Jack Patrick Lewis is an American state legislator from Framingham,

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

. A

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

, he was sworn in as a member of the

Massachusetts House of Representatives The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from 14 counties each divided into single-member ...

on January 4, 2017. After earning the Democratic nomination on September 8, 2016, Lewis became representative-elect on November 8, earning over 61% of the vote. In addition to his political involvement, Lewis has served as the executive director of OUTMetro West, a nonprofit working with at-risk LGBT youth, and as assistant minister and director of religious education at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills.

Early life and education

Lewis's father is a retired manufacturing worker and longtime member of the United Automobile Workers (UAW); his mother is a retired preschool teacher in the Head Start program. He grew up in

Seville, Ohio Seville is a village in Medina County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,296 at the 2010 census. History Seville was platted in 1828. It was named after Seville, in Spain. A post office was established in Seville in 1830. Geography Sev ...

. Lewis attended the

University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...

with the support of a UAW scholarship. He triple majored in political science (honors), Middle East studies/Arabic, and international studies, and graduated as the valedictorian of his divisional college. He also attended

Eden Theological Seminary Eden Theological Seminary is a seminary of the United Church of Christ in Webster Groves, Missouri, near St. Louis, Missouri. The seminary was established in 1850 by German pastors in what was then the American frontier. The pastors soon formed ...

, where he received a master of divinity.

Professional life

Lewis began his political career while in college, serving as an organizer for Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign. He has worked as a HeadStart substitute teacher, taught English in Ghana and Egypt, and worked in a group home for people with disabilities. After receiving his M.Div., Lewis served as assistant minister and director of religious education at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills in Wellesley, Massachusetts. After several years at the congregation, Lewis stepped down to become a founding member of Out MetroWest, a nonprofit organization providing services for at-risk LGBT youth. During Lewis' tenure as executive director, Out MetroWest worked with over 700 teens, focusing on supportive counseling and community education. In June 2016, Lewis' work at Out MetroWest was honored with a Nonprofit Excellence Award (Young Professional category) from the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.

Political career

Campaign for State Representative

The Seventh Middlesex district includes all of Ashland, Massachusetts, as well as Framingham precincts 8, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 18. On January 19, 2016, Lewis announced his candidacy for state representative. He ran for the Democratic nomination on a progressive platform, pledging his enthusiastic support for an increased

minimum wage A minimum wage is the lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their employees—the price floor below which employees may not sell their labor. Most countries had introduced minimum wage legislation by the end of the 20th century. Bec ...

, stronger environmental protections, and a renewed commitment to diversity and community life. He was endorsed by numerous progressive organizations, including MassAlliance, Progressive Massachusetts, and the United Automobile Workers (Region 9). Lewis faced prosecutor Brett Walker and former selectman Philip Jack, both of Ashland, in the Democratic primary. On September 8, Lewis became the Democratic nominee, carrying 37% of the vote (~3% higher than the nearest candidate). Lewis faced Republican Yolanda Greaves in the general election. He was supported by numerous local leaders, including state representative Tom Sannicandro, state senator

Karen Spilka Karen Eileen Spilka (born January 11, 1953) is an American politician and attorney serving as a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic member of the Massachusetts Senate. She represents the Massachusetts Senate's 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk di ...

, state representative Chris Walsh, and state representative Carmine Gentile. He also received the support of several federal officeholders, including congresswoman Katherine Clark and senators

Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth Ann Warren ( née Herring; born June 22, 1949) is an American politician and former law professor who is the senior United States senator from Massachusetts, serving since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party and regarded as a ...

and Edward Markey. He also received the overwhelming support of labor unions and pro-choice organizations. On November 8, he was elected with 61.8% of the vote, a margin of 4,263 votes (~29% higher than the nearest candidate).

State Representative (2017-present)

Lewis was sworn in as a member of the

on Wednesday, January 4, 2017. On February 22, 2017, Lewis received his committee assignments, which local press praised as "consistent with the platform he campaigned on."

Committee assignments

Source: * Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities * Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture * Joint Committee on Public Health * Joint Committee on Public Service

Electoral history

Sources: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth and ''The New York Times''.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Jack Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Democratic Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives LGBT state legislators in Massachusetts Place of birth missing (living people) American gay politicians People from Seville, Ohio 21st-century American legislators 21st-century Massachusetts politicians