1. Sue Weisenbarger Kelly is an American businesswoman and politician who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2007, representing New York's 19th District.
21 Facts About Sue Kelly
1. 2.
Sue Kelly was elected to the seat that had been held by Republican Hamilton Fish IV after he dropped out of the 1994 race due to prostate cancer.
3.
Sue Kelly served from February 1999 to April 2001 as Chair of the House Page Board, which came under fire during the Mark Foley scandal.
4.
Sue Kelly was born in Lima, Ohio, on September 26,1936.
5.
Sue Kelly was raised Presbyterian and graduated from Denison University in 1958.
6.
Sue Kelly holds a Master's degree from Sarah Lawrence College.
7.
Sue Kelly first became involved in politics by working as an advisor and campaign manager for Hamilton Fish IV, who represented Kelly's home area in New York's Hudson Valley.
8.
When Congressman Hamilton Fish IV, a Republican, decided not to seek re-election in 1994, Kelly sought and won the nomination for the congressional seat, defeating Joseph J DioGuardi, Guy Parisi, and Paul Bucha.
9.
Sue Kelly defeated Fish's son, Hamilton Fish V, who ran as a Democrat, and Conservative Party candidate Joseph DioGuardi, who had been defeated by her in the Republican primary but continued campaigning.
10.
Sue Kelly was re-elected by a seven-point margin in 1996 and had comfortable victory margins in her campaigns thereafter.
11.
Sue Kelly highlighted a socially moderate and fiscally conservative voting record.
12.
Sue Kelly was among the 100 most powerful lawmakers in the 435-member House.
13.
On November 7,2006, Sue Kelly was narrowly defeated by Democratic opponent John Hall by less than 4700 votes.
14.
Sue Kelly refused to speak to a reporter from a local news network about the matter and did not appear at a televised debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
15.
Sue Kelly was represented by an empty chair at the debate.
16.
Sue Kelly was endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters, an environmental advocacy group.
17.
Sue Kelly stated she was an "independent voice" in Congress, but the Times Herald Record noted that in 25 of the closest House votes during her last session, Sue Kelly sided with the Republican leadership 24 of those times.
18.
Sue Kelly was a member of The Republican Majority For Choice, Republicans for Choice, The Wish List, The Republican Main Street Partnership, and Republicans for Environmental Protection.
19.
Sue Kelly received a grade of a C+ from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, an issue which she felt strongly on because of her nephew's service in Iraq and Afghanistan with the United States Special Forces.
20.
Sue Kelly voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004 and in 2006, a bill to permanently ban gay marriage in all states.
21.
Sue Kelly is married to Edward Kelly, and they live in Katonah, New York.