Sen. Clark Named Legislator of the Year by Mass. Municipal Association

Submitted by Sen. Katherine Clark's Office.

The Massachusetts Municipal Association has recognized State Senator Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) as a distinguished “Legislator of the Year” based on her record of accomplishment for cities, towns and local taxpayers during the 2011 legislative session. Sen. Clark, who serves as the Senate Chair of the Public Service Committee, was presented with the award at the municipal association’s annual awards ceremony on January 21, 2012, before a crowd of local officials from across the state.

“This has been a very strong and productive legislative session for cities and towns, including passage of municipal health insurance reform legislation, the most important reform law to benefit cities and towns in the past 30 years, and local officials across Massachusetts deeply appreciate the time, effort, leadership and support Senator Clark provided on this key issue,” said MMA Executive Director Geoff Beckwith. “The new law will save cities and towns, taxpayers, and municipal employees millions of dollars a year, all while guaranteeing high quality health insurance for local workers and preserving countless jobs for teachers, police officers, firefighters and other key municipal employees.” 

“I am extremely honored to receive this award from the MMA,” said Senator Clark. “I am also very grateful for the partnerships with the local officials in my district and thank them for all they do to maintain and improve the quality of life in our communities.”

In announcing the award, Natick Selectman Josh Ostroff, the President of the MMA, stated that “in addition to municipal health insurance reform, Senator Clark’s remarkable record during the 2011 session contains many other acts to benefit the communities of Massachusetts, including: the enactment of strong pension reform legislation without mandates on local systems, which will reduce local pension costs by $2 billion over the next 30 years; the fiscal 2012 state budget, which restored $65 million in vital local aid to every town and city; and the passage of a $200 million Chapter 90 program to repair local roads and bridges, the highest in state history.”

"Local officials in every corner of Massachusetts know that Senator Clark cares deeply about cities and towns, and that she seeks out every opportunity to support and aid communities,” said Beckwith. “This is reflected by her record in just one year as a member of the Senate.  We are deeply grateful for her commitment to local government and local taxpayers,” he concluded.

The MMA is the statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan association of cities and towns that provides all 351 communities with a broad range of services, including advocacy, training and education, publications, policy research, cost-saving programs and management assistance.