James Michael "Jim" Cantwell (born October 25, 1966) is an American politician and lawyer from Massachusetts. A Democrat, Cantwell is the State Director for United States Senator Ed Markey.[2] Cantwell previously served as the Massachusetts State Representative for the 4th Plymouth district from 2008 to 2018. The district encompassed[3] Marshfield and precincts 1, 2, 4, 5, & 6 of Scituate.
Jim Cantwell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 4th Plymouth district | |
| In office January 7, 2009 – March 28, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Hynes |
| Succeeded by | Patrick J. Kearney |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Michael Cantwell[1] October 25, 1966 Marshfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | Marshfield, Massachusetts |
| Education | Boston College (BS, JD) |
| Signature |  |
Education and early career
editCantwell, a native of Marshfield, graduated from Marshfield High School in 1984. He completed his undergraduate degree from Boston College in 1988. He received a J.D. degree from Boston College Law School in 1994.[4] He attended the University of Paris in 1987.[4]
Cantwell was a leader of the effort to preserve the Webster Estate as a historic site and public space.[5]
After graduating from law school, Cantwell served as an Assistant District Attorney for Norfolk County. He was also elected to the Marshfield Select Board in 1996, winning a three-way race with 81% of the vote.[6] He held this position for three years, including as Chairman.[2] 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.[4]
In 2000, Cantwell was the Democratic nominee for the Plymouth and Norfolk State Senate seat, and was narrowly defeated by the Republican incumbent Robert Hedlund.[7]
Cantwell was also a co-owner and partner of Graeber, Davis and Cantwell, a small general-practice law firm in Quincy, Massachusetts.[8]
State Representative
editElections
editCantwell ran for the 4th Plymouth District State Representative seat in 2008 following the retirement of the incumbent, Democrat Frank Hynes. Cantwell won a 4-way primary race to face Marshfield independent candidate John Valianti in the general election. Cantwell won the election with 62% of the vote.[9] He was also reelected in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016.
Tenure
editCantwell's work in the Legislature spanned a variety of issues, including cybersecurity[10] and supporting expanded "buffer zones"[11] for veterans' funerals protested by the Westboro Baptist Church.[12]
Coastal Issues
editCantwell was recognized as a leader for coastal communities, serving as co-chair of the Legislature's Coastal Caucus,[13] a board member of the National Institute for Coastal and Harbor Infrastructure (NICHI)[14] and representing Massachusetts at the 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference[15] as part of the America's Pledge efforts to reaffirm American commitment to the Paris Climate Accords.[16]
Cantwell's persistent[17] pursuit of coastal resiliency solutions led to the passage of a $17 million costal infrastructure bond bill,[18] later expanded upon with a $1.4 Billion environmental bond bill to support climate adaptation.[19]
Cantwell's advocacy[20][21][22] also placed pressure on Federal authorities (primarily FEMA) to make updates to disputed maps of flood zones and provide disaster funding under the National Flood Insurance Program,[23][24] informing debate around the passage of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act.[25]
His advocacy for coastal communities also includes helping to create the Seafood-Marketing Committee.[26] For his work on coastal issues, Cantwell was recognized as the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association's 2016 Legislator of the Year.[27]
Healthcare
editCantwell is noted for his work to combat the opioid epidemic, pushing for increased access to recovery coaches[28] [29] and co-chairing the Promote Prevent Commission[30] created by his legislation.[31]
The Promote Prevent Commission's work also included suicide prevention, serving as one of several forums where Cantwell sought to advocate for evidence-based solutions[32] and promote awareness[33] and destigmatization.[34] He was recognized for these efforts by the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention.[35]
Cantwell fought[36] to mandate insurance coverage for long-term impacts of Lyme disease.[37]
Infrastructure
editWhen two homes in Scituate burned down after floodwater contacted electrical equipment[38] that was still live due to a delayed response from National Grid,[39] Cantwell was among the first to call for a Department of Public Utilities investigation,[40] urged DPU to impose fines,[41] and fought to ensure those fines would be returned to affected towns.[42]
Cantwell's also worked to get the Department of Transportation to begin a widening project for Route 139 in Marshfield.[43]
After the Fukushima nuclear accident, Cantwell led efforts calling for more robust emergency planning surrounding the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.[44] Cantwell was also critical of the lockout by Entergy during contract negotiations at Pilgrim.[45][46]
Committee assignments
editIn his final term, Cantwell served as the Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, a member of the Joint Committee on Education, and a member of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.[47]
In prior sessions, Cantwell sat on the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture; the Joint Committee on Financial Services, the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, [48] the House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, the Joint Committee on Revenue, the Joint Committee on Financial Services,[4] and the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business.[49]
Electoral history
editMassachusetts State Senate, Plymouth & Norfolk District
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James M. Cantwell | 7,862 | 55 | ||
| Democratic | Ted LeClair | 6,491 | 45 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert Hedlund | 41,652 | 51 | ||
| Democratic | James M. Cantwell | 38,556 | 48 | ||
Massachusetts General Court, 4th Plymouth District
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James M. Cantwell | 3,600 | 60 | ||
| Democratic | Michael A. Maresco | 967 | 16 | ||
| Democratic | James Mf Gilmore | 797 | 13 | ||
| Democratic | Stephen A. Lynch | 659 | 11 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James M. Cantwell | 13,988 | 62 | ||
| Independent | John Valianti | 8,673 | 38 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James M. Cantwell | 14,425 | 74 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James M. Cantwell | 16,128 | 68 | ||
| Republican | Stephen Coulter | 7,450 | 31 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James M. Cantwell | 10,560 | 59 | ||
| Republican | James Pavlik | 7,444 | 41 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James M. Cantwell | 17,388 | 70 | ||
| Republican | Michael White | 7,601 | 30 | ||
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory Profile
- ^ a b "Senator Markey Announces James Cantwell as New Massachusetts State Director". U.S. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ "Massachusetts House 2021-2031 Districts". Massachusetts Legislature. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Member Profile: James M. Cantwell". Massachusetts General Court. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "The Trust". The Daniel Webster Estate. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Monday, April 29 1996". The Patriot Ledger Archives. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "MA State Senate - Plymouth & Norfolk". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "James M. Cantwell". Graeber, Davis, and Cantwell, P.C.
