Jack Patrick Lewis

{{Infobox officeholder |name = Jack Patrick Lewis |image = Jack Patrick Lewis.jpg |caption = |state_house=Massachusetts |district= [[Massachusetts House of Representatives' 7th Middlesex district|7th Middlesex]] |term_start=January 4, 2017 |preceded=[[Tom Sannicandro]] |birth_date= |birth_place= |party=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] |spouse=Brent Lewis |children=3 |education=[[University of Utah]] (B.A.)<br /> [[Eden Theological Seminary]] (M.Div.) |profession=Minister<br />Nonprofit executive director |website={{URL|http://www.electjacklewis.com}} }}

'''Jack Patrick Lewis''' is an American state legislator from [[Framingham, Massachusetts|Framingham]], [[Massachusetts]]. A [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], he was sworn in as a member of the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] on January 4, 2017.

After earning the Democratic nomination on September 8, 2016, Lewis became representative-elect on November 8, earning over 61% of the vote.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/massachusetts-state-house-7th-middlesex|title=Massachusetts 7th Middlesex State House Results: Jack Lewis Wins|website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2016-11-28}}</ref>

In addition to his political involvement, Lewis has served as the executive director of OUTMetro West, a nonprofit working with at-risk LGBT youth, and as assistant minister and director of religious education at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills.

== Early life and education == Lewis's father is a retired manufacturing worker and longtime member of the [[United Automobile Workers]] (UAW); his mother is a retired preschool teacher in the [[Head Start (program)|Head Start]] program. He grew up in [[Seville, Ohio]].

Lewis attended the [[University of Utah]] with the support of a UAW scholarship. He triple majored in political science (honors), Middle East studies/Arabic, and international studies, and graduated as the valedictorian of his divisional college. He also attended [[Eden Theological Seminary]], where he received a master of divinity.

== Professional life == Lewis began his political career while in college, serving as an organizer for [[Howard Dean]]'s 2004 presidential campaign. He has worked as a HeadStart substitute teacher, taught English in Ghana and Egypt, and worked in a group home for people with disabilities. After receiving his M.Div., Lewis served as assistant minister and director of religious education at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills in Wellesley, Massachusetts.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://electjacklewis.com/about/|title=About Jack|website=Elect Jack Lewis|publisher=Committee to Elect Jack Lewis|access-date=2017-01-01|archive-date=2017-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103094723/http://electjacklewis.com/about/|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Self-published source|date=January 2017}}

After several years at the congregation, Lewis stepped down to become a founding member of Out MetroWest, a nonprofit organization providing services for at-risk LGBT youth. During Lewis' tenure as executive director, Out MetroWest worked with over 700 teens, focusing on supportive counseling and community education.<ref name=":1" />{{Self-published source|date=January 2017}} In June 2016, Lewis' work at Out MetroWest was honored with a Nonprofit Excellence Award (Young Professional category) from the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20160706/out-metrowest-executive-director-wins-nonprofit-award|title=OUT MetroWest executive director wins nonprofit award|last=Avery|first=Brad|newspaper=MetroWest Daily News|location=Framingham, MA|access-date=2016-11-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://massnonprofitnet.org/blog/2016-finalists-nonprofit-excellence-awards/|title=The 2016 Finalists for Nonprofit Excellence Awards – Massachusetts Nonprofit Network|website=massnonprofitnet.org|access-date=2016-11-29}}</ref>

== Political career ==

=== Campaign for State Representative ===

The Seventh Middlesex district includes all of [[Ashland, Massachusetts]], as well as Framingham precincts 8, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 18.<ref name="Petroni">{{Cite news|url=https://patch.com/massachusetts/framingham/framingham-resident-announces-run-sannicandro-seat-0|title=Framingham Resident Announces Run For Sannicandro Seat|last=Petroni|first=Susan|newspaper=Framingham Patch|access-date=2016-11-28}}</ref>

