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Karen Spilka
| Karen Spilka | ||
 | ||
| Massachusetts State Senate, Second Middlesex and Norfolk | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| 2004 - present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| January 7, 2015 | ||
| Years in position | 9 | |
| Party | Democratic | |
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $61,133/year | |
| Per diem | $10-$100/day | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 6, 2012 | |
| First elected | 2004 | |
| Next election | November 4, 2014 | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Prior offices | ||
| Massachusetts House of Representatives | ||
| 2001-2002 | ||
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | Cornell University, 1975 | |
| J.D. | Northeastern University School of Law, 1980 | |
| Personal | ||
| Birthday | January 11, 1953 | |
| Place of birth | New York City, New York | |
| Profession | Attorney | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
| Personal website | ||
 | ||
Contents |
Spilka served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2001 to 2004. She was also a member, vice-chair, and chair of the Ashland School Committee; and served on the Democratic Town Committee. Spilka has served on a number of non-legislative committees, including the Ashland Charter Review Committee, Ashland Fiscal Affairs Committee, Ashland Personnel Board, MetroWest Workforce Development, and Taskforce Steering Committee.
Biography
Spilka earned her bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1975, and J.D. from the Northeastern University School of Law in 1980. Spilka's professional experience includes working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Employee Relations and the Senior Counsel of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority; and as an arbitrator/mediator/fact finder and attorney.[1]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Spilka served on the following committees:
| Massachusetts Committee Assignments, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Ethics and Rules | ||||
| • Steering and Policy | ||||
| • Rules Joint | ||||
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Spilka served on these committees:
| Massachusetts Committee Assignments, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Joint, Chair | ||||
| • Ethics and Rules, Vice-chair | ||||
| • Global Warming and Climate Change | ||||
| • Revenue Joint | ||||
| • Rules Joint, Vice-chair | ||||
| • Transportation Joint | ||||
| • Ways and Means | ||||
| • Ways and Means Joint | ||||
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Spilka served on these committees:
Elections
2012
Spilka won re-election in the 2012 election for Massachusetts State Senate Second Middlesex and Norfolk District. Spilka was unopposed in the September 6 Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.[2][3]
2010
Spilka won re-election to the Second Middlesex and Norfolk District Seat in 2010. She had no primary opposition. Edward McGrath ran for the seat on the Republican ticket. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.
| Massachusetts State Senate - Second Middlesex and Norfolk District | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Karen Spilka (D)
|
34,499 | |||
| Edward McGrath (R) | 23,707 | |||
| All Others | 51 | |||
| Blanks | 2,902 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Spilka won re-election to the state senate in the Second Middlesex and Norfolk district. [4] In this election she raised $55,955-; of that total $54,626- (97.7%) was from in state contributions and $1,275- (2.3%) was from out of state contributions.[5]
| Massachusetts State Senate - Second Middlesex and Norfolk district | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Karen Spilka (D)
|
57,006 | |||
| All Others | 888 | |||
| Blanks | 22,032 | |||
Campaign donors
2012
Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.
2010
In 2010, Spilka received $128,490 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.[6]
| Massachusetts State Senate 2010 election - Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Top contributors to Karen Spilka's campaign in 2010 | |
| Massachusetts Democratic Party | $1,500 |
| Retired Public Employees | $1,000 |
| Massachusetts Association Of Realtors | $800 |
| Commercial Real Estate Development Association | $750 |
| Giblin, Kevin | $750 |
| Total Raised in 2010 | $128,490 |
2008
In 2008 Karen Spilka collected $55,955 in donations. [7]
Her three largest contributors in 2008 were:
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Psychiatric Society | $1,000 |
| Retired Public Employees | $1,000 |
| Boston Police Patrolmen's Association | $1,000 |
Personal
Karen Spilka was born in New York City, New York and raised in Ashland, Massachusetts. She is currently married to Joel Spilka with three children. Spilka has been involved with a number of organizations, including the Ashland Education Foundation, the Boston Bar Association, the Framingham Court Mediation Program, Framingham English as a Second Language Fund Committee, Framingham League of Women Voters, Industrial Relations Research Association, Labor Guild, Massachusetts Bar Association, MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, MetroWest Economic Research Center, Framingham State College, MetroWest English as a Second Language Fund, MetroWest School to Career Steering Committee-Keefe Tech, MetroWest Young Mens Christian Association (YMCA), South Middlesex Association for Retarded Citizens, and the Tyler Hamilton Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis.
Controversies
Hiding party affiliations
According to a Boston Herald article, Spilka has sent mailings to voters that do not list her party affiliation. The mailing reportedly says Spilka hopes to become the "next state senator," despite having served in office since 2004. He campaign officials said they are "running as if we're running for the first time."[8] Spilka's opponent said people don't care about a candidate's party, but rather, "whether you're an incumbent or a challenger."[9]
Recent news
This section displays the most recent stories in a google news search for the term Karen + Spilka + Massachusetts + Senate
- All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.
Karen Spilka News Feed
- State Sen. Karen Spilka might run for Congress - MetroWest Daily News
- Spilka aides expect her to run for Markey seat - MetroWest Daily News
- Ashland to send new enterprise fund language to the state - MetroWest Daily News
- MetroWest Chamber awards scholarships worth $14K - MetroWest Daily News
- EMILY's List Makes a Presumptuous Pick - Boston Magazine - Boston magazine's Boston Daily (blog)
- Industry experts share success stories, resources in Medway - Milford Daily News
- Spilka: Fixing transportation without raising Pike tolls - MetroWest Daily News
- Business Digest for 05/14/13 - MetroWest Daily News
- Spilka files bill to create MetroWest women's commission - MetroWest Daily News
- AG Coakley Statement on Report Showing 'Exceptional' Reduction in ... - RealEstateRama (press release)
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External links
- Spilka's website
- Office website
- Project Vote Smart policies
- Project Vote Smart senator biography
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002
- Spilka's Facebook
- State Surge profile - legislative and voting track record
References
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Senator Spilka
- ↑ 2012 State Primary Candidate List "Massachusetts Secretary of State," Accessed June 26, 2012
- ↑ 2012 Massachusetts Secretary of State, Official 2012 Primary Results
- ↑ Return of Votes for Massachusetts State Election November 4, 2008
- ↑ Follow the Money 2008
- ↑ Follow the Money - 2010 Contributions
- ↑ 2008 contributors to Karen Spilka
- ↑ Boston Herald "Identity crisis hits Democrats" October 19, 2010
- ↑ Metro West Daily News "Many candidates leave party affiliation off literature" October 16, 2010
| Political offices | ||
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Massachusetts State Senate Second Middlesex and Norfolk 2004–present |
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