James Cantwell

Jim Cantwell
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 4th Plymouth district
Incumbent
Assumed office
2009
Preceded by Frank Hynes
Personal details
Born October 25, 1966
Marshfield, Massachusetts
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Jennifer
Children 1
Residence Marshfield
Alma mater Boston College
Website http://www.jimcantwell.com

James "Jim" Cantwell (born October 25, 1966) is the Massachusetts State Representative for the 4th Plymouth district, which represents Marshfield and precincts 1, 2, 4, 5, & 6 of Scituate. Cantwell has held this seat since 2008.

Education and early career

Cantwell, a native of Marshfield, graduated from Marshfield High School in 1984. He completed his undergraduate degree from Boston College in 1988. He received a degree from Boston College Law School in 1994.[1]

After graduating from law school, Cantwell served as an assistant district attorney for Norfolk county. He was also elected to the Board of Selectmen in Marshfield in 1996, and held that position for three years. After his tenure at the Norfolk county District Attorney's office, Cantwell took a position as a staff attorney for United States Representative William Delahunt.[1]

Cantwell is also a co-owner and partner of Graeber, Davis and Cantwell, a small general-practice law firm in Quincy, Massachusetts.[2]

State Representative

Cantwell made his first bid for the State House in 2000 after his tenure as a Marshfield selectman. Cantwell was the Democratic candidate for the Plymouth and Norfolk State Senate seat, running against Republican incumbent Robert L. Hedlund. Cantwell was defeated in that race.[3] Cantwell then ran for the 4th Plymouth State Representative seat in 2008 following the retirement of the incumbent, Democrat Frank Hynes. Cantwell won a 3-way primary race to face Marshfield independent candidate John Valianti in the general election. Cantwell won the election with 58% of the vote.[4] He was also reelected in 2010 and is a candidate for that seat again in 2012.

As a State Representative, Cantwell sits on the House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, the Joint Committee on Revenue, and the Joint Committee on Financial Services.[1] His legislative achievements include helping to create the Seafood-Marketing Committee[5] and helping to get the Department of Transportation to begin a widening project for Route 139 in Marshfield.[6] Cantwell also voted for the 2011 casino gaming bill.[7]

Electoral history

Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Norfolk, 2000
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert Hedlund 41,652 51.90
Democratic James M. Cantwell 38,556 48.1
Massachusetts General Court 4th Plymouth District, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James M. Cantwell 13,988 61.70
Independent John Valianti 8,673 38.2
Massachusetts General Court 4th Plymouth District, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James M. Cantwell 14,425 74.11
Massachusetts General Court 4th Plymouth District, 2012[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James M. Cantwell 16,128 68.4
Republican Stephen Coulter 7,450 31.6
Massachusetts General Court 4th Plymouth District, 2014[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James M. Cantwell 10,560 58.6
Republican James Pavlik 7,444 41.3

External links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Member Profile: James M. Cantwell". Massachusetts General Court. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  2. "James M. Cantwell". Graeber, Davis, and Cantwell, P.C. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  3. "MA State Senate - Plymouth & Norfolk". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  4. "2008 Return of Votes Complete Statistics" (PDF). Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth - Elections Division. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  5. Flores, Micah (September 3, 2010). "Committee will explore branding for Massachsetts seafood". Wicked Local Marshfield. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  6. Hanron, Mary Jane (April 2, 2012). "Route 139 roadwork gets underway in Marshfield". Wicked Local Marshfield. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  7. "Roll Call: Mass. House, Senate Votes On Casinos". Associated Press / WBUR. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  8. "2012 State Representative General Election 4th Plymouth District". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  9. "2012 State Representative General Election 4th Plymouth District". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 26 December 2014.