MA Senate Special Election: Stephen Lynch Bio

The son of Francis Lynch, an ironworker, and Anne Lynch, a postal clerk, Stephen was born and raised in South Boston's Old Colony Public Housing Development with his five sisters. While attending South Boston High School, Stephen joined his father as a member of Ironworkers Local 7 in Boston.

Lynch was elected to serve as President of Ironworkers Local #7 - the youngest president in the history of the 2,000-member union. He went to school at night and on weekends to earn his Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management from Wentworth Institute of Technology. He received his law degree from Boston College Law School and was admitted to both the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Bars.

In 1994, Lynch was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Fourteen months later, he was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in a special election. He served as Chair of the Joint Committee on Commerce and Labor and led efforts to better safeguard worker rights and promote responsible business development in the Commonwealth. In 1999, he earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Currently in Congress, Stephen has earned a reputation as a leader who takes principled stands in tough political environments and applies a common sense approach to his votes. He was one of only 95 Democrats to vote against the "Bank Bailout", feeling that hard working Americans would unjustly have to foot the bill while the people being bailed out continued to pay themselves huge bonuses. And that's just what happened.

He currently serves as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the chief oversight and investigatory panel in the House of Representatives. In addition, he serves as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Federal Employees, the Postal Service and the District of Columbia.

Stephen Lynch has a strong belief that government should work for the people it serves. He has an outstanding record of responding to the needs of his constituents and helping them to navigate through the red tape of government agencies. Whether it's a missing social security check, assistance with housing, or a lost passport, his office has a well earned reputation as the place to go when you need help.

Congressman Lynch has been a lifelong resident of his hometown of South Boston, where he and his wife Margaret are raising their daughter Victoria and niece Crystal. Though he works in Washington during the week, he prides himself on his commitment to get home to the district when his votes in Congress are done and regularly attends local town meeting. He strives to stay in close touch with all of the cities and towns in the district.