Dave was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2012. He serves as House Chair of the Committee on Higher Education. He is also a member of the Progressive Caucus, Zero Waste Caucus, Food Systems Caucus, and METCO Caucus.
Originally interested in pursuing a career in music, Dave went to Ithaca College in the Finger Lakes region of New York. While he performed professionally for a time after college and still plays guitar to this day, he ultimately decided to study economics and graduated as a member of the International Honors Society in Economics. After graduation Dave worked as an economic analyst for Wharton Econometric Forecasting, a national leading economic consulting firm.
Looking for a new challenge, he moved to Washington, DC in 1992 and worked on the Clinton/Gore Transition team and then at the White House on the Task Force on National Health Care Reform led by Hillary Clinton. He also worked in the congressional office of Congresswoman Eva Clayton of North Carolina, the first African-American woman elected from either of Carolinas since Reconstruction.
Realizing a law degree would help him better understand our society and how public policy impacts daily life, Dave returned to the Washington College of Law at American University in DC, graduating with honors and as a Member of the Law Review. Right after law school, he accepted employment at a leading Boston law firm and practiced as business lawyer for 16 years, including as counsel at a cutting-edge biotechnology company and an innovative clean energy start up.
Seeking out perhaps his biggest professional challenge of all and continuing a lifelong call to service, Dave sought and was elected to the office of State Representative for the 24th Middlesex District. He considers it a great honor to serve his constituents and the Commonwealth.
“We are living through an era of transformational change in which both government and the larger society are grappling with great challenges. But it is important to remember this: those great challenges also present enormous opportunities. While there is some cynicism toward government, particularly given recent dysfunction in Washington, DC, I want my constituents to know that — every single day working in state government — I see how government can be a positive force, helping people in need and moving our society forward. I also see that no public official can be successful without the sustained engagement of his or her constituents, so I hope to continue to build on the countless wonderful relationships I have developed. Please know that your voice really does matter greatly and I hope you will use this website and other avenues to communicate with me and play the most important role of all in our democracy — active citizen.”
Dave comes from a large happy family of seven children and has many nieces and nephews to whom he is quite close. To this day, the entire family (over 20 strong) vacations together at least once a year. Having lost his father very early in life, he realizes the enormous importance of family and community bonds. In his free time (such as it is), he likes biking, the arts (including playing that guitar) and travel.
