Alan Silvia is an American state legislator representing the 7th Bristol District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2013 as a member of the Democratic Party.Alan Silvia. Massachusetts General Court.
Early life and education Silvia was born on October 11, 1951, in Fall River, Massachusetts. Silvia served in the United States Marine Corps from 1970 to 1972 and later pursued higher education, obtaining a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University in 1976 and a master's degree in human development and administration from Salve Regina University in 1986."Massachusetts 7th Bristol House." Herald News, The (Fall River, MA), sec. News, 3 Sept. 2012, p. 1B. NewsBank. Accessed 23 Oct. 2019. Silvia served in the Fall River Police Department for over twenty years as a patrolman and later a detective, retiring in 1998.O'Connor, Kevin P. “Rep. Silvia Bill to Create Seatbelt Awareness Month in Hannah Raposo's Memory.” The Herald News, Fall River, MA, The Herald News, Fall River, MA, 13 Oct. 2016, https://www.heraldnews.com/news/20161014/rep-silvia-bill-to-create-seatbelt-awareness-month-in-hannah-raposos-memory.
Political career Following the election of Robert Correia as Mayor of Fall River in 2007, Silvia was designated chairman of Correia's "Inaugural Gala Committee"Holtzman, Michael. "Gala event planned for mayor-elect." Herald News, The (Fall River, MA), sec. entertainment, 5 Dec. 2007. NewsBank. Accessed 23 Oct. 2019. and later received an appointment to the Fall River Planning Board from Correia in July 2008.Holtzman, Michael. "Correia board appointments meet council's deadline." Herald News, The (Fall River, MA), sec. homepage, 15 July 2008. NewsBank. Accessed 23 Oct. 2019. On March 1, 2010, Silvia announced he was challenging incumbent State Representative Kevin Aguiar (D-7th Bristol) in the Democratic primary, citing Aguiar's "lack of communication" with South End residents as the impetus for his campaign.Richmond, Will. "Silvia running for Aguiar's 7th Bristol District rep seat." Herald News, The (Fall River, MA), Web Edition ed., sec. news, 2 Mar. 2010. NewsBank. Accessed 23 Oct. 2019. On September 6, 2010, Silvia was defeated by Aguiar by only 280 votes,Holtzman, Michael. "Incumbent Aguiar fends off primary challenge." Herald News, The (Fall River, MA), sec. News, 15 Sept. 2010, p. B1. NewsBank. Accessed 23 Oct. 2019. with Aguiar going on to win reelection over his Republican opponent. The following year, Silvia was again involved in city-level politics when he served as campaign manager for Cathy Ann Viveiros during her unsuccessful campaign against Mayor William A. Flanagan.Richmond, Will. "Viveiros makes jobs her top priority - Draws on previous campaign in platform-unveiling speech." Herald News, The (Fall River, MA), sec. News, 9 June 2011, p. B1. NewsBank. Accessed 23 Oct. 2019
State representative In 2012, Silvia announced he would again challenge Rep. Aguiar in the Democratic primary,Richmond, Will. "Former cop Silvia running again for state rep. seat - Would file bill on landlord rights." Herald News, The (Fall River, MA), sec. News, 13 Apr. 2012, p. 1B. NewsBank. Accessed 23 Oct. 2019. with the absence of Republican or other candidates meaning the winner would be assured election in November. On September 6, 2012, preliminary results saw Silvia leading Aguiar by only seven votes: 2,091 to 2,084; with both candidates expressing concerns about the integrity of the ballots and Aguiar declaring he would pursue a recount.Michael Holtzman, Jo C. Goode. "Silvia Edges Aguiar - Incumbent unseated by just 7 votes; recount likely." Herald News, The (Fall River, MA), sec. News, 7 Sept. 2012, p. A1. NewsBank. Accessed 23 Oct. 2019. A recount process proceeded, with the final certified results reaffirming Silvia's victory over Aguiar; the margin expanding to 26 votes for a final total of 2,153 over 2,127. Silvia was unopposed in the 2012 general election, and did not have any opposition in 2014 and 2016.
During his first term in the General Court, Silvia was fined twice in relation to actions of his 2012 campaign committee, paying a $400 fine in February for appointing a public employee as his campaign treasurer, with an additional $20,000 in fines levied by the OCPF in August due to campaign finance violations.Goode, Jo C. “Silvia Ordered to Pay $20,000 for Campaign Finance Violations.” The Herald News, Fall River, MA, The Herald News, Fall River, MA, 28 Aug. 2013, https://www.heraldnews.com/x511618216/Silvia-ordered-to-pay-20-000-for-campaign-finance-violations.
In 2018, Ian Tompkins, a candidate for the Fall River City Council a year prior, announced he would challenge Silvia in the general election as a member of the Green-Rainbow Party,Richmond, Will. “Ian Tompkins Challenging Alan Silvia for State Rep. Seat.” The Herald News, Fall River, MA, The Herald News, Fall River, MA, 16 Apr. 2018, https://www.heraldnews.com/news/20180416/ian-tompkins-challenging-alan-silvia-for-state-rep-seat. but ultimately dropped out of the race on August 29 and did not appear on the ballot,Goode, Jo C.. "Fiola tops Steinhof in fundraising; Silvia foe withdraws." Herald News, The (Fall River, MA), sec. News, 29 Aug. 2018, p. A1. NewsBank. Accessed 23 Oct. 2019. leaving Silvia unopposed for the fourth consecutive general election.
Silvia visited Israel for the 50 States One Israel conference.
See also 2019–2020 Massachusetts legislature 2021–2022 Massachusetts legislature
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