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{{short description|American politician}}
'''Barbara Wright McConnell''' (October 5, 1936<ref name=LegNJ>{{cite book |title=Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual: State of New Jersey |year=1979 |publisher=J.A. Fitzgerald |page=231 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ipMAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> – October 21, 2016<ref name="obit1" />) was an American [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] [[politician]] from [[New Jersey]], who served in the [[New Jersey General Assembly]] and in the cabinet of former Governor [[James Florio]].
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Barbara McConnell
|image =
|caption =
|state_assembly=New Jersey
|district=[[New Jersey's 14th legislative district|14th]]
|term_start = January 10, 1978
|term_end = January 12, 1982
|alongside = [[Karl Weidel]]
|predecessor = [[Walter E. Foran]]
|successor = [[Joseph L. Bocchini Jr.]]<br>[[Joseph D. Patero]]
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|10|5}}
|birth_place = [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|10|21|1936|10|5}}
|death_place = [[Raritan Township, New Jersey]]
|education = [[Tennessee Technological University|Tennessee Polytechnic Institute]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
|spouse = Terry McConnell
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
}}


'''Barbara Wright McConnell''' (October 5, 1936 – October 21, 2016)<ref name=LegNJ>{{cite book |title=Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual: State of New Jersey |year=1979 |publisher=J.A. Fitzgerald |page=231 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ipMAAAAMAAJ}}</ref><ref name="obit1" /> was an American [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] politician from [[New Jersey]], who served in the [[New Jersey General Assembly]] from 1978 to 1982 and in the cabinet of former Governor [[James Florio]].
McConnell was born Barbara Wright, daughter of Carson and Mildred Wright, in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref name=LegNJ/> She grew up in [[Livingston, Tennessee]], graduating from Livingston Academy. In 1955, she was selected Miss [[Putnam County, Tennessee|Putnam County]] and competed in the [[Miss Tennessee]] pageant. She earned a [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] degree in 1957 from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now [[Tennessee Technological University]]).<ref name=NotableWomen>{{cite web |url=http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/pdf/c&h/notablewomenofhuntco.pdf |title=Notable Women Throughout the History of Hunterdon County |publisher=Hunterdon County Culture & Heritage Commission |year=2000 |accessdate=March 10, 2008}}</ref> After graduating from college, she married Terry McConnell, who worked for the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]].


==Biography==
After moving with her husband to [[Washington, D.C.]], McConnell worked for U.S. Rep. [[Joe L. Evins]], first as a secretary and then as an administrative assistant. When her husband accepted an offer to work with a bank in New Jersey, they moved to [[Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Delaware Township]] outside [[Flemington, New Jersey]]. McConnell became active in the local Democratic Party organization, and in 1977 she was elected to the [[New Jersey General Assembly]] in a district usually dominated by Republicans.<ref>{{cite news |first=Martin |last=Waldron |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F3061FF83E5E137B93C6A91789D95F438785F9 |title=Women Gaining Stature in Legislature |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 4, 1977 |accessdate=March 10, 2008}}</ref>
McConnell was born Barbara Wright, daughter of Carson and Mildred Wright, in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref name=LegNJ/> She grew up in [[Livingston, Tennessee]], graduating from Livingston Academy. In 1955, she was selected Miss [[Putnam County, Tennessee|Putnam County]] and competed in the [[Miss Tennessee]] pageant. She earned a [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] degree in 1957 from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now [[Tennessee Technological University]]).<ref name=NotableWomen>{{cite web |url=http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/pdf/c%26h/notablewomenofhuntco.pdf |title=Notable Women Throughout the History of Hunterdon County |publisher=Hunterdon County Culture & Heritage Commission |year=2000 |accessdate=March 10, 2008 |archive-date=March 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326112926/http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/pdf/c%26h/notablewomenofhuntco.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> After graduating from college, she married Terry McConnell, who worked for the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]].


