Cole to Sit on Joint Committees for Health Care Financing, Elder Affairs

Peabody's new state representative will sit on two committees dealing with healthcare issues and the elderly.

Freshman Republican state Rep. Leah Cole of Peabody says she has been assigned to sit on the joint committees for Health Care Financing and Elder Affairs. The former committee deals with direct funding of healthcare programs, Medicaid, MassHealth, the Uncompensated Care Pool, fiscal issues of healthcare policy and other public health assistance. Elder Affairs deals with the elderly, disabled seniors, nursing facilities, prescription drugs and reverse mortages. “I am delighted to bring my experiences as a health care provider in long term care settings, such as nursing homes, to these committees,” said Cole, who works as a Licensed Practical Nurse. “It is exciting to be able to be such a direct advocate for patients and providers alike on …

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Cole Takes Office as Peabody's New State Rep

Leah Cole was formally sworn into office this week at a ceremony at the State House.

It's official. Leah Cole was sworn in by Gov. Deval Patrick as the 12th Essex District representative for Peabody at the State House this week, and she's already getting down to business. Cole has filed a bill jointly sponsored by the other two members of Peabody's state delegation -- Rep. Ted Speliotis and Sen. Joan Lovely -- to remove the city's police and fire chief positions from the provisions of Civil Service law. The 24-year-old Republican won the open House seat in a hotly contested three-way special election on April 2 against seasoned city politicians Beverley Griffin Dunne and David Gravel to emerge victorious by just 73 votes in her first ever bid for public office. Cole succeeds the late Joyce Spiliotis. The Salem News reports…

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Cole Sworn in May 1 as Peabody's New State Rep

Peabody Republican Leah Cole will officially take office on Beacon Hill May 1, representing the 12th Essex District.

Peabody's new state representative will finally be sworn into office this week, just shy of a month after winning a closely contested three-way special election. Leah Cole tells Peabody Patch a ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday morning at the State House and she's ready to get to work. Cole, a 24-year-old Republican, narrowly defeated seasoned city politicians Beverley Griffin Dunne and David Gravel on April 2 in what was her first ever bid for public office. Cole is the 30th member of the GOP in the Mass. House of Representatives, which finally passed a $34 billion budget onto the Senate last week. She will, however, still get a chance to have a say on next year's state budget. Once the Senate agrees on a spending plan, the budget will …

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Speliotis on House Budget: Obligation Not to Overburden Taxpayers

The veteran lawmaker and 96 of his colleagues are backing a $500 million transportation plan that seeks to do far less than the ambitious $1.9 billion tax increase the governor outlined in January.

State Rep. Ted Speliotis says that unlike down in the nation's capitol, Massachusetts has to live within its means. That's why he voted Monday night after about 10 hours of debate for a transportation bill and tax plan Gov. Deval Patrick has threatened to veto. The bill approved by the House of Representatives in a 97-55 vote would generate $500 million in new taxes in order to close the MBTA's operating deficit, stop borrowing money to pay for state transportation employees' salaries and invest another $100 million in the upkeep of local roads and sidewalks. The House plan, which fell several votes short of a veto-proof margin, would increase the gas tax by 3 cents, hike tobacco taxes and impose a tax on information technology services. …

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Cole Can't Wait to Get Started on Beacon Hill

Representative-Elect Leah Cole is just waiting to be officially sworn into office later this month. She says opposition to tax hikes and digging into welfare reform are top priorities.

[Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect a correction.] Before Leah Cole can take office on Beacon Hill, the results of last Tuesday's special election have to be certified by the Secretary of State's office. It's unclear when exactly that will happen. In the meantime, the young Republican Cole is looking for a chief of staff. She tells the Salem News she'd like to have someone from Peabody fill that role and will establish office hours for constituents once she is sworn in. Winning her first ever bid for public office, the 24-year-old Cole succeeds Joyce Spiliotis, who died in office last year, to represent Peabody and the 12th Essex District in the Mass. House of Representatives. Cole narrowly defeated Democrat Beverley …

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Saber Walsh

7:09 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013

TOTALLY AGREE! There's no reason for the delay. It's not like they are going to re-count any ballots, so this looks like yet another political game. Let her serve, and for Joyce's sake, let's get Peabody back in the game! BTW, classy note about Dunne.... she and Dave Gravel are good people, either would have done us proud. Now it's up to Leah.   more ›

Cole Says Message of Fiscal Responsibility, Cutting Wasteful Spending Key to Victory

Peabody's new state representative for the 12th Essex District, Leah Cole, says she will be rolling out office hours for constituents in the next few weeks.

Cole Says Message of Fiscal Responsibility, Cutting Wasteful Spending Key to Victory

Peabody's new state representative for the 12th Essex District, Leah Cole, says she will be rolling out office hours for constituents in the next few weeks.

State Representative-Elect Leah Cole's campaign released a statement today, saying her hard won victory Tuesday at the polls was achieved through knocking on doors across Peabody and making connections with voters. That's all part of her pledge to be a "voice of the people." “Leah knocked on doors and brought her message of fiscal [responsibility], stopping wasteful spending and sending a voice of the people to the State House. I know [she] will be a fierce advocate for the city of Peabody,” said campaign manager Ryan Chamberland. “Our message was about the hard working people of Peabody. They want common sense leadership at the State House," Cole said. "I am a nurse not a politician, and I will wake up every day with the working class …

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Cole: 'I'm Overwhelmed' [VIDEO]

The Republican newcomer surprised her detractors in the race to become Peabody's next state representative.

Peabody Republican Leah Cole shocked the Massachusetts political world Tuesday night when she won election to the 12th Essex District representative seat. This was the first run for public office by Cole, a 24-year-old nurse. Cole, who is entirely new to politics, garnered 1,878 votes to Democrat Beverley Griffin Dunne's 1,805. Unenrolled candidate Dave Gravel took 1,655 votes. According to the City Clerk's office, total voter turnout was 20 percent. "I'm overwhelmed, I'm so excited," Cole said after the results came in, her face beaming as her crowd of supporters inside Champions Pub cheered. "I'm so grateful for the voters of Peabody, for believing in what I was saying, my message." Cole's campaign zeroed in on opposing Gov. Deval …

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Who's Who and Where to Vote in State Rep Special Election

Here's your local guide to the State Representative special election on April 2.

Peabody holds its special election Tuesday to determine the city's next representative on Beacon Hill. In the 12th Essex District, which represents Ward 1 through 4 and Precinct 1 and 3 in Ward 5, there are three candidates vying for the seat left open by the death of Joyce Spiliotis last year. Republican Leah Cole, who defeated Greg Bunn in a party primary last month, now goes toe-to-toe with Democrat Beverley Griffin Dunne and unenrolled candidate Dave Gravel. Gravel will appear on Tuesday's ballot as an Independent, says City Clerk Tim Spanos. The March 5 primary saw just a 6 percent turnout with Dunne claiming the most votes -- 606, while Cole narrowly edged Bunn out of the running, 512-460. As an unenrolled candidate, Gravel did not …

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