BOSTON – On Wednesday, January 2, Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) was officially sworn into the 191st General Court as state Senator representing the 4th Middlesex district. Friedman succeeded former state Senator Ken Donnelly on July 27, 2017, after he suddenly passed away from brain cancer. Friedman began her career as a legislator vowing to continue the great work Donnelly started.
“I’m thankful to my constituents in the 4th Middlesex for placing their trust in me to continue representing their interests in the Senate,” said Senator Friedman. “It has been a pleasure to collaborate with so many of you over the last year and a half to address many of the issues facing our district and the Commonwealth. I look forward to all that we accomplish together this session.”
Friedman had an impressive start as a freshman senator. She led the effort to pass a comprehensive opioid treatment bill, secured funding to create a restoration center in Middlesex County to help divert individuals with mental illness or substance use disorder from the criminal justice system, played a key role in advocating for a historic increase to the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, and much more.
At the swearing-in ceremony, five senators took the oath of office for the first time and 34 returning senators were sworn in for another term. In addition, Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) officially became President of the Senate, becoming the third woman in Massachusetts history to lead the body. In her remarks, Spilka outlined her priorities for the 2019-2020 legislative session, which include fighting for greater access to mental healthcare, containing healthcare costs, addressing the effects of climate change, and reforming the state’s education funding formula.
The ceremony was attended by family, friends, staffers and state constitutional officers, as well as United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.
Senator Friedman represents the 4th Middlesex district, which includes Arlington, Billerica, Burlington, Woburn, and precincts 1-2 and 4-7 in Lexington.