HOUSE DEMOCRATS • CHRISTOPHER G. DONOVAN • BIOGRAPHYy

Biography

Representative Christopher G. Donovan is Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. He was sworn in as Speaker on January 7, 2009. Representing the 84th Assembly District of Meriden, he was first elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1992. Representative Donovan served as House Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee from 1997-2003, before being elected Majority Leader in November of 2004. He served two terms as Majority Leader.

Speaker Donovan has been a key sponsor of health care reform legislation and is currently working to increase access to affordable, quality health care by opening up the state employee health care plan to municipalities, non-profits and small businesses. He believes quality health care coverage should be available to everyone in the state. Rep. Donovan has led successful fights on campaign finance reform, stem cell research funding, and supplemental Medicare coverage, as well as expansions to the HUSKY program, minimum wage increases, school-based health clinics, school nutrition, and mass transit improvements including the push for the New Haven-Springfield commuter rail line.

Representative Donovan has been recognized for his efforts by numerous groups. He received the Child Advocacy Legislative Leadership Award, was named Humanitarian of the Year, and was NASW’s Legislator of the Year. He received recognition for his support of legislation to create the Office of Multicultural Health, and Capitol Community College recognized him as an honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society.

The Connecticut State Council of Machinists presented him with their Outstanding Commitment Award. He was recognized as an important advocate for the deaf and hearing impaired, named Family Legislator of the Year, and earned an MVP award for his clean elections efforts.

Speaker Donovan is a member of the University of Connecticut School of Social Work Advisory Committee and The Collegiate Education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons Advisory Board. He is a former member of the Connecticut Family Leave Task Force.

Speaker Donovan earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology at Villanova University and his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, specializing in community organizing. He is an adjunct faculty member in the political science and sociology departments at the University of Hartford. As a community organizer in Meriden, CT, he focused on environmental, energy and housing issues. He also has been active on day care, family leave, and pay equity issues.

Chris, his wife Elaine Gallen Donovan, and his daughter Sarah live in Meriden. Chris and Elaine have a grown son Aaron who resides in Massachusetts.