{{Short description|American politician (born 1962)}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = File:Bruce Ayers.jpg | image_size = | name = Bruce Ayers | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|4|17}} | birth_place = [[Boston, Massachusetts]] | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | website = | occupation = Small Business Owner<br>Politician | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | spouse = | alma_mater = [[Quincy College]]<br>[[Northeastern University]]<br>[[Harvard University]]<br>[[Boston College]] Small Business Development Program | state_house = Massachusetts | district = [[Massachusetts House of Representatives's 1st Norfolk district|1st Norfolk]] | term_start = January 4, 1999 | term_end = | predecessor = [[Michael G. Bellotti]] | successor = | title1 = Member of the Quincy City Council for Ward 6 | term_start1 = January 6, 1992 | term_end1 = January 3, 2000 | predecessor1 = | successor1 = }}
'''Bruce J. Ayers''' (born April 17, 1962, in [[Boston, Massachusetts]]<ref>{{cite book |title=2007–2008 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |url=https://archive.org/stream/publicofficersof20072008bost#page/86/mode/2up }}</ref>) is an American small business owner and politician who represents the 1st Norfolk District in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] and is a former member of the [[Quincy, Massachusetts]] City Council (1992–2000).<ref>[http://www.malegislature.gov/People/Profile/BJA1 Massachusetts Legislature profile]</ref>
==Education & Career== Ayers graduated [[North Quincy High School]], while taking college courses at [[Quincy College]]. After high school he entered [[Northeastern University]] and then the [[Harvard Extension School|Harvard University Extension School]]. Ayers has also completed the Boston College Small Business Development Program.<ref name="malegislature.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://malegislature.gov/People/Profile/BJA1|title=Representative Bruce J. Ayers}}</ref>
Ayers is a small business owner, and retrofits vehicles for the physically challenged with adaptive driving equipment. He has owned Ayers Handicap Conversion Center for over 35 years.
Ayers served on the Quincy Democratic City Committee from 1990 to 2000. In 1992 he was elected to the Quincy City Council for Ward 6. Ayers served in both positions until being elected to the 1st Norfolk State Representative district in 1999.<ref name="malegislature.gov"/>
==Issues== Ayers has been an advocate for the physically disabled in the state legislature. In 2016, he filed legislation to end illegal use of handicapped parking spots.<ref>{{Cite web|title=OUR OPINION: Raise the fine for abusing handicapped parking zones|url=https://www.patriotledger.com/article/20160422/NEWS/160427931|website=The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA|language=en|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref>
In 2013 Ayers spoke to the need for additional laws to stop animal abuse following the highly publicized death of "Puppy Doe". It involved a dog found dead and tortured in a park in Quincy, Massachusetts.<ref>{{Citation|title=State Representative Bruce J. Ayers D-MA speaking at the Puppy Doe Vigil, Quincy MA 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw7rFzwNDrg|language=en|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref>
Ayers hosts a regular television show called Legislative Update with Rep. Bruce Ayers on Quincy public access TV. There he talks with local political leaders and speaks about the initiatives and bills he has supported.<ref>{{Citation|title=Legislative Update with Rep. Bruce Ayers D-MA and Congressman Stephen Lynch|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmk0jPHJfBI|language=en|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref>
==Electoral history==
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts General Court 1st Norfolk District, 1998 Democratic Primary <ref name=pd43>{{cite web|title=Massachusetts Elections Division|url=http://electionstats.state.ma.us/candidates/view/Bruce-J-Ayers/|website=PD43+ Candidate Profile: Bruce Ayers|publisher=Secretary of State William Galvin|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Bruce J. Ayers |votes = 3,801 |percentage = 54.2 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Lawrence F. Chretian |votes = 3,212 |percentage = 45.8 |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts General Court 1st Norfolk District, 1998<ref name=pd43 />}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Bruce J. Ayers |votes = 10.139 |percentage = 99.3 |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts General Court 1st Norfolk District, 2000<ref name=pd43 />}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Bruce J. Ayers |votes = 13,122 |percentage = 97.4 |change = -1.9 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts General Court 1st Norfolk District, 2002<ref name=pd43 />}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Bruce J. Ayers |votes = 10,117 |percentage = 99.3 |change = +1.9 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts General Court 1st Norfolk District, 2004 Democratic Primary<ref name=pd43 />}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Bruce J. Ayers |votes = 3,801 |percentage = 77.5 |change = +22.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Paul J. Meoni |votes = 1,000 |percentage = 23.6 |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts General Court 1st Norfolk District, 2004<ref name=pd43 />}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Bruce J. Ayers |votes = 12,681 |percentage = 77.5 |change = -21.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Marco Sandonato |votes = 3,659 |percentage = |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts General Court 1st Norfolk District, 2006<ref name=pd43 />}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Bruce J. Ayers |votes = 10,926 |percentage = 98.9 |change = +21.4 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts General Court 1st Norfolk District, 2008<ref name=pd43 />}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Bruce J. Ayers |votes = 14,352 |percentage = 98.8 |change = -1.1 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts General Court 1st Norfolk District, 2010<ref name=pd43 />}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Bruce J. Ayers |votes = 11,119 |percentage = 98.9 |change = +.01 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts General Court 1st Norfolk District, 2012<ref name=pd43 />}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Bruce J. Ayers |votes = 14,722 |percentage = 98.7 |change = -.02 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts General Court 1st Norfolk District, 2014<ref name=pd43 />}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Bruce J. Ayers |votes = 9,820 |percentage = 98.6 |change = -.01 }} {{Election box end}}
==See also== * [[2019–2020 Massachusetts legislature]] * [[2021–2022 Massachusetts legislature]]
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Massachusetts House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayers, Bruce}} [[Category:1962 births]] [[Category:Democratic Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]] [[Category:Politicians from Quincy, Massachusetts]] [[Category:Northeastern University alumni]] [[Category:Harvard Extension School alumni]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Quincy College (Massachusetts) alumni]] [[Category:21st-century members of the Massachusetts General Court]]