Barbara McConnell

Who is Barbara McConnell?

Barbara Wright McConnell is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly and in the cabinet of former Governor James Florio.

McConnell was born Barbara Wright, daughter of Carson and Mildred Wright, in Nashville, Tennessee. 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 Technical Institute. 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.

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.