Karen Spilka
Karen Spilka | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk district | |
In office January 2005 – Present | |
Preceded by | David Magnani |
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 7th Middlesex district | |
In office Fall 2001 – January 2005 | |
Preceded by | John Stefanini |
Succeeded by | Tom Sannicandro |
Personal details | |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Joel Loitherstein |
Children | 3 |
Residence | Ashland, Massachusetts |
Alma mater | |
Profession | Attorney |
Website |
karenspilka |
Karen E. Spilka is a Massachusetts State Senator of the Democratic Party. She represents the Second Middlesex and Norfolk District. That includes Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton and Natick, precincts 1 to 5, inclusive, and 8, in the county of Middlesex; Franklin, precincts 5, 6 and 8, and Medway, in the county of Norfolk. She has served the Massachusetts State Senate since 2005. She also served the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2001-2004.
Karen Spilka has a BA from Cornell University and a JD from Northeastern University School of Law. She is also an attorney with Day Pitney LLP.
Public offices
The Senator has served as Ashland School Committee (chair, vice-chair), Ashland Democratic Town Committee, Ashland Fiscal Affairs Committee, Charter Review Committee, and the Massachusetts Personnel Board.
She is also associated with the following organizations:
Boston Bar Association, Labor Guild, South Middlesex Association for Retarded Citizens, Tyler Hamilton Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis, MetroWest YMCA, MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, MetroWest Workforce Development Steering Committee, MetroWest Economic Research Center at Framingham State College, MetroWest ESL Fund, Framingham League of Women Voters, Ashland Education Foundation
Currently, she serves as the Majority Whip in the Senate after previously serving as Assistant Majority Whip. Prior to being appointed as Assistant Majority Whip in January 2012, she served as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.
She currently serves on the Joint Committee on Rules, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules, and the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. She is also the Senate Chair of the Tech Hub Caucus, the BioTech Caucus, and the MetroWest Legislative Caucus. She previously served as the Senate Chair of the Women's Legislative Caucus, dedicated to advancing women in elected positions. In addition, she is a member of the Goddard Council for STEM Education and the Governor's STEM Advisory Council.
2013 Congressional campaign
Spilka is a candidate in the 2013 special election to succeed U.S. Representative Ed Markey of Massachusetts's 5th congressional district, who resigned in June 2013 to take a seat in the U.S. Senate. The primary election is scheduled to be held on October 15, 2013 while the general election will be held on December 10, 2013.
Spilka, one of five Democrats in the special election primary, has already been endorsed by the statewide ATU, the UNITE-HERE New England Joint Board, UWUA Local 369, Roofers and Waterproofers Union Local 33, Laborers' Local 22, Laborers' Local 151, Laborers' Local 380, Laborers' Local 609, Laborers' Local 1116, Laborers' Local 1156, the Sprinkler Fitters 550, IBEW Local 1505, UFCW Local 328, UFCW Local 1445, the Boston Carmen's Union Local 589, the Building Wreckers Local 1421, the Mail Handlers Local 301, and the American Postal Workers Union Local 4553. She also has the backing of the Central Massachusetts AFL-CIO.
References
External links
- Karen Spilka for Congress
- Majority Whip Karen E. Spilka at the Massachusetts Legislature
- Karen Spilka constituency site
- Profile at Day Pitney LLP
- Profile at Project Vote Smart