While serving in the Assembly, McConnell worked on legislation to combat discrimination against women by lending institutions, as well as legislation helping to protect women against domestic violence. She served as president of the board of the [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Hunterdon County]] volunteer organization Women's Crisis Services, now known as [http://www.safeinhunterdon.org/ SAFE in Hunterdon].
After moving with her husband to [[Washington, D.C.]], McConnell worked for U.S. Rep. [[Joe L. Evins]], first as a secretary and then as an administrative assistant. When her husband accepted an offer to work with a bank in New Jersey, they moved to [[Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Delaware Township]] outside [[Flemington, New Jersey]]. McConnell became active in the local Democratic Party organization, and in 1977 she was elected to the [[New Jersey General Assembly]] in a district usually dominated by Republicans.<ref>{{cite news |first=Martin |last=Waldron |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/04/archives/new-jersey-weekly-women-gaining-stature-in-legislature.html |title=Women Gaining Stature in Legislature |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 4, 1977 |accessdate=March 10, 2008}}</ref> While serving in the Assembly, McConnell worked on legislation to combat discrimination against women by lending institutions, as well as legislation helping to protect women against domestic violence. She served as president of the board of the [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Hunterdon County]] volunteer organization Women's Crisis Services, now known as SAFE in Hunterdon.


In 1981, McConnell gave up her seat in the Assembly to run in the Democratic primary for [[Governor of New Jersey]]. In a crowded race, she finished with only 3% of the vote, well behind the front-runner James Florio.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=Maurice |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20815FD395C0C778CDDAF0894D9484D81 |title=Florio and Kean Agree Taxes Are a Key Issue |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 4, 1981 |accessdate= March 10, 2008}}</ref> Florio lost in the general election to [[Thomas Kean]] but later served a term as governor from 1990 to 1994.
In 1981, McConnell gave up her seat in the Assembly to run in the Democratic primary for [[Governor of New Jersey]]. In a crowded race, she finished with only 3% of the vote, well behind the front-runner James Florio.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=Maurice |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20815FD395C0C778CDDAF0894D9484D81 |title=Florio and Kean Agree Taxes Are a Key Issue |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 4, 1981 |accessdate= March 10, 2008}}</ref> Florio lost in the general election to [[Thomas Kean]] but later served a term as governor from 1990 to 1994. After her defeat in the gubernatorial race, McConnell served as president of the New Jersey Food Council, a lobbying group representing the food industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njfoodcouncil.com/NJFC_Contact.html |title=New Jersey Food Council |accessdate=March 10, 2008 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319140756/http://www.njfoodcouncil.com/NJFC_Contact.html |archive-date=March 19, 2008 }}</ref> She returned to public service ten years later in the Florio administration, when she was appointed as New Jersey Commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development. She was the first woman to serve in this position.


After her defeat in the gubernatorial race, McConnell served as president of the New Jersey Food Council, a lobbying group representing the food industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njfoodcouncil.com/NJFC_Contact.html |title=New Jersey Food Council |accessdate=March 10, 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319140756/http://www.njfoodcouncil.com:80/NJFC_Contact.html |archivedate=March 19, 2008 |df= }}</ref> She returned to public service ten years later in the Florio administration, when she was appointed as New Jersey Commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development. She was the first woman to serve in this position.
Following the end of Governor Florio's term of office in January 1994, McConnell again worked as a lobbyist, establishing the McConnell Group to represent the interests of several large companies and organizations, including [[Coca-Cola Bottling Co.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/hiredguns/reg.aspx?state=NJ |title=Ex-Legislators Registered to Lobby 2005 - New Jersey |publisher=[[Center for Public Integrity]] |accessdate=March 10, 2008 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104174856/http://www.publicintegrity.org/hiredguns/reg.aspx?state=NJ |archive-date=November 4, 2007 }}</ref> She continued to reside in [[Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Delaware Township]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/frholder/2006/August22.pdf |publisher=Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders |title=August 22, 2006 |accessdate=March 10, 2008}}</ref>


She died following hip surgery on October 21, 2016, in [[Raritan Township, New Jersey]] at age 80.<ref name="obit1">{{cite web|last1=Pizarro|first1=Max|title=Former NJ Assemblywoman Barbara McConnnell has Died|url=http://observer.com/2016/10/former-nj-assemblywoman-barbara-mcconnnell-has-died/|website=PolitickerNJ|accessdate=October 26, 2016|date=October 21, 2016}}</ref>
Following the end of Governor Florio's term of office in January 1994, McConnell again worked as a lobbyist, establishing the McConnell Group to represent the interests of several large companies and organizations, including [[Coca-Cola Bottling Co.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/hiredguns/reg.aspx?state=NJ |title=Ex-Legislators Registered to Lobby 2005 - New Jersey |publisher=[[Center for Public Integrity]] |accessdate=March 10, 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104174856/http://www.publicintegrity.org:80/hiredguns/reg.aspx?state=NJ |archivedate=November 4, 2007 |df= }}</ref>

She continued to reside in [[Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Delaware Township]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/frholder/2006/August22.pdf |publisher=Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders |title=August 22, 2006 |accessdate=March 10, 2008}}</ref>

