Aaron Vega

Aaron Vega (born August 15, 1970) is an American state legislator who previously represented the 5th Hampden district of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, co-owner of a yoga business, and a former film editor. He has been nominated for the Argentine Film Critics Association's Silver Condor Award for Best Film for directing jazz documentary Van Van - Empezó la fiesta!, and has worked on several PBS documentaries including American Experience and Ken Burns' Jazz.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, Vega began his political career in 2009 when he successfully ran as a city councilor in Holyoke, and subsequently ran successfully for state representative for the 5th Hampden district in 2012.[2]

Aaron Vega
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 5th Hampden district
In office
January 2, 2013 – January 6, 2021
Preceded byMichael F. Kane
Succeeded byPatricia Duffy
Member of the Holyoke City Council from the At-large district
In office
2010–2012
Personal details
Born (1970-08-15) August 15, 1970
Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Debra Vega (m. 2006)
Children4
ResidenceHolyoke, Massachusetts
Alma materHolyoke Community College
Keene State College (B.A., M.A.)
OccupationSmall business owner, yoga instructor, film editor
WebsiteOfficial website
Campaign website

Personal life

The son of local Ecuadorian activist and cofounder of Nueva Esperanza, Carlos Vega, Aaron Vega was born in Holyoke on August 15, 1970 and grew up in South Holyoke, attending Morgan Elementary School, before moving with his mother to New Hampshire. He would graduate from Mascenic Regional High School in 1988,[2][3] and soon after attended Holyoke Community College and subsequently Keene State College where he received dual bachelor's degrees in psychology and film studies.[2] Over the next several years he would do work on a number of PBS documentaries as an editor, including several directed by Ken Burns, working out of New York City before returning to Holyoke in 2002.[1][4] In 2008, Vega opened a yoga studio with his wife in the converted Lyman Mills, now known as Open Square, becoming a mobile yoga service in 2017. Today Vega resides in Holyoke with his wife Debra, who teaches dance at Mount Holyoke College,[5] his three daughters, and son.[2] He is a member of the board of the Carlos Vega Fund for Social Justice.[6]

Selected filmography

Vega has worked as an editor for a number of films, primarily human interest stories told through documentaries. He is credited as the film editor of the following works, unless otherwise noted[1]

  • Refugee Kids: One Small School Takes on the World, 2014, short
  • Héroes, 2011, TV movie (Puerto Rico), director
  • Sosúa: Make a Better World, 2009, documentary
  • American Experience
  • A Class Apart, 2009
  • Race to the Moon, 2005
  • Artists of the Bahamas, 2008, documentary edited with Scott Hancock
  • Through Deaf Eyes, 2007, documentary
  • Clock Paint Eyeball, 2006, short, edited with Chris Ohlson
  • My Electric Bill, 2006, short
  • Addison's Wall, 2005, drama
  • Front Wards, Back Wards, 2005, documentary
  • The Spin Cycle, 2004, short
  • Blue Vinyl, 2002, post-production coordinator
  • The New Sideshow, 2002, TV movie
  • Ram Dass, Fierce Grace, 2001, documentary
  • Jazz (TV series), 2001, 3 episodes
  • The True Welcome: 1929-1934
  • The Gift: 1917-1924
  • Gumbo: Beginnings to 1917

Massachusetts House of Representatives (2013–present)

Vega ran for the Massachusetts House of Representative's 5th Hampden District legislative seat, which was made vacant upon the resignation of incumbent State Representative Michael F. Kane who accepted a position with Columbia Gas of Massachusetts.[7] He defeated the Republican nominee Ward 5 City Councilor Linda M. Vacon and Green-Rainbow nominee Jerome T. Hobert[8] and was sworn-in on January 2, 2013. He is a member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.[9]

Committee assignments
  • Committee on Personnel and Administration
  • Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies
  • Joint Committee on Higher Education

Electoral history

Massachusetts House of Representatives, 5th Hampden District, 2018:[10]

  • Aaron Vega (D) – 10,199 (99.6%)
  • All Others – 38 (0.4%)
  • Blank Votes – 2,214

Massachusetts House of Representatives, 5th Hampden District, 2016:

  • Aaron Vega (D) – 13,687 (99.7%)
  • All Others – 40 (0.3%)
  • Blank Votes – 3,312

Massachusetts House of Representatives, 5th Hampden District, 2012:

  • Aaron Vega (D) – 9,545 (60.8%)
  • Linda Vacon (R) – 3,211 (20.5%)
  • Jermone Hobert (Green-Rainbow) – 2,939 (18.7%)

Democratic primary for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 5th Hampden District, 2012:

  • Aaron Vega – 1,947 (65.4%)
  • Michael F. Kane (inc.) – 999 (33.6%)

Holyoke City Council, At-large, 2011:

  • Kevin Jourdain (inc.) – 5,029
  • Peter Tallman – 4,834
  • Aaron Vega (inc.) – 4,697
  • Joseph McGiverin (inc.) – 4,675
  • Brenna Murphy (inc.) – 4,528
  • Daniel Bresnahan – 4,264
  • James Leahy (inc.) – 4,252
  • Rebecca Lisi – 4,213
  • Patricia Devine (inc.) – 3,886
  • John Whelihan – 3,675
  • Yasser Menwer – 1,706

See also

References
  1. "Aaron Vega". IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  2. Aaron Vega. Massachusetts General Court.
  3. "Class of '88". Viking '85. Mascenic Regional High School; Modu-Form of Fitchburg. p. 25.
  4. Aaron Vega, Jasmine Colonna (2013). Studio Interview with Aaron Vega. The Holyoke Public Schools Media Center – via Vimeo.
  5. "Debra Vega". Mount Holyoke College. 2017. Archived from the original on December 21, 2017.
  6. "Carlos Vega Board Members". Carlos Vega Fund for Social Justice. 2014. Archived from the original on 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2018-07-05. Aaron is Carlos's eldest son and the current chair of the advisory board. After a career in documentary films as an editor Aaron moved back to Holyoke in 2002 and quickly got involved in the community. In 2009 Aaron ran for the Holyoke City Council as an At Large Candidate and won. He won a second two-year term in 2011 and then ran for the State Representative Seat in 2012. In his first term as the State Rep for Holyoke Aaron has worked on economic development, higher education and workforce development opportunities for Holyoke and the entire Commonwealth. In addition to his political life, Aaron is a yoga instructor and with his wife Debra they own VegaYoga & Movement Arts. Aaron has three adult daughters and a new son, Odin who is sure to follow in the family footstep of community involvement.
  7. "Holyoke state Rep. Mike Kane quits House for Columbia Gas job, setting up scramble for post". Mike Plaisance. June 8, 2012.
  8. "Holyokers elect Aaron Vega state rep over Linda Vacon and Jerome Hobert in the 5th Hampden District". Mike Plaisance. November 6, 2012.
  9. "2019-2020 Massachusetts Black & Latino Legislative Caucus". mablacklatinocaucus.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  10. PD:43+, Massachusetts Election Results, Elections Division, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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