James D. Colt is an American lawyer and politician who represented the 4th Essex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives

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...

 from 1995 to 1997. Prior to serving in the House, Colt was a member of the Milton, Massachusetts

Milton, Massachusetts

Milton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States and part of the Greater Boston area. The population was 27,003 at the 2010 census. Milton is the birthplace of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and architect Buckminster Fuller. Milton also has the highest percentage of...

 Board of Selectmen from 1973 to 1982 and the Wenham, Massachusetts

Wenham, Massachusetts

Wenham is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,875 at the 2010 census.The Town of Wenham was originally settled in 1635 and has retained much of its unique historic character and tranquil rural scenery...

 Board of Selectmen from 1990 to 1995.

Colt succeeded his friend Forrester Clark

Forrester Clark

Forrester Andrew "Tim" Clark, Jr. is an American investment banker and politician who represented the 4th Essex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1979 to 1995 and again from 1997 to 1999...

 in the 4th Essex after Clark left the House to run for Massachusetts State Auditor. In 1996, Clark, who was upset over the fact Colt had went on vacation during the 1995 budget battle, challenged Colt for the Republican nomination. Clark defeated Colt by 58 votes.