John G. Rowland
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| John G. Rowland | |
|---|---|
| Name | John G. Rowland |
| Order | 86th |
| Office | Governor of Connecticut |
| Lieutenant | Jodi Rell |
| Term start | January 4, 1995 |
| Term end | July 1, 2004 |
| Predecessor | Lowell P. Weicker Jr. |
| Successor | Jodi Rell |
| State1 | Connecticut |
| District1 | 5th |
| Term start1 | January 3, 1985 |
| Term end1 | January 3, 1991 |
| Predecessor1 | William R. Ratchford |
| Successor1 | Gary Franks |
| Office2 | Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives |
| Term start2 | 1981 |
| Term end2 | 1985 |
| Constituency2 | Waterbury |
| Birth date | 24 May 1957 |
| Birth place | Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Patricia Rowland, 1980 |
| Education | Villanova University (BA), University of Connecticut School of Business (MBA) |
| Alma mater | Holy Cross High School |
John G. Rowland is an American former politician who served as the 86th Governor of Connecticut from 1995 until his resignation in 2004. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the Connecticut House of Representatives and represented the 5th district in the United States House of Representatives. His tenure as governor was marked by significant economic initiatives but ended in scandal, culminating in a federal corruption conviction and imprisonment.
Early life and education
John G. Rowland was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and attended Holy Cross High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Villanova University in 1979. Following his undergraduate studies, Rowland pursued a Master of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut School of Business, graduating in 1984. His early interest in politics was influenced by the industrial landscape of New England and the political climate of the Northeastern United States.
Early political career
Rowland's political career began with his election to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1980, representing his hometown of Waterbury. In 1984, he successfully ran for the United States House of Representatives, winning the seat in Connecticut's 5th congressional district and becoming, at age 27, the youngest member of the 99th United States Congress. During his three terms in Washington, D.C., he served on committees including the House Banking Committee and aligned with the policies of the Ronald Reagan administration. After an unsuccessful bid for governor in 1990 against Lowell P. Weicker Jr., he worked in the private sector before mounting another campaign.
Governorship of Connecticut
Elected in 1994, Rowland took office as governor in January 1995, defeating William E. Curry Jr. His administration focused on economic development, championing projects like the Adriaen's Landing development in Hartford and the revitalization of Downtown New Haven. He worked with the Connecticut General Assembly to pass budgets, cut certain taxes, and oversee the landmark Sheff v. O'Neill school desegregation settlement. Rowland was re-elected in 1998 and 2002, winning support from some traditionally Democratic constituencies. His tenure also saw the establishment of the University of Connecticut Health Center as a major research institution and the state's response to the September 11 attacks.
Federal corruption investigation and conviction
In 2004, a federal corruption investigation led by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut and the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that Rowland had accepted gifts and favors from state contractors and subordinates. These included improvements to his Bantam Lake cottage, vacations, and free work from companies like the Tomasso Group. Facing imminent impeachment by the Connecticut House of Representatives and a widening probe, Rowland resigned from office on July 1, 2004. In December 2004, he pleaded guilty to one count of honest services fraud before Judge Peter C. Dorsey and was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, which he served at Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto.
Post-prison career and later life
After his release from prison in 2006, Rowland was hired as an economic development coordinator for the city of Waterbury by Mayor Michael J. Jarjura. He later hosted a talk radio show on WTIC-AM in Hartford. In 2014, he was indicted again on federal charges related to alleged campaign fraud during a congressional bid, convicted in 2015, and sentenced to a further 30 months in prison. Following his second release, he has maintained a low public profile, occasionally writing opinion pieces for Connecticut media outlets. His case remains a notable example of political corruption in New England history.
Category:1957 births Category:American people convicted of corruption Category:Governors of Connecticut Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut Category:People from Waterbury, Connecticut Category:Republican Party governors of Connecticut Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut Category:University of Connecticut alumni Category:Villanova University alumni