Dan McKee
Daniel J. McKee (born June 16, 1951) is an American businessman and politician serving as the 76th governor of Rhode Island since March 2021. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Born in Cumberland, Rhode Island, McKee received his undergraduate degree from Assumption College and his Master's degree from Harvard Kennedy School. He served as a member of the Cumberland town council from 1992 to 1998 and mayor of Cumberland twice, from 2000 to 2004 and from 2006 until 2014. He was elected as the lieutenant governor of Rhode Island in 2014. When Governor Gina Raimondo  resigned to become President Joe Biden's secretary of commerce in 2021, McKee acceded to the post of governor of Rhode Island. Early life. McKee's family has owned and operated small businesses in northern Rhode Island for over one hundred years. He is a practicing Roman Catholic. After graduating from Cumberland High School, McKee received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts and a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. Early career. McKee was an officer of McKee Brothers, a heating, air conditioning, and home heating oil delivery business founded by his  grandfather. In addition, he ran a health and fitness business for more than 30 years. During his time on the Cumberland, Rhode Island Town Council (1992–1998), McKee was also a basketball coach, coaching groups of boys and girls at all levels, culminating in two State AAU Basketball Champions in 1998 and 2000. He served six terms as Cumberland's mayor. McKee worked with state and federal officials in the aftermath of Cumberland's historic spring flooding to minimize the damage; and he steered Cumberland through Rhode Island's unprecedented economic downturn. In 2008, McKee worked with mayors across the state  to pass a law allowing for the creation of new, regional, mayor-governed and highly autonomous public schools known as “Mayoral Academies.” In 2009 and 2010, McKee again helped organize mayors and education advocates to enact a new education funding policy. For over twenty-five years, McKee has been a member of the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland-Lincoln, serving as past president of the executive board and chairman of the endowment committee. Lieutenant Governor (2015–2021). In 2013, McKee announced his candidacy for Rhode island lieutenant governor, defeating Secretary of State of Rhode Island  Ralph Mollis and State Rep. Frank Ferri in the Democratic primary. McKee faced Republican Catherine Terry Taylor, a legislative aide and speechwriter for U.S. Senators John Chafee and Lincoln Chafee. McKee won with 54.3% of the vote. He was re-elected in 2018. On January 7, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden selected Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo as his choice for Secretary of Commerce. Since McKee was next in line of succession, he would become governor once Raimondo would be confirmed by the United States Senate. She was confirmed on March 2, 2021 and submitted her resignation as governor shortly  after. In February 2021, McKee began to form a COVID-19 advisory board in anticipation whenever he would become Rhode Island's governor. He had criticized the Raimondo administration over a slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Governorship (2021–present). McKee was sworn in as the 76th Governor of Rhode Island on March 2, 2021 following Raimondo's appointment as U.S. commerce secretary. COVID-19. McKee said his main priority was to advance COVID-19 vaccine rollout and to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Rhode Island. By July 4, Rhode Island had fully vaccinated over 633,000 people, representing 70% of its eligible adult population. It  was the fifth state to reach that milestone. Also in July, McKee terminated the state mask mandate but extended the COVID-19 emergency declaration to August 6, citing the prevalence of the delta variant.