John F. Keenan (state senator)

John F. Keenan, (born 1964) is a member of the Massachusetts State Senate for the Norfolk and Plymouth district.

For other people named John Keenan, see John Keenan.
John F. Keenan
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
from the Norfolk and Plymouth district
Assumed office
January 5, 2011
Preceded byMichael W. Morrissey
City Councilor At-Large, Quincy, Massachusetts
In office
2003–2012
Personal details
Born1964
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Jeanne Keenan
ResidenceQuincy, Massachusetts
OccupationLegislator
Websitewww.senatorjohnkeenan.com

Prior to being elected to the Massachusetts State Senate he served on the Quincy City Council from 2003 to 2012. He finished his term on the Quincy City Council in January 2012 and did not seek re-election.[1] He was sworn in to the State Senate on January 5, 2011.[2] Senator Keenan ran unopposed in the general election in November 2012.

Early life

John was born the fourth of seven children of Philip and Loretta Keenan. His father worked in the mailing room of the Record American, and then the Boston Herald, while his mother worked at Filene’s department store and then CNA Insurance. John was raised in Quincy and attended the Quincy Public Schools, graduating in 1982 from North Quincy High School. He went to Harvard University, earning his way through by working in the athletic department equipment room. He also worked the Saturday overnight shift at the Herald. John graduated with honors from Harvard in 1986, with a government concentration. Three years later, he graduated from Suffolk University Law School.

After law school, John worked first as a litigator, then as a public defender, followed by work as an attorney combating insurance fraud. He is admitted to practice in all Massachusetts State Courts, the Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the Federal First Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

While in law school, John was appointed to serve as the Chairperson of the Quincy Mayor’s Commission on Handicapped Affairs, and was then appointed to the Quincy Zoning Board of Appeals, on which he served for seven years. In 1997 he was appointed Executive Secretary in the administration of Quincy Mayor Jim Sheets. As Executive Secretary he managed 22 municipal department heads and was responsible for the preparation and presentation of Quincy’s budget and the review of all financial matters. In 2001, John became Executive Director of the Norfolk County Retirement System, a public pension system with approximately 10,000 active and retired members, and assets of over $500 million.


Quincy City Council

In 2003, John was appointed to the Quincy City Council to fill a vacant seat, and was elected Councilor at Large in 2004. He was re-elected Councilor at Large four times, the last time topping the ticket. He served as Chairman of the Council’s Finance Committee for eight years.

Massachusetts State Senate

2010 elections

In 2010, John F. Keenan ran for the Massachusetts State Senate, for the Norfolk and Plymouth district. He beat a Democratic Party primary challenger, Arthur Steven Tobin, with 9,539 to Tobin's 8,146, well over 55% of the vote.[3] In the general election, Keenan defeated Republican Daniel M. Dewey and Independent Laura Innis, 29,982 votes to 18,582 for Dewey and 5,152 for Innis.[4]

2012 elections

In 2012, Keenan, running for reelection, was unopposed in the Democratic primary, receiving all 5,309 votes cast.[5] In the general election, he was unopposed, but garnered about 75% of the vote, with over 16,000 blank votes being submitted. His second term began in January, 2013.[6]

2014 elections

In 2014, Keenan faced republican challenger Les Gosule. A resident of Quincy, Massachusetts who is the father of a murder victim and one of the 'Three Strikes Activists', who worked over a decade to pass "Melissa’s Law" since his daughter Melissa Gosule was murdered in 1999.[7][8] On November 4, 2014, Senator Keenan won reelection to a third term which started in January 2015.[9]

2016 and 2018 elections

John was re-elected to the State Senate in both 2016 and 2018. He was challenged by Alexander Mendez, Independent in 2016.[10] He was challenged again by Alexander Mendez in 2018.[11]

Tenure

Since being elected to the Senate, John has served as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health, and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets. Now in his fifth term, John currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight and as vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

He has focused on substance use and other public health issues.

Senate Committees
  • Chair, Bonding, Senate Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
  • Vice Chair, Transportation Committee
  • Vice Chair, Judiciary Committee
  • Vice Chair, Housing Committee
  • Joint Committee on Financial Services
  • Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
  • Joint Committee on Senate Ways and Means
  • Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
  • Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Tech

Personal life

John is married with three children. He is a member of the Merrymount Association, the Ward One Democratic Committee, the Quincy City Club, Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library, and the Harvard Club of Quincy. He served for seven years as a member of the Quincy Zoning Board of Appeals, and also coached in the Sacred Heart Youth Basketball Program for several years.[12]

Keenan is also a practicing Catholic.[13]

See also

References
  1. Encarnacao, Jack , The Patriot Legder, November 11, 2010.
  2. Nancy Reardon Stewart , The Patriot Ledger, January 11, 2011.
  3. Francis Galvin, William. "2012 Democratic Primary Results" (PDF). 2010 Election Results. MA STATE SEC. OF STATE.
  4. Francis Galvin, William. "Return of Votes For Massachusetts State Election November 2, 2010" (PDF). 2010 MA Election Results. MA STATE SEC OF STATE.
  5. Francis Galvin, William. "09/06/2012 State Primary" (PDF). Democratic MA State Primary Results. MA STATE SEC OF STATE.
  6. Francis Galvin, William. "Return of Votes For Massachusetts State Election November 6, 2012" (PDF). 2012 MA Election Results. MA STATE SEC OF STATE.
  7. Schoenberg, Shira. "Les Gosule, father of murder victim, considers run for Massachusetts Senate". Masslive.
  8. Cabbot, Hillary. "Chabot les Gosule's Fight to Fix Beacon Hill's Topsy Turvy Ways". 2012 MA Election Results. Boston Herald.
  9. Burrellt, Chris. "Sen. Keenan wins third term in Norfolk and Plymouth District=2014 MA Election Results". The Patriot Ledger. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  10. https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20161103/keenan-touts-hard-work-mendez-urges-change-in-state-senate-race
  11. https://www.enterprisenews.com/news/20181106/keenan-wins-norfolk-plymouth-senate-seat
  12. http://www.senatorjohnkeenan.com/About_John.html
  13. "JOHN F. KEENAN'S BIOGRAPHY". Project Vote Smart. One Common Ground.
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