Barry Finegold
Encyclopedia
Barry R. Finegold is a Democratic
member of the Massachusetts Senate
representing the Second Essex and Middlesex district. He has served since January 2011. He is a former state representative
of the 17th Essex district in Massachusetts
; he was also a candidate running for the United States Congress in the Massachusetts's 5th congressional district special election
of 2007.
in Haverhill. Barry attended both Andover and Tewksbury public schools. He then attended Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania, graduating with a major in government with a business concentration. He went on to graduate from the Massachusetts School of Law
in Andover and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1998. He is presently a partner with the law firm of Dalton & Finegold, LLP, which specializes in real estate, estate planning, and corporate law. Finegold also holds a Masters in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University. Barry and his wife have two daughters and live in Andover.
as a Democrat. He was the youngest member of his freshman class. For the past 11 years he has held this position, representing the 17th Essex District, consisting of Andover, Tewksbury and Lawrence. During his six terms on Beacon Hill, Finegold has proposed and enacted numerous pieces of legislation on critical issues, such as:
In 1999, Finegold won the Kennedy School Fenn Award for Political Leadership for his leadership in bringing together legislators and officials from New Hampshire and Massachusetts to address the traffic problems on I-93. His efforts led to the opening of the breakdown lane during rush hours, which greatly reduced congestion during peak commuting hours.
In 2003, Finegold was selected as one of the top young Democrats 100 to Watch by the Democratic Leadership Council
.
The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy recognized Barry as Legislator of the Year for his efforts to save their programs from drastic budget cuts.
Finegold helped create the Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition and is working to expand hydrogen, fuel cell, and related industries in the Commonwealth.
. Marty Meehan
, the incumbent, stepped down to take the Chancellor position at UMass Lowell
. Barry came in 4th place in the Democratic Primary, losing to Niki Tsongas
who went on to win the general election. The primary election occurred on September 4, 2007, and the election occurred on October 16, 2007.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
representing the Second Essex and Middlesex district. He has served since January 2011. He is a former state representative
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 single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
of the 17th Essex district in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
; he was also a candidate running for the United States Congress in the Massachusetts's 5th congressional district special election
Massachusetts's 5th congressional district special election, 2007
Massachusetts held a special election to fill a vacancy in Massachusetts's 5th congressional district on October 16, 2007. Democrat Niki Tsongas won election to congress defeating Republican Jim Ogonowski in an election that was closer than expected....
of 2007.
Biography
Barry Finegold was raised in Andover and Tewksbury with his two sisters. Both of his parents taught in the local school system for 33 years, his mother in the Andover Public Schools, and his father at Northern Essex Community CollegeNorthern Essex Community College
Northern Essex Community College is a state-assisted, two-year college, located in Essex County in northeastern Massachusetts...
in Haverhill. Barry attended both Andover and Tewksbury public schools. He then attended Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania, graduating with a major in government with a business concentration. He went on to graduate from the Massachusetts School of Law
Massachusetts School of Law
The Massachusetts School of Law is a law school located in Andover, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1988, and claims that its design and curriculum were influenced by the medical school educational model and legal scholars.-Admission and academics:...
in Andover and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1998. He is presently a partner with the law firm of Dalton & Finegold, LLP, which specializes in real estate, estate planning, and corporate law. Finegold also holds a Masters in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard University. Barry and his wife have two daughters and live in Andover.
Public service
Finegold was elected to the Andover Board of Selectmen at age 24. A year later, in 1996, he won election to the Massachusetts House of RepresentativesMassachusetts 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 single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
as a Democrat. He was the youngest member of his freshman class. For the past 11 years he has held this position, representing the 17th Essex District, consisting of Andover, Tewksbury and Lawrence. During his six terms on Beacon Hill, Finegold has proposed and enacted numerous pieces of legislation on critical issues, such as:
- The "Massachusetts Renewable Energy Road Map," a package of policy ideas designed to invigorate the Massachusetts economy and protect the environment with research-and-development grants and tax incentives for Massachusetts companies developing fuel-cell technology. The legislation also creates a $1,500 state tax credit for consumers who purchase hybrid vehicles.
- The Safe Havens Act allows parents who are unable to care for their newborn to drop the infant off at a marked fire station, police station or emergency room without fear of prosecution. Baby Safe Haven has expanded its services to a hot-line that advises expecting parents on their options. The law has saved 15 babies to date in the Commonwealth.
- Nursing home reforms protect seniors and securing funding to make Massachusetts one of the first states to establish a consumer report card on nursing homes.
- As co-chair of the North East Solid Waste Committee, Finegold secured $54 million to assist communities throughout the Merrimack Valley such as Dracut, Andover, Westford, and Tewksbury to address increasing costs of waste disposal. This funding helped towns and cities meet environmental regulations and implement clean air technology upgrades at power plants.
- In 2000, Finegold authored the Holocaust Restitution Bill, which ensured that the 3,500 Massachusetts holocaust survivors did not have to pay taxes or incur penalties on recovered assets from the Swiss Government.
- In the 2007 budget cycle, Finegold brought funding to keep De La Mano, a Spanish-speaking battered women’s hotline, up and running.
- In Finegold's partnership with police chief John Romero, crime rates have continued to decrease in the city of Lawrence.
- Finegold brought home funding to ensure that Andover Youth Services can continue in its mission to foster education and personal growth in our youth.
- With Finegold’s help, the Lawrence school system has benefited from 2 new buildings, 3 new schools, and increased funding.
In 1999, Finegold won the Kennedy School Fenn Award for Political Leadership for his leadership in bringing together legislators and officials from New Hampshire and Massachusetts to address the traffic problems on I-93. His efforts led to the opening of the breakdown lane during rush hours, which greatly reduced congestion during peak commuting hours.
In 2003, Finegold was selected as one of the top young Democrats 100 to Watch by the Democratic Leadership Council
Democratic Leadership Council
The Democratic Leadership Council was a non-profit 501 corporation that, upon its formation, argued the United States Democratic Party should shift away from the leftward turn it took in the late 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s...
.
The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy recognized Barry as Legislator of the Year for his efforts to save their programs from drastic budget cuts.
Finegold helped create the Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition and is working to expand hydrogen, fuel cell, and related industries in the Commonwealth.
Candidate for Congress
Barry was a candidate in Massachusetts's 5th congressional district special election, 2007Massachusetts's 5th congressional district special election, 2007
Massachusetts held a special election to fill a vacancy in Massachusetts's 5th congressional district on October 16, 2007. Democrat Niki Tsongas won election to congress defeating Republican Jim Ogonowski in an election that was closer than expected....
. Marty Meehan
Marty Meehan
Martin Thomas "Marty" Meehan is an American attorney and politician from the state of Massachusetts. He is the current Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, a position he assumed on July 1, 2007...
, the incumbent, stepped down to take the Chancellor position at UMass Lowell
University of Massachusetts Lowell
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public university in Lowell, Massachusetts, and part of the University of Massachusetts system...
. Barry came in 4th place in the Democratic Primary, losing to Niki Tsongas
Niki Tsongas
Nicola Dickson "Niki" Sauvage Tsongas is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party.She is the widow of U.S. Senator Paul Tsongas, who represented the 5th district in the 1970s...
who went on to win the general election. The primary election occurred on September 4, 2007, and the election occurred on October 16, 2007.