Mary Ann Handley is in her fourth term as State Senator. She holds the position of Assistant Majority Leader.
She serves as the co-chair of the Legislature's Human Services Committee. She also serves as the vice-chair of the Environment Committees and a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, serving as that committee's Co-Chair of the Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee. Senator Handley is in her fourth term.
From her first term on, Senator Handley has established herself as a champion for education, bringing millions of dollars to the 4th District for local school construction projects. She has also been an outspoken advocate for Manchester Community Technical College and other state universities and colleges. Senator Handley worked to pass managed care reforms and she helped write the state HUSKY Health Care Plan to provide health insurance coverage to as many as 303,000 children and their parents. Senator Handley has also been a strong advocate for local municipal libraries. Senator Handley has consistently supported controlled state spending and tax reforms that reduce the burden on working families.
The Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies recognized Senator Handley as their 2003 Family Legislator of the Year. She also earned the 2004 Library Champion Award from the Connecticut Library Association.
Long active in community service, Senator Handley served on the Manchester Board of Directors from 1987 to 1989 and again from 1991 to 1996 as the town's Deputy Mayor. She has been a member of Manchester's Human Relations Commission, the Cheney Historic District Commission, the Martin Luther King Day Committee, the Substance Abuse Council, the Housing Rehabilitation Review Committee, the Special Olympics Committee, World War II Commemoration Committee, the Manchester League of Women Voters, the Unitarian Universalist Society and the Manchester Democratic Town Committee. Senator Handley has also served as chair of the Earth Day Committee, the Heritage Day Committee, the United Nations Day Committee, Project Concern and the 1st Hispanic Mission of Manchester.
Senator Handley taught History at Manchester Community College for 30 years before retiring in 1997. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Connecticut College and earned her Master of Arts from the University of Connecticut. Senator Handley was born and raised in Manchester, where she continues to reside. Her son Tim Roy is married to Lisa Gussak, and her son Mike Roy and his married to Lisa Gates. She has six grandchildren Alexandra, Ethan, Anna, Olivia, Max and Julian.
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