Bob Duff

Bob Duff (born 1971, Norwalk, Connecticut) is a five-term Democratic member of the Connecticut Senate, representing Norwalk and part of Darien, Connecticut in Connecticut's 25th District since 2001. He previously served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing the 137th District. He is currently Majority Leader of the Connecticut Senate, and serves as chair of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee and vice chair of the Legislative Management Committee.

Early life and family

Duff is a fifth generation Norwalk resident. He was born and raised in Norwalk and graduated from Norwalk High School in 1989.^[1] He attended Lynchburg College, and earned a B.S. in Political Science in 1993. He worked as a substitute teacher for the Norwalk Public Schools from 1993 to 1995. He has worked as a Realtor for William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty since 1995. While in college Duff was a student senator, and an intern for United States Senator Christopher J. Dodd.^[2]

Political career

He was a field coordinator for the John B. Larson for Governor Campaign in 1994. He was a campaign manager in the Norwalk mayoral race in 1995.

In 2001, he ran in a special election for the seat in the Connecticut House of Representatives left vacant by Alex Knopp when he took office as mayor of Norwalk. He beat Republican Kevin Fitzgerald by 281 votes (1210 -929).^[3][4] He was re-elected in the 2002 general election.^[5] As a state Representative, Duff served as the House vice-chair of the Energy & Technology Committee, and as a member of the Banks, Higher Education & Advancement Committee and the Select Committee on Housing.^[2]

In 2004, Duff sought the State Senate seat left open by Republican Robert Genuario who became Gov. M. Jodi Rell's budget chief.^[6] He ran against Republican Jeff Konspore, chairman of the Norwalk school board.

As a state senator, and prior to becoming Majority Leader in 2015, Duff was Deputy Majority Whip (2005-2006), Majority Whip (2007-08), Assistant Majority Leader, (2009–12), and Assistant President Pro Tempore, (2013–2014)

Associations

• Member, Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, 2007–present
• Board Member, Mid Fairfield County Child Guidance Center, 2005–present
• Member, Advisory Board, Family and Children's Agency, 2004–present
• Board Member, Elderhouse Adult Day Care Center, 2002–present
• Board Member, Human Service Council, 2002–present
• Board Member, Norwalk Tree Alliance, 2002–present
• Member, Advisory Board, Norwalk Land Trust, 2001–present
• Member, Mid Fairfield Board of Realtors, 1995–present
• Board Member, Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, 2008
• Member, Emerging Leaders' Conference, State Legislative Leaders Foundation, 2006
• Member, Fleming Fellows Leadership Institute of the Center for Policy Alternatives, 2004
• Member, Family and Children's Agency
• Member, Norwalk United Methodist Church

Awards

• Legislator of the Year, Young Men's Christian Association of Connecticut, 2003
• Legislator of the Year Award, National Association of Social Workers, Connecticut Chapter, 2005
• Rick Wallace Award of Merit Legislator of the Year Award, Connecticut Association of Not-for-profit Providers for the Aging.

External links

• State Senate Democrats - Bob Duff
• Bob Duff at Ballotpedia
• Bob Duff at Vote Smart
• Connecticut Business and Industry Association
• Bob Duff at Facebook

References

Members of the Connecticut State Senate
President of the Senate Nancy Wyman (D) President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D) Majority Leader Bob Duff (D) Minority Leader Len Fasano (R)
John Fonfara (D)    Eric D. Coleman (D)    Tim Larson (D)    Steve Cassano (D)    Beth Bye (D)    Theresa Gerratana (D)    John A. Kissel (R)    Kevin Witkos (R)    Paul R. Doyle (D)    Gary Holder-Winfield (D)    Martin M. Looney (D)    Edward M. Kennedy Jr. (D)    Danté Bartolomeo (D)    Gayle Slossberg (D)    Joan Hartley (D)    Joe Markley (R)    Joseph Crisco Jr. (D)    Andrew M. Maynard (D)    Catherine Osten (D)    Paul Formica (R)    Kevin Kelly (R)    Marilyn Moore (D)    Ed Gomes (D)    Michael McLachlan (R)    Bob Duff (D)    Toni Boucher (R)    Carlo Leone (D)    Tony Hwang (R)    Mae Flexer (D)    Clark Chapin (R)    Henri Martin (R)    Rob Kane (R)    Art Linares (R)    Len Fasano (R)    Tony Guglielmo (R)    Scott Frantz (R)
Democratic (21)    Republican (15) Connecticut General Assembly Connecticut House of Representatives Connecticut State Senate