- ^ "2008 Return of Votes Complete Statistics" (PDF). Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth - Elections Division. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "State Rep. Cantwell testifies for cybersecurity legislation". Marshfield Mariner.
- ^ Quinn, Colleen. "Rep. James Cantwell proposes doubling protest buffer zone at funerals". The Patriot Ledger.
- ^ "Jim Cantwell: Speech is protected, but so are rights of grieving military families". The Patriot Ledger.
- ^ "Behind the scenes at the Coastal Caucus". Marshfield Mariner. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "NICHI Board". Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), - ^ "List of Participants". United Nations Climate Change. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "At this year's climate summit, some Americans declare, 'We're still in' the Paris Agreement". The World. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Marshfield lawmaker pushes all options for sea-wall funding". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Lawmakers approve dam, seawall loan program". Martha's Vineyard Times. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Governor Baker Authorizes $1.4 Billion for Environmental Bond Bill".
- ^ Andy Metzger, State House News Service (September 18, 2013). "Flood zone changes soak state residents with higher insurance costs". The Martha's Vineyard Times.
- ^ Szaniszlo, Marie (September 17, 2013). "State bill eyes easing of fed flood insurance rates". Boston Herald.
- ^ Trufant, Jessica (September 20, 2013). "Cantwell: Flood maps defy logic". The Patriot Ledger.
- ^ "Sandy puts South Shore's seawalls in spotlight". Boston.com. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Stout, Matt (January 14, 2014). "Patrick: Feds should 'slow down' on costly flood-zone maps". Boston Herald.
- ^ "OUR OPINION: New flood insurance bill inspires hope for democracy". The Patriot Ledger. November 2, 2013.
- ^ Flores, Micah (September 3, 2010). "Committee will explore branding for Massachsetts seafood". Wicked Local Marshfield. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Cantwell recognized as group's Legislator of the Year". Scituate Mariner. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ Shields, Bill. "Recovery Coaches Available For Overdose Patients At 2 Local Hospitals". WBZ-TV. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ Funderburk, Kristi. "Coaches help pave path of recovery". Marshfield Mariner. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Promote Prevent Final Report". Promote Prevent: A Special Legislative Commission on Behavioral Health Promotion and Upstream Prevention in Massachusetts. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Mission -- Promote Prevent". Promote Prevent: A Special Legislative Commission on Behavioral Health Promotion and Upstream Prevention in Massachusetts. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Special commission addresses mental health issues". Marshfield Mariner. October 9, 2017.
- ^ Thompson, Ruth (April 30, 2014). "South Shore Suicide Prevention Coalition: Key to decreasing suicides awareness". Scituate Mariner.
- ^ Cantwell, Jim (April 25, 2014). "REP. JIM CANTWELL: Don't go it alone". The Patriot Ledger.
- ^ Braley, Kaila (March 6, 2017). "Cause is personal for Cantwell". Marshfield Mariner.
- ^ "Should insurance companies be required to cover long-term treatment of Lyme disease?". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ "Chronicle: Ticked Off". WCVB.
- ^ "2 Homes Catch Fire In Flooded Scituate Neighborhood". WBZ News, CBS Boston. December 27, 2010.
- ^ Grillo, Thomas (December 30, 2010). "National Grid blasted for storm response". Boston Herald.
- ^ Grillo, Thomas (December 31, 2010). "State agency questions National Grid blizzard response". Boston Herald.
- ^ Keane, Kaitlin (February 6, 2011). "National Grid slammed in Scituate for storm response". The Patriot Ledger.
- ^ Keane, Kaitlin (February 17, 2011). "Under bill, towns would get money from National Grid fines". The Patriot Ledger.
- ^ Hanron, Mary Jane (April 2, 2012). "Route 139 roadwork gets underway in Marshfield". Wicked Local Marshfield. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Nuclear zone expansion proposed". Marshfield Mariner. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ Stout, Matt (May 16, 2012). "Safety eyed as nuclear plant sends half its workers home". Boston Herald.
- ^ Stout, Matt (May 17, 2012). "Pilgrim nuke plant allows workers to return, extends contract". Boston Herald.
- ^ "Representative James M. Cantwell". Massachusetts Legislature. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Representative James M. Cantwell". Massachusetts Legislature. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Representative James M. Cantwell". Massachusetts Legislature. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "2000 State Senate Democratic Primary Plymouth and Norfolk". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "2000 State Senate General Election Plymouth and Norfolk". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "2008 State Representative Democratic Primary 4th Plymouth District". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "2008 State Representative General Election 4th Plymouth District". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "2010 State Representative General Election 4th Plymouth District". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "2012 State Representative General Election 4th Plymouth District". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
- ^ "2014 State Representative General Election 4th Plymouth District". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ^ "2016 State Representative General Election 4th Plymouth District". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 10 November 2023.