On January 19, 2016, Lewis announced his candidacy for state representative.<ref name="Petroni" /> He ran for the Democratic nomination on a progressive platform, pledging his enthusiastic support for an increased [[minimum wage]], stronger environmental protections, and a renewed commitment to diversity and community life. He was endorsed by numerous progressive organizations, including MassAlliance, Progressive Massachusetts, and the United Automobile Workers (Region 9).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://patch.com/massachusetts/framingham/framinghams-jack-lewis-endorsed-mass-alliance-0|title=Framingham's Jack Lewis Endorsed by Mass Alliance|newspaper=Framingham Patch|access-date=2016-11-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://framinghamsource.com/index.php/2016/08/26/progressive-massachusetts-endorses-lewis-state-representative/|title=Progressive Massachusetts Endorses Lewis For State Representative – Framingham Source|date=2016-08-26|newspaper=Framingham Source|access-date=2016-11-29|archive-date=2017-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104091948/http://framinghamsource.com/index.php/2016/08/26/progressive-massachusetts-endorses-lewis-state-representative/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20160830/lewis-endorsed-by-uaw-for-7th-middlesex-seat|title=Lewis endorsed by UAW for 7th Middlesex seat|last=Shaner|first=Bill|newspaper=MetroWest Daily News|location=Framingham, MA|access-date=2016-11-29}}</ref> Lewis faced prosecutor Brett Walker and former selectman Philip Jack, both of Ashland, in the Democratic primary. On September 8, Lewis became the Democratic nominee, carrying 37% of the vote (~3% higher than the nearest candidate).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20160908/danielle-gregoire-and-jack-lewis-win-democratic-primaries|title=Danielle Gregoire and Jack Lewis win Democratic primaries|newspaper=MetroWest Daily News|location=Framingham, MA|access-date=2016-11-29}}</ref>

Lewis faced Republican Yolanda Greaves in the general election. He was supported by numerous local leaders, including state representative [[Tom Sannicandro]], state senator [[Karen Spilka]], state representative [[Chris Walsh (politician)|Chris Walsh]], and state representative Carmine Gentile. He also received the support of several federal officeholders, including congresswoman [[Katherine Clark]] and senators [[Elizabeth Warren]] and Edward Markey.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20161028/lewis-endorsed-by-katherine-clark-in-7th-middlesex-state-rep-race|title=Lewis endorsed by Katherine Clark in 7th Middlesex state rep race|last=Shaner|first=Bill|newspaper=MetroWest Daily News|location=Framingham, MA|access-date=2016-11-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://framinghamsource.com/index.php/2016/11/01/sen-markey-campaigns-with-jack-lewis-in-ashland/|title=Sen. Markey Campaigns With Jack Lewis in Ashland|date=2016-11-01|newspaper=Framingham Source|access-date=2016-11-29|archive-date=2016-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105170618/http://framinghamsource.com/index.php/2016/11/01/sen-markey-campaigns-with-jack-lewis-in-ashland/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also received the overwhelming support of labor unions and pro-choice organizations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seiu509.org/category/committees/|title=Committees|publisher=SEIU Local 509|access-date=2016-11-28|archive-date=2017-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104090932/http://www.seiu509.org/category/committees/|url-status=dead}}</ref> On November 8, he was elected with 61.8% of the vote, a margin of 4,263 votes (~29% higher than the nearest candidate).<ref name=":0" />

=== State Representative (2017-present) === Lewis was sworn in as a member of the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] on Wednesday, January 4, 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20170104/new-reps-from-framingham-milford-join-house|title=New reps from Framingham, Milford join the House|last=Shaner|first=Bill|newspaper=MetroWest Daily News|location=Framingham, MA|access-date=2017-01-06}}</ref>

On February 22, 2017, Lewis received his committee assignments, which local press praised as "consistent with the platform he campaigned on."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20170220/framingham-lewis-to-serve-on-environment-public-health-committees?start=2|title=Framingham: Lewis to serve on environment, public health committees|last=Shaner|first=Bill|newspaper=MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA|access-date=2017-02-22|language=en}}</ref>

==== Committee assignments ====

Source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/JPL1/Committees|title=Representative Jack Lewis|website=malegislature.gov|access-date=2017-02-22}}</ref>

* Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities * Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture * Joint Committee on Public Health * Joint Committee on Public Service

== Electoral history == Sources: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/candidates/view/Jack-Patrick-Lewis/|title=PD43+ » Candidate Profile...|website=PD43+|access-date=2016-11-29}}</ref> and ''The New York Times''.<ref name=":0" />

{{Election box begin|title=[[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] – Seventh Middlesex District, 2016|candidatetitle=Primary Candidate}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate='''Jack Patrick Lewis'''|votes=824|percentage=36.9}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Brett Walker|votes=761|percentage=34.1}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Philip Jack|votes=642|percentage=28.7}} {{S-end}}

{{Election box begin|title=|candidatetitle=General Election Candidate}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate='''Jack Patrick Lewis'''|votes=9,222|percentage=61.8}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Yolanda Greaves|votes=4,959|percentage=33.2}} {{Election box candidate no change|party=None|candidate=Clifford Wilson|votes=737|percentage=4.9}} {{S-end}}

==See also== * [[2019–2020 Massachusetts legislature]] * [[2021–2022 Massachusetts legislature]]

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Facebook|JackPatrickLewis}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Jack}} [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Democratic Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]] [[Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Massachusetts]] [[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:American gay politicians]] [[Category:People from Seville, Ohio]] [[Category:21st-century members of the Massachusetts General Court]]