State Sen. Joan Lovely Reappointed Assistant Majority Leader

SALEM, MA — State Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) returns to a position of leadership on Beacon Hill this session after Senate President Karen Spilka appointed her to serve as assistant Majority Leader and as Chair of Senate Committee on Rules.

Lovely served in both of these positions during the 192nd Session.

"I am deeply honored to be named Assistant Majority Leader and Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules," Lovely said in a statement to Patch. "I would like to thank Senate President Spilka for
her leadership and continued confidence and trust in me.

"I look forward to leading this Committee and working with my Senate colleagues to ensure transparency, accessibility, and equity remain at the forefront of the Senate's policies and procedures, and that the needs of all our residents are being met."

Lovely will also serve on the Senate Committee on Ethics, the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change and the Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice.

She will serve on two Joint Committees as well — as Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight as well as a member of the Joint Committee on Agriculture.

Lovely, a former Salem City Councilor, was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in 2013 and won re-election this past fall.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)