Barbara L'Italien
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
from the 2nd Essex and Middlesex district
In office
January 7, 2015 – January 2019
Preceded byBarry Finegold
Succeeded byBarry Finegold
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 18th Essex district
In office
January 2003 – January 2011
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byJames J. Lyons Jr.
Personal details
Born (1961-01-03) January 3, 1961
Passaic, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseKevin Hall[1]
EducationMerrimack College (BA)
WebsiteSenate website

Barbara A. L'Italien (born January 3, 1961) is an American politician from the state of Massachusetts, serving from January 2015 to 2019 as the State Senator from the 2nd Essex and Middlesex District. She was previously the director of government affairs for the Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts, Steve Grossman. From 2003 to January 2011 she was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing the 18th Essex District.

In 2017, she announced her candidacy for Congress, representing Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district, held by Niki Tsongas, who announced August 9, 2017 that she would not be seeking another term in Congress in 2018. She lost the primary to Lori Trahan, who then won the general election.

Early life and career

L'Italien was born in Passaic, New Jersey,[2] and later graduated from Andover High School in 1978. She attended Merrimack College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1984.

Prior to her election to the House of Representatives, L'Italien worked for Elder Services of Merrimack Valley as a case manager and with the Greater Lawrence Psychological Center working the elder abuse hotline for intakes and referrals.[1] She also worked with West Suburban Elder Services with the title of Supervisor of Case Management and Elder Abuse.

State government

Massachusetts House of Representatives

L'Italien is the first State Representative to represent the 18th Essex district, which was created by redistricting following the 2000 census. She held office from 2003 to 2011.[3]

In the district's first campaign in 2002, L'Italien defeated Republican Kathleen Sachs and unenrolled candidate Alfred DePietro, winning by less than 1,000 votes (47–41% over Sachs). In 2004, she defended the seat against Republican Maria Marasco, winning with 58% of the vote. In 2006 and 2008, Republican Lawrence Brennan ran against L'Italien, but she defeated him with 56% of the vote in 2006 and 55% in 2008. In 2010 she was defeated for re-election by Andover Republican Jim Lyons, who won with 53% of the vote.[4]

Representative L'Italien was the author of the landmark legislation on Autism insurance coverage, House Bill 4935 (formerly H. 3809), which requires insurance companies to provide coverage of evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies, such as applied behavior analysis.[5]

Treasury department

After her House term ended in January 2011, she became director of government affairs for the newly elected Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts, Steve Grossman until 2012.[6]

Massachusetts Senate

L'Italien was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in November 2014 to succeed Barry Finegold in the 2nd Essex and Middlesex seat.[7] She defeated Andover Republican Alex Vispoli in the general election (winning 50% of the vote). She took office January 7, 2015. In the 2016 election, she defeated Lawrence Republican Susan LaPlante winning in all four towns with over 63% of the vote. She served as the Chair of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, as well as the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Bills in the Third Reading.

Appearance on Fox and Friends First

On July 23, 2018, L'Italien appeared on Fox & Friends First and criticized the Trump administration family separation policy. Fox had intended to book Ann Kirkpatrick, a Democrat running for Congress in Arizona's 2nd congressional district and booked L'Italien by mistake.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Paul Tennant (October 26, 2008). "L'Italien, Brennan fight it out for seat". Eagle Tribune. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  2. ↑ 2007–2008 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  3. ↑ "State Representative Barbara L'Italien". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
  4. ↑ Anne Kasper (November 3, 2010). "Lyons declares victory over L'Italien in 18th Essex". WickedLocal North Andover.
  5. ↑ "L'Italien pleased with passage of autism insurance law". Haverhill Gazette. August 6, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  6. ↑ Murphy, Matt (November 23, 2010). "Outgoing representative gets Treasury post". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
  7. ↑ Bill Kirk (November 13, 2014). "L'Italien ready to hit Senate floor running; Credits ground operation, Lawrence for election day win". Andover Townsman.
  8. ↑ "Fox News booked the wrong Democratic candidate. She had a lot to say" (video). The Washington Post. July 23, 2018.
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