Michael J. Barrett
| Michael Barrett | |
|---|---|
|
Senator Barrett testifies at a committee hearing. | |
| Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 3rd Middlesex District | |
|
Assumed office 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Susan Fargo |
| Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the Middlesex and Suffolk District | |
|
In office 1987–1995 | |
| Preceded by | George Bachrach |
| Succeeded by | Warren Tolman |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 21st Middlesex District | |
|
In office 1979–1985 | |
| Preceded by | Nils Nordberg [1] |
| Succeeded by | Geoffery C. Beckwith [2] |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 27, 1948 Agana, Guam |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Lexington, Massachusetts |
| Alma mater |
Harvard College Northeastern University School of Law |
| Occupation |
Attorney Politician |
Michael John Barrett (born June 27, 1948 in Agana, Guam [3]) is the State Senator for the 3rd Middlesex District of Massachusetts. Barrett served in the State Senate once before, in 1987-1994, representing another district (Cambridge, Belmont, Watertown and the Allston-Brighton neighborhood of Boston), before moving to his present home in suburban Lexington 17 years ago. Even earlier, in 1979-1985, he served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from Reading, North Reading and a portion of Wilmington.[4]
Early life
Barrett is a 1970 graduate of Harvard College and 1977 graduate of the Northeastern University School of Law, after which he clerked for a federal judge in Washington, DC[5]
State Representative
Barrett was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1978.[6] He ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 1984, losing the Democratic primary in the Massachusetts's 7th congressional district to Ed Markey.[7]
State Senate
In 1990, during his first stint as State Senator, Barrett wrote an Atlantic Monthly cover story in which he advocated a longer school day and year for American students.[8] A year later, he was named one of nine commissioners on the National Education Commission on Time and Learning, created by the U.S. Congress to examine the issues raised in the Atlantic article.[9]
In 1992 Barrett drafted and saw through to enactment domestic violence legislation for Massachusetts that was precedent-setting in the United States, in that it required judges to consult a comprehensive computerized registry of offenders before they ruled on requests for restraining orders.[10] He was also successful as lead sponsor of major environmental legislation regulating uses of toxic materials in manufacturing within the state.[11]
Private sector
In 1994 Barrett ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Massachusetts. Departing the State Senate the following year, he was named CEO and General Counsel of the Visiting Nurse Associations of New England, a large home health care provider network. Several years later, he embarked on a consulting career focused on the emergence of the Internet and the development of online services involved in health care.[12]
Return to Senate
In December 2011, after a 16-year absence from politics, Barrett announced his candidacy for State Senate in the 3rd Middlesex District.[13][14] In September 2012 he won the Democratic nomination after an intensely contested five-candidate race.[15] He beat the Republican candidate in November and was elected.[16] The 3rd Middlesex District covers nine communities: Bedford, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Lexington (precincts 3, 8 and 9), Lincoln, Sudbury (precincts 1, 4 and 5), Waltham and Weston.
In January 2013 Barrett was named Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.[17] In 2015 Barrett was named Chair of the Senate Post-Audit and Oversight Committee, a unique body charged with overseeing implementation of all state programs run by the Governor and his appointees. He also serves as Senate Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development.[18]
Personal life
Barrett lives in Lexington with his wife. They have twin daughters.
References
- ↑ Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1977.
- ↑ Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1986.
- ↑ Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1987.
- ↑ Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1987.
- ↑ http://www.barrettforstatesenate.org/about-mike
- ↑ Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1987.
- ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=501530
- ↑ "The Case for More School Days". The Atlantic Monthly.
- ↑ http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/PrisonersOfTime/Members.html
- ↑ http://www.barrettforstatesenate.org/mikes-record
- ↑ http://lexington.patch.com/articles/letter-barret-would-be-environmental-champion
- ↑ http://www.barrettforstatesenate.org/about-mike/
- ↑ "Lexington Resident Mike Barrett Announces Run for State Senate". The Lexington Minuteman.
- ↑ "Mike Barrett to challenge Susan Fargo for state Senate seat". The Boston Globe.
- ↑ "Barrett bests Kearns Goodwin in state Senate primary". The Boston Globe.
- ↑ "Barrett looks forward to ‘hard work’ as 3rd Middlesex senator". The Lexington Minuteman.
- ↑ http://malegislature.gov/People/Profile/MJB0
- ↑ http://malegislature.gov/People/Profile/MJB0
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