# Stephen Brewer > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Stephen_Brewer > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Stephen_Brewer.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Brewer > Source revision: 1350354416 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American politician This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. Find sources: "Stephen Brewer" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Stephen Brewer Brewer in 2010 Member of the Massachusetts Senate, Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex district In office 1997–2015 Preceded by Robert D. Wetmore Succeeded by Anne Gobi Personal details Born (1948-02-10) February 10, 1948 (age 78) Worcester, Massachusetts Party Democratic Alma mater University of Massachusetts Amherst Assumption College Official portrait **Stephen Brewer** is an American politician who served in the [Massachusetts Senate](/source/Massachusetts_Senate) from 1997 to 2015. ## Early life Stephen Brewer was born on February 10, 1948, in Worcester, MA.[1] He was raised in the town of [Barre, Massachusetts](/source/Barre%2C_Massachusetts).[2] He received his B.A. from the [University of Massachusetts Amherst](/source/University_of_Massachusetts_Amherst) in 1971, and his M.A. from [Assumption College](/source/Assumption_College_(Worcester)) in 1974.[1] ## Political career Brewer started his political career on the Barre Board of Selectmen, where he served from 1977 to 1984, eventually becoming the board's chairman. He also worked as an aide to state Senator [Robert D. Wetmore](/source/Robert_D._Wetmore) from 1980 to 1988. He became a member of the [Massachusetts House of Representatives](/source/Massachusetts_House_of_Representatives) in 1989 and moved onto the [Massachusetts Senate](/source/Massachusetts_Senate) in 1997, where he served until his retirement in January 2015.[1] In the state Senate he represented the Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin District. As the Senate Chair for the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, Brewer was instrumental in the passing of the [Welcome Home Bill](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Welcome_Home_Bill&action=edit&redlink=1), a comprehensive package for recent combat veterans to come home to as they transition back to civilian life. He also chaired the Senate Committee on Bills in the Third Reading and served as vice-chair of the Joint Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. On October 14, 2011, Sen. Brewer opposed a budget amendment by state Rep. [James J. Lyons, Jr.](/source/James_J._Lyons%2C_Jr.) (R-Andover) that would have required the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services to give a public accounting on state benefits given to immigrants, both documented and undocumented. The amendment died in the resolution phase of the Senate and House versions. Sen. Brewer said, "It was not a Senate priority. I think it needs further study."[3] Brewer retired from the Senate at the end of his term in January 2015.[4] ## Personal life Brewer practices Catholicism.[1] As of 2009 he resides in Barre with his wife Valerie and two daughters, April and Audrey.[2] Brewer will be serving as a parade dignitary celebrating the Town of Barre, Massachusetts 250th Anniversary. Brewer will be riding in an old stage coat that was renovated by the Historical Society. ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Stephen_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Stephen_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Stephen_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Stephen_1-3) ["Senator Stephen M. Brewer's Biography"](http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/4768). Vote Smart. Retrieved September 16, 2012. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-constituent-background_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-constituent-background_2-1) Massachusetts State Senator Stephen M. Brewer Constituent Services web site (June 3, 2009). ["Background"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110728055436/http://www.stevebrewer.org/index.cfm?p=p.27). Archived from [the original](http://www.stevebrewer.org/index.cfm?p=p.27) on July 28, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2010. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Rep sits tight, wins duel over budget - BostonHerald.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111018161523/http://bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/2011_1015rep_sits_tight_wins_duel_over_budget/). Archived from [the original](http://bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/2011_1015rep_sits_tight_wins_duel_over_budget) on October 18, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Mass. state Sen. Brewer to retire at end of term](http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/24473090/mass-state-sen-brewer-to-retire-at-end-of-term) [Deprecated link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Archive.today_guidance) archived 2014-01-29 at [archive.today](/source/Archive.today) Political offices Preceded by Steven C. Panagiotakos Chairman of the Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Committee 2011–2015 Succeeded by Karen Spilka This article about a member of the Massachusetts State Senate is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Massachusetts-MASenate-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3AMassachusetts-MASenate-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Massachusetts-MASenate-stub) This article about a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Massachusetts-MARepresentative-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3AMassachusetts-MARepresentative-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Massachusetts-MARepresentative-stub) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Stephen Brewer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Brewer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Brewer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.