Biography of John C. Carney, Jr.
John Carney's election to a second term as Lt. Governor is the latest step in a public service career in Delaware that has covered more than 20 years.
In addition to fulfilling his two constitutional duties as President of the Senate and Chairman of the Board of Pardons, John heads a wide variety of public service boards, including the Delaware Health Care Commission, the Interagency Council on Adult Literacy, the Criminal Justice Council, and the Center for Education Technology.
In 2002, he launched the award-winning education initiative, "Models of Excellence in Education," to identify practices in schools that have raised student achievement. He also created the healthy lifestyle initiative, "The Lt. Governor's Challenge," to encourage Delawareans to be more active and address the State's high rate of chronic diseases. So far, over 42,000 people have taken The Challenge in the past six years, including about 26,000 children.
Since the fall of 2001, John has distributed about 85,000 free cable gunlocks statewide through "Project ChildSafe". And in 2005, John teamed with local non-profit organizations and the City of Wilmington to form the Wilmington's Hope Youth Basketball League, which strives to teach the city's youth valuable life lessons through the game of basketball.
Recently, John became chairman of the Delaware Science & Technology Council, a group comprising academic, public, and business representatives charged with developing growth opportunities that enhance the state's economy.
John's leadership and accomplishments led his colleagues from around the country to select him as chairman of the National Lieutenant Governors Association for a year-long term that ended in July 2005.
Previous to being elected Lt. Governor, John served as Secretary of Finance and Deputy Chief of Staff under former Governor Tom Carper. In these positions, he worked to cut taxes nine times and helped the state earn its first AAA bond rating, which it still holds today. He also served as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for New Castle County, and on the staff of U.S. Senator Joe Biden.
The second of nine children, John was born in Wilmington and raised in Claymont by his parents Jack and Ann. He was quarterback of the 1973 state championship St. Mark's High School football team, and earned All-Ivy League and Most Valuable Player honors in football at Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in 1978. He later coached freshmen football at the University of Delaware, while earning his master's degree in public administration.
Currently, John lives in Wilmington with his wife, Tracey, and their sons, Sam and Jimmy.
