Daniel McKee

Daniel J. McKee (born June 16, 1951) is an American politician, serving as the 69th and current Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island since 2015. Prior to his election, he served as mayor of Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Early life

McKee's family has owned and operated small businesses in northern Rhode Island for over one hundred years.

After graduating from Cumberland High School, McKee received a B.A. from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts and a master's degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

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.

Career

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 is steering 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.

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.

Electoral history