George Jepsen
George Christian Jepsen is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 24th attorney general of Connecticut from 2011 to 2019.
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. During his time in the Senate, he served as Senate Majority Leader from 1997 to 2003. 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. After leaving the State Senate, he became Chairman of the Connecticut State Democratic Party from 2003 to 2005.
Early life and education
Jepsen was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College, he earned his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School with honors and also earned a master's degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government. To help pay for his education, he worked as a teaching fellow in constitutional law for former Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox.Career
Following graduation, Jepsen worked as staff counsel for Carpenters Local Union 210 for Western Connecticut for nearly ten years, which included such responsibilities as negotiating contracts for wages and benefits, representing injured workers, ensuring job safety, and advocating for different bidding practices. In private practice, Jepsen was employed at several Connecticut's law firms, which included work with the probate court, estate planning, representing small business in contract negotiations, government compliance, and real estate transactions. He also served as a defendant in criminal and civil courts.Connecticut General Assembly (1987–2003)
In 1984, Jepsen attempted to primary Democratic Senator of the Connecticut's [27th State Senate district|27th district] Anthony Truglia. Endorsed by Stamford Mayor Thom Serrani and former House Speaker Ernst N. Abate, he lost 51% to 49%.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. As a legislator, Jepsen worked in a variety of areas including clean energy, gun safety, and civil rights. Jepsen assisted in the development of laws that reformed HMO and insurance practices. As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen worked to develop bills that protect Connecticut's natural assets. Jepsen co-authored the Open Space Trust Fund, an initiative that sets aside $10 million in funding for the purchase of open space. Jepsen worked to pass legislation to revitalize blighted areas in brownfields, including efforts to expand state financial assistance to re-developers. This was incentivized by tax credits to businesses that invested in redevelopment of contaminated properties in the state. Jepsen helped the passage of legislation to replace Connecticut's "Sooty Six" power plants with more ecological plants that have lower level of CO2 emissions. These six old coal-burning plants were contributing to Connecticut's unique air pollution problem and rise in asthma rates. This initiative also involved new funding to upgrade sewage treatment plants for cleaner rivers.
As Senate Majority Leader, Jepsen became a national leader against the National Rifle Association. He helped pass legislation prohibiting the sale or possession of assault weapons, mandating trigger locks, and necessitating tougher background checks. This work was nationally recognized by the Brady Campaign and the Million Mom March. Jepsen worked to ban sexual orientation discrimination, strengthen hate crime laws, and expand Connecticut's living will laws. Jepsen supported health insurance reform to improve covered services for mental illness and emergency room conditions. He helped mandate that health insurers cover the costs of mammograms and birth control and helped pass legislation to outlaw “drive-through” mastectomies and childbirth deliveries, so insurers cover at least a 48-hour hospital stay.
2010–2014 Connecticut Attorney
Jepsen announced on January 6, 2010, that he would form an exploratory committee for Attorney General, receiving the Democratic Party's endorsement on May 22. On July 12 Jepsen announced he had qualified for public financing in the Citizens Election Program. On November 2, 2010, he was elected as attorney general of ConnecticutJepsen was reelected in 2014, defeating Republican opponent Kie Westby.