Karen Spilka

Spilka was born in 1953 in New York, New York. She received a bachelor's degree in social work from Cornell University and a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law. She worked as a social worker, small business owner, and attorney.[2][3]

Spilka was first elected to the state Senate in 2004. Before joining the Senate, she served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2001 to 2002, filling a midterm vacancy. Spilka also served as chair and vice-chair of the Ashland School Committee and as a member of Ashland's Democratic Town Committee, Fiscal Affairs Committee, Charter Review Committee, and Personnel Board.[2]

In an interview with MetroWest Daily News, Spilka said, "I started out as a social worker, so I feel that a lot of what I do as a legislator, as a senator, as Senate president, is still social work. It just boils down to helping people."[4] She has either co-authored or endorsed legislation that increased access to capital for small businesses, created the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority, and covered tuition for Massachusetts residents attending state community colleges.[4][2]

According to Spilka's official biography, her priorities as Senate president included: leading the chamber's response to COVID-19; the passage of the Student Opportunity Act, which included the largest increase in funding for education; the passage of a police reform bill; support of legislation to transition from fossil fuels; and leadership in efforts to increase accessibility to mental healthcare.[2]

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