Mary Jodi Rell (born November 15, 1946) is a Republican politician who became the Governor of Connecticut on July 1, 2004. She had been the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut until the governor, John G. Rowland, resigned during a corruption investigation. Rell is only the second woman Governor in Connecticut history.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Rell attended Old Dominion University and Western Connecticut State University. She received an honorary law doctorate from the University of Hartford in 2001. She moved to Brookfield, Connecticut in 1969. Rell served as a Connecticut State Representative for the 107th District in Brookfield from 1984 until 1994, when she was elected lieutenant governor. She won reelection in 1998 and 2002. Her current term expires in 2006.

Rell is married and has two grown children.

In her first months in office, Rell had enormous approval ratings, with a December '04 Quinnipac poll showing her at 80%, the highest rating ever for a governor in Connecticut. Many attributed her popularity to her personality as well as her lack of involvement in any controversial issues (such as the Rowland scandal). Speculation swirled as to whether or not she would run for a 4-year term in 2006.

On December 27, 2004, Rell underwent treatment after discovering she was in the early stages of breast cancer.

External link

• Governor Rell's Website

See Also

• List of governors of Connecticut