[The following press release was submitted by the Committee to Elect David Gravel.]

Today Peabody City Councilor and local businessman Dave Gravel submitted 987 nomination signatures for State Representative to the Peabody City Clerk's Office. The law requires only 150 signatures be certified locally and turned into the Secretary of State in order to be on the ballot in the Special Election on April 2 to fill the seat left vacant due to the death of Rep. Joyce Spiliotis.  "I am grateful to the hundreds of people who have helped put my name on the ballot and intend to continue to campaign very hard door-to-door over the next two months to talk about the issues that are so important to Peabody’s future," said Gravel.

"I am running for State Representative because it is critical for Peabody to have a strong presence in the legislature. The retirement of Peabody’s great Senator Berry and the sad and untimely loss of Rep. Spiliotis put our city at a disadvantage and make it more important than ever that we send a strong and effective Representative to stand up for our city in the legislature. I offer my skills and experience as a City Councilor, former School Committeeman, local businessman, community volunteer and concerned citizen to make sure Peabody’s voice is heard on Beacon Hill." Gravel said.

Dave Gravel has been elected to serve the people of Peabody for over 13 years. He has served on the Peabody City Council as a Councilor-at-Large since 2007. He was elected Council President in 2010. Gravel is credited with successfully restarting and completing the revision of citywide zoning ordinances. He served in multiple city committees including: Industrial and Community Development (Chair); Finance Committee; Municipal Safety; Ad-Hoc Committee on School/Municipal Consolidation (Chair); and the Mayor’s Economic Development Committee.

Gravel also was elected and served on the Peabody School Committee from 1995 to 2003. During that time he chaired the Finance Committee, the Negotiations Committee, and the Brown School Building Committee. He was also a member of the Carroll School Building Committee and the Quality and Standards Committee. Gravel successfully settled contracts for 7 unions and lead the efforts to build new schools, renovate buildings and improve educational programs.

Dave has demonstrated his commitment to Peabody through his involvement with organizations and community efforts. He served as Chairman/President of the Peabody Education Foundation  and has been active on the Boards and as a member of the Peabody Chamber of Commerce and Peabody/Lynnfield YMCA. He successfully Co-Chaired the community development committee to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a new YMCA facility in Peabody.

Raised in Peabody, Gravel is one of six children and a product of the Peabody public school system. He graduated from Salem State College in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in English and from Babson College in 1984 with a MBA in finance and information systems. Dave is founder and CEO of GraVoc Associates, Inc., a technology consulting firm in Peabody.

Gravel will be listed on the April 2nd ballot as Unenrolled/Independent candidate. Gravel explained, "Although I am a life-long Democrat, I am required to run as an Independent in this election because while serving on the non-partisan City Council I decided to become an unenrolled voter to avoid any party partisan divisiveness on local issues. I did not anticipate entering a legislative race at that time." If elected, Gravel will caucus with the Democrats.

Gravel will officially kick-off his campaign with a fundraising reception Friday, January 25 at the AOH Hall on Lowell St, Peabody. Gravel is not accepting contributions from special interest groups and political action committees (PACs).