Senator Joan B. Lovely Democrat - Second Essex

Senator Joan Lovely is in her fourth 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.

While 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 neighborhood 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 Salem Council on Aging and Commission on Disabilities. 

Senator Lovely serves as Assistant Majority Leader; Chair of the Senate and Joint Committees on Rules; and Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Personnel and Administration. Her other assignments include membership on the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy, Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Senate and Joint Committees on Ways and Means. Senator Lovely has previously served as the Vice Chair of the Senate and Joint Committees on Ways and Means; Assistant Majority Whip; Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities; Chair of Mental Health and Substance Abuse; and Chair and Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, which as Chair she oversaw the Commonwealth’s first Public Records reform in more than 30 years.

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 and the Special Legislative Commission relative to Ocean Acidification. She served as Chair of the Special Senate Committee to Review the Sexual Harassment Policies and Procedures and was a member of the Special Legislative Commission on Public Records. 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 adult children and resides in Salem with her husband, Stephen. She also enjoys her three Labrador Retrievers, two chickens, four ducks and one cat. 

Personal Information

Profession: Attorney

Spouse: Stephen

Children: 3

Pets: Yellow Lab “Maddie”; Black Lab “Ivy”; Black Lab “Charlie”; Black cat “Mo”; 2 chickens and 4 Call ducks. 

Interests: Boating, gardening, travel 

Career Highlights: Attorney, Lovely Law Group

Public Service:

MA Senate 2013 - present 

Salem City Council, 1998-2012

President, Salem City Council, 2001, 2012

Co-Chair Castle Hill Playground Committee  

Education: 

J.D., Massachusetts School of Law, 2009

B.S., Political Science Salem State University, 2006

A.A.S., Essex Agricultural and Technical Institute, 1978

Beverly High School, 1976