Mike Festa

Mike Festa is the former President of the Carroll Center for the Blind, located in Newton, Massachusetts. The Carroll Center provides educational services, vocational and social rehabilitation, mobility, essential skills and technology training for those who are blind or visually impaired. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Suffolk University, Graduate School of Public Management. Festa formerly served as the Secretary of Elder Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His resignation as Secretary of Elder Affairs was announced by the Governor's Office on January 31, 2009. He was formerly the state representative for Melrose, Massachusetts and parts of Wakefield, Massachusetts. He is a Democrat. He is pro-choice and pro gay marriage. Festa ran for Middlesex County District Attorney in 2007 but dropped out of the race.

Festa is married to Sandra Festa (30 years), with two children: Michael, age 28, a computer engineer at IonSense, Saugus, Massachusetts, who graduated from George Washington University in 2006, and Danielle, age 26, is a painter, graphic artist and web-designer, who graduated from UMASS Amherst.

He attended Melrose High School, 1972; Tufts University, B.A. 1976; Suffolk University Law School, J.D. 1979

From 1979 to 1981 he held office as the assistant district attorney, Middlesex County. Festa has also been an attorney in private practice since 1981.

The elected offices Festa has held include:

• Massachusetts House of Representatives, 1999-2007 (32nd Middlesex District),
• Vice Chair of Joint Committee on State Administration & Regulatory Oversight,
• Melrose School Committee 1974-78,
• Melrose Board of Aldermen, At-Large, 1978–80, 1992-98.

Other activities:

• Democratic State Committeeman, Massachusetts Democratic Party
• Member and Former Chair, Melrose Democratic City Committee;
• Chair Emeritus, Criminal Justice Board of Directors, Council of State Governments;
• Guest Garden Host, MMTV's cable show "Le Jardin";
• Member and Past President, Malden Court Bar Association;

External links

• • Festa was instrumental in the passage of Melanie's Law, a bill designed to crack down on repeat drunk drivers. The legislation, named after Melanie Powell, a 13 year old Marshfield girl killed by a drunk driver, was languishing in committee when Festa insisted the leadership bring it up for a vote and eventual passage in the full house.**

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Name	Festa, Mike
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Short description	American politician
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