Diane Farrell

Diane Farrell was the Democratic Party nominee in the 2006 congressional election for the Fourth Congressional District of Connecticut (map). She unsuccessfully challenged Republican Rep. Chris Shays.

Early life
Born in 1955 in New Rochelle, New York, Farrell graduated from Wheaton College in 1977. She then worked as an elementary school, and later the advertising industry. 

Political career
Farrell served two terms as the First Selectwoman of the town of Westport, Connecticut, a position equivalent to Mayor. Farrell was first elected in 1997 with 59% of the vote and was reelected with 70% of the vote in 2001. 

In 2002, Farrell was elected Chair of the South Western Regional Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Connecticut organization responsible for managing development and sprawl in Fairfield County. 

Congressional campaigns
Farrell ran for the U.S. Congress in Connecticut 4th's Congressional District Election in 2004 against incumbent Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Ct.). She began her campaign in the spring of that year, raising over $1.9 million. Ultimately, she was defeated in a close race in which she received 48% of the vote. She chose to challenge Shays again in the 2006 congressional elections. She once again was unsuccessful, garnering 48% of the vote. 

Committees
Farrell will be assigned committees if and when she is elected to Congress.

Resources

 * Diane Farrell for Congress, official campaign site.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * ShaysWatch.com
 * Connecticut Local Politics

Campaign contact information
Email: Phone: 203-227-5447 Mail: Post Office Box 5136 Westport, CT 06881 Campaign Office: 125 Weston Road Westport, CT 06880