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Biography
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State Representative DebraLee Hovey is a conscientious legislator who takes pride in her commitment to constituent service, her role as a voice for the towns of Monroe and Newtown at the State Capitol and her work on behalf of policies that encourage economic growth and job creation in Connecticut.
Recognizing Representative Hovey for her leadership qualities and her record of achievements, House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero, R-142nd District, appointed her as House Ranking Member (Republican leader) on the General Assembly’s Education Committee for the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions.
Her background and experience as an education professional enable her to make significant contributions to the work of this committee. Representative Hovey is committed to maintaining and improving upon Connecticut’s reputation for having one of the best school systems in the United States and to ensuring a quality education for all students.
Other important legislative priorities include reforming the state’s Education Cost Sharing program to make it more equitable to suburban communities and increasing the state’s share of the cost of special education to towns.
Representative. Hovey also serves as a member of the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee and Judiciary Committee—two of the Legislature’s busiest committees. In fact, according to a 2006 report from the non-partisan Office of Legislative Research (OLR), the top-ranked committees in activity the previous year were: (1) Judiciary, (2) Appropriations, (3) Environment, (3) Energy and Technology and (4) Labor and Public Employees.
In 2007, Governor M. Jodi Rell appointed Representative Hovey to the state's Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJACA). In addition, she has been appointed to serve concurrently as Connecticut's representative to the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice (FACJJ).
The state JJAC is a Governor-appointed committee that oversees federal funding for youth development programs under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act in Connecticut. JJAC was established under this federal legislation in 1974 and advises the Governor and the Office of Policy and Management on juvenile justice and delinquency prevention issues.
The FACJJ is a consultative body composed of appointed representatives of the nation's State Advisory Groups that advises the President and Congress on matters related to juvenile justice and evaluates the progress and accomplishments of juvenile justice activities and projects.
Representative Hovey serves as a member of the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation’s (CSLF) board of directors. CSLF is a national, non-profit agency that administers and guarantees loans within the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). CSLF promotes access to higher education by helping families plan for and pursue their postsecondary education and assuring that low-cost funding options remain available to eligible students and parents.
In addition, in 2007, the Women in Government organization elected Representative DebraLee Hovey its treasurer. Women In Government is a national non-profit, bi-partisan organization of women state legislators providing leadership opportunities, networking, expert forums, and educational resources to address and resolve complex public policy issues. It was founded in 1988 for elected women in state government and provides a neutral platform for bringing women policymakers together to share information and seek solutions to timely issues before federal, state and local governments.
The Girl Scouts of the Housatonic Council Inc. named Representative Hovey a 2007 Woman of Distinction. The honor recognizes women who serve their community and provide positive role models for girls.
As an active member of the Fairfield County legislative delegation, Representative Hovey played a major role in securing additional funding for the purchase of more railcars for Metro North.
Representative Hovey is a member of the state Advisory Council for Special Education and serves on the Milford Rape Crisis Center’s Board of Directors.
She is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Council for Exceptional Children, the Association of Educational and Psychological Consultants and the Endangered Lands Coalition.
She was the co-founder of CECDLD in New Hampshire and is listed in the Who’s Who Registry of Rising Young Americans.
Representative Hovey, who was born in Houlton, Maine, was active in politics and civic groups in the state for several years.
She was the vice chairperson and chief negotiator for the Freeport School Board and a member of the Board of Directors of the Preble Street Resource Center for the Homeless. She also was active with the Junior League of Portland, Maine.
Representative Hovey serves on the Monroe Republican Town Committee. She is a volunteer for YMCA Camp Hi-rock and is active with the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County.
She is a former member of the Monroe Historical Commission and the Monroe Inland Wetlands Commission.
Representative Hovey graduated from the University of Maine in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education of the Learning Disabled, K-12 and Elementary Education, K-8; and from the University of Southern Maine in 1988 with a Master of Science Degree in Exceptionality, concentration in Gifted Child Education and Education of the Learning Disabled.
She also trained at the University of Hawaii in 1981, in educational psychology, Curriculum for Young Gifted Children; at the University of Texas at Austin in 1990, as a Trainer of School Consultation; and at the SOI Insitute of Vida, Oregon, in 1997, where she became an Advanced Trainer in the Structure of Intellect Theory.
Representative Hovey is married to Paul J. Balsano, a Bridgeport firefighter. They have a blended family with her son Christopher, and his daughters Ashley and Jessica.
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