Barbara McConnell

October 5, 1936

Nashville, Tennessee , United States

In 1955, she was selected Mission Putnam County and competed in the Mission Tennessee pageant. She earned a Bachelor of Surgery degree in 1957 from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now Tennessee Technological University). Joe L. Evins, first as a secretary and then as an administrative assistant. 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. 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. 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. 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 Company She has continued to reside in Delaware Township.

Barbara McConnell

Edit Profile

General politician

Background

McConnell was born Barbara Wright, daughter of Carson and Mildred Wright, in Nashville, Tennessee. She grew up in Livingston, Tennessee, graduating from Livingston Academy.

Career

In 1955, she was selected Mission Putnam County and competed in the Mission Tennessee pageant. She earned a Bachelor of Surgery degree in 1957 from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now Tennessee Technological University). Joe L. Evins, first as a secretary and then as an administrative assistant.

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.

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.

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. 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 Company

She has continued to reside in Delaware Township.

Main Photo

School period

College/University

Career

Achievements

Membership

Awards

Other Photos

Connections

Connections

Barbara McConnell

Background

Career

Born

Nationality

Political Party