Madison Ballentine

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Revision as of 02:26, 25 November 2008

Madison James Ballentine
Democratic Party
Congressman
Began Present Office: 2009
Electoral District	3rd Congressional district
State	Connecticut
Region and Superregion	New England, Northeast
Previous Offices	None
Born	September 6, 1966 Marietta, Georgia
Spouse	Confirmed Bachelor
Religion	Undeclared
Residence	New Haven, Connecticut
Occupation	Physician
Education	Vanderbilt University, University of Massachusetts

Madison James Ballentine (born September 6, 1966) is an American politician and physician. He is the current United States Representative for Connecticut's Third Congressional District.

Biography

Madison Ballentine was born as the only child of well-to-do parents in Marietta, Ga in September of 1966. His parents were politically-connected conservatives, donating money (during his lifetime) almost exclusively to Republicans. From a young age, Madison was groomed to be the next generation of Ballentine power player (and likely politician). His parents enrolled him in Atlanta's elite Woodward Academy, where he excelled.

Ballentine focused strongly on his studies, winning a full scholarship to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Originally majoring in Geography (with his parents' eye toward law school), he switched after a semester to Medicine, Health, and Society and a minor in Biological Sciences, with firm pre-medicine intent -- his first break from his parents' wishes. It was during late high school and college that Madison became active in the Democratic Party, working on the primary campaign of Senator Al Gore and general election of Michael Dukakis his senior year of college.

After graduating cum laude, he declined an offer from Emory University (his parents' choice of school) and enrolled at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine in Worcester, Massachusetts. After finishing medical school, Ballentine completed his residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. Upon investigating a recommendation of a friend, he joined Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) and was assigned to Nigeria as a full-time relief physician. Ballentine occasionally references his time in MSF as a formative experience, although he is generally uncomfortable discussing many specific incidents from the program. His notable solid-gray hair appeared early in his time abroad, before his thirtieth birthday. It was in Doctors Without Borders that his liberal dogmatism gave way to the pragmatic progressivism which now defines his political ideology.

After returning to the United States, Ballentine again made his home in New Haven and began preparations to start a private practice. However, his parents, deciding that that the family name (and power) was more important than party, encouraged him to enter politics in New England and arranged for his introduction to the local political establishment.

Past Election Results

House of Representatives