Senator Joan B. Lovely Democrat - Second Essex

Senator Joan Lovely is in her third term as State Senator for the Second Essex District, comprised of Beverly, Danvers, Peabody, Salem and Topsfield. Senator Lovely has been serving in the Massachusetts Senate since January 2013.

After raising a family in Salem with her husband, Senator Lovely went back to school to earn degrees from Salem State University and the Massachusetts School of Law. She began her activism at the local-level when she collaborated with neighbors and volunteers to rebuild a local playground for children and families in Salem.

In 1997, Senator Lovely successfully ran for a seat on the Salem City Council and served for 15 years, six as the Ward 3 Councillor, and 9 as a Councillor-at-Large. During that time, she served as City Council President, Acting Mayor, and was the Council Liaison to the Council on Aging and Commission on Disabilities.

Currently in her third term, Senator Lovely serves in Leadership as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. In addition, Senator Lovely serves as Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities; and Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, which she chaired in her second term, overseeing the Commonwealth’s first Public Records reform in over 30 years. Senator Lovely also serves as a member on the Joint Committees on Public Health; Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy; and Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.

Outside of her committee work, Senator Lovely is the Senate Chair of the Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression, and is a member of the Special Senate Committee on Opioid Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Options. She is also a member of the Massachusetts Legislative Aviation Caucus, Boating Caucus, and Gateway Cities Caucus.

Senator Lovely is the proud parent of three children and currently resides in Salem with her husband, Stephen. She also enjoys her three Labrador Retrievers, her cat, three chickens, three ducks, and two goldfish. Four fish staff her State House office in Boston.