn (born February 9, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician from Hockessin in New Castle County, Delaware. He is a member of the Democratic Party who was the Insurance Commissioner of Delaware and is currently the 25th Lieutenant Governor of Delaware.

Early life and family

Denn was born in Wilmington, Delaware, son of Morton Denn, a professor of chemical engineering at the City College of New York, and Marilyn Denn. He grew up in suburban Hockessin and moved to Berkeley, California during high school. A graduate with honors and student body president at the University of California, Berkeley, he received his law degree from Yale Law School in 1991. He now lives with his wife, Michele, and twin children, Zachary and Adam.

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.

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 first ran for a seat in the State Senate in 1998, losing to incumbent State Senator Bob Conner. However, he was elected 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. He served as Insurance Commissioner from January 4, 2005 until January 4, 2009.

Lieutenant governor

Denn announced in March 2007 that he was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware in the election of 2008. Another Democratic candidate, Wilmington City Council President Ted Blunt, ended his campaign in spring 2008, avoiding a primary. Denn took more than 61 percent of the vote, defeating Republican candidate Charlie Copeland in a statewide Democratic landslide.

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. The Lieutenant Governor and Insurance Commissioner take office the third Tuesday of January and has a four-year term.

References

• "Insurance Commissioner". State of Delaware. http://www.delawareinsurance.gov/. 

External links

• State Democrats endorse in Insurance Race
• 2004 Campaign Web Site
• 2004 Campaign Photos
• Case Study

Places with more information

• Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161
• University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965