Representative Mary S. Keefe Democrat - 15th Worcester

Elected in 2012, State Representative Mary Keefe serves the 15th Worcester District, which is comprised of the Theatre District, Piedmont, and Belmont Hill neighborhoods in the City of Worcester. Mary’s vision for a more equitable Massachusetts is evident in her progressive policies and encompasses criminal justice reform, education, affordable housing, fair labor and wage practices, arts and culture, and environmental justice. Mary’s approach to policymaking includes centering impacted stakeholders throughout the legislative process and convening multi-sector partners and advocates. She was committed to this philosophy while crafting the underlying legislation for the omnibus Criminal Justice Reform Act signed into law in April 2018 (Chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018) and as a lead sponsor of the Student Opportunity Act signed into law in November 2019 (Chapter 132 of the Acts of 2019). 

Currently serving her fifth term in the House of Representatives, Mary is the House Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and is also a member of the House Committee on Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight, Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, and the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development. In addition to her committee leadership, Mary serves as a co-chair of the Legislative Criminal Justice Reform Caucus. The Caucus is an association of legislators who are working to address the root causes and byproducts of mass incarceration through comprehensive policy reform, education, and coalition building. Mary is also an active member of the House Progressive Caucus, Gateway Cities Caucus, Food Systems Caucus, Zero Waste Caucus, and the Women’s Caucus. 

Prior to her election as a state representative, Mary was the Executive Director of the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center (PSNNC) for twelve years. This grassroots, resident-led organization centers its work on issues concerning working families, immigrants, business leaders, churches, and institutions within the Piedmont area of the Worcester 15th District. Her experiences in modeling solutions to citywide challenges such as the lack of summer jobs for youth, youth violence and impact on families, community isolation, failing neighborhood schools, and gaps in public safety services laid the foundation for much of her policy priorities in the Legislature. 

A lifelong resident of Massachusetts and originally from the town of Sutton, Mary has lived in downtown Worcester for more than thirty years. Neighborhood life and community work have been central in her organizing work. She has been a longtime neighborhood leader and advocate for the importance of democracy and public life. Her affiliations include being a founding member of Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts, co-chair of Worcester Interfaith, board member of the Green Hill Park Coalition, and a founding member of the Worcester Community Labor Coalition.

Mary has three adult children: Joe, Thom, and Nora Kate. She is a graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and has been an art educator at the Worcester Art Museum for many years. Mary is also an active member of the Blackstone Printmakers.