Rodney Elliott
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Rodney Elliot | |
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| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
| Preceded by | Tom Golden |
| Constituency | 16th Middlesex (2023-Current) |
| Mayor of Lowell, Massachusetts | |
| In office 2014-2015 | |
| City Councilor of Lowell, Massachusetts | |
| In office 1997-2014, 2015-2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Laurie Machado |
| Children | Katelyn Elliot, Mikayla Elliot |
| Alma mater | Plymouth State University Suffolk University Catholic University |
Rodney Elliott (born 1960 in Lowell, Massachusetts) is the current State Representative for the 16th Middlesex District of Massachusetts. Massachusetts House of Representatives' 16th Middlesex district in the United States is one of 160 legislative districts included in the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court. It covers part of Middlesex County.
Early Life and Education
Rodney was born to Francis and Theresa Elliott. His father was born and raised in the Acre Section of the City, his mother attended St Louis Academy. Rodney’s maternal grandparents were both orphans in Franco American orphanage and both worked in the City’s mills.
Elliott grew up in the Pawtuckettville section of Lowell, Massachusetts. He attended Saint Jeanne d’Arc School during his elementary and middle school years. His family moved