John DeStefano | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 49th Mayor of New Haven | |
| In office January 6, 1994 – January 1, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | John Daniels |
| Succeeded by | Toni Harp |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 11, 1955 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Kathy DeStefano |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Connecticut, Storrs (BS, MA) |
John DeStefano Jr. (born May 11, 1955) is an American politician who served as the 49th mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, from 1994 until 2014. He was the Democratic nominee in 2006 for Governor of Connecticut, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell. He was also the named defendant in the landmark 2009 U.S. Supreme Court case of Ricci v. DeStefano. John DeStefano is the son of a New Haven police officer. John and his wife Kathy DeStefano met at the University of Connecticut as undergraduates, where he also earned a Masters in Public Administration. Kathy DeStefano is a first grade teacher in West Haven, Connecticut, and they are the parents of two adult sons.