Barbara died Friday, October 21, 2016 following hip surgery.<ref name="obit1">{{cite web|last1=Pizarro|first1=Max|title=Former NJ Assemblywoman Barbara McConnnell has Died|url=http://observer.com/2016/10/former-nj-assemblywoman-barbara-mcconnnell-has-died/|website=PolitickerNJ|accessdate=October 26, 2016|date=October 21, 2016}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McConnell, Barbara}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McConnell, Barbara}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:Members of the New Jersey General Assembly]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:New Jersey Democrats]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly]]
[[Category:People from Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:People from Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:People from Overton County, Tennessee]]
[[Category:People from Livingston, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Politicians from Hunterdon County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of New Jersey]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of New Jersey]]
[[Category:Tennessee Technological University alumni]]
[[Category:Tennessee Technological University alumni]]
[[Category:Women state legislators in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Women state legislators in New Jersey]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the New Jersey Legislature]]

Latest revision as of 20:59, 7 December 2024

Barbara McConnell
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 14th district
In office
January 10, 1978 – January 12, 1982
Serving with Karl Weidel
Preceded byWalter E. Foran
Succeeded byJoseph L. Bocchini Jr.
Joseph D. Patero
Personal details
Born(1936-10-05)October 5, 1936
Nashville, Tennessee
DiedOctober 21, 2016(2016-10-21) (aged 80)
Raritan Township, New Jersey
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseTerry McConnell
EducationTennessee Polytechnic Institute (BS)

Barbara Wright McConnell (October 5, 1936 – October 21, 2016)[1][2] was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1978 to 1982 and in the cabinet of former Governor James Florio.

Biography

[edit]

McConnell was born Barbara Wright, daughter of Carson and Mildred Wright, in Nashville, Tennessee.[1] She grew up in Livingston, Tennessee, graduating from Livingston Academy. In 1955, she was selected Miss Putnam County and competed in the Miss Tennessee pageant. She earned a B.S. degree in 1957 from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now Tennessee Technological University).[3] After graduating from college, she married Terry McConnell, who worked for the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

After moving with her husband to Washington, D.C., McConnell worked for U.S. Rep. Joe L. Evins, first as a secretary and then as an administrative assistant. When her husband accepted an offer to work with a bank in New Jersey, they moved to Delaware Township outside Flemington, New Jersey. McConnell became active in the local Democratic Party organization, and in 1977 she was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in a district usually dominated by Republicans.[4] While serving in the Assembly, McConnell worked on legislation to combat discrimination against women by lending institutions, as well as legislation helping to protect women against domestic violence. She served as president of the board of the Hunterdon County volunteer organization Women's Crisis Services, now known as SAFE in Hunterdon.

In 1981, McConnell gave up her seat in the Assembly to run in the Democratic primary for Governor of New Jersey. In a crowded race, she finished with only 3% of the vote, well behind the front-runner James Florio.[5] Florio lost in the general election to Thomas Kean but later served a term as governor from 1990 to 1994. After her defeat in the gubernatorial race, McConnell served as president of the New Jersey Food Council, a lobbying group representing the food industry.[6] She returned to public service ten years later in the Florio administration, when she was appointed as New Jersey Commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development. She was the first woman to serve in this position.

Following the end of Governor Florio's term of office in January 1994, McConnell again worked as a lobbyist, establishing the McConnell Group to represent the interests of several large companies and organizations, including Coca-Cola Bottling Co.[7] She continued to reside in Delaware Township.[8]

She died following hip surgery on October 21, 2016, in Raritan Township, New Jersey at age 80.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual: State of New Jersey. J.A. Fitzgerald. 1979. p. 231.
  2. ^ a b Pizarro, Max (October 21, 2016). "Former NJ Assemblywoman Barbara McConnnell has Died". PolitickerNJ. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  3. ^ "Notable Women Throughout the History of Hunterdon County" (PDF). Hunterdon County Culture & Heritage Commission. 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2009. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
  4. ^ Waldron, Martin (December 4, 1977). "Women Gaining Stature in Legislature". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
  5. ^ Carroll, Maurice (June 4, 1981). "Florio and Kean Agree Taxes Are a Key Issue". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
  6. ^ "New Jersey Food Council". Archived from the original on March 19, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
  7. ^ "Ex-Legislators Registered to Lobby 2005 - New Jersey". Center for Public Integrity. Archived from the original on November 4, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
  8. ^ "August 22, 2006" (PDF). Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
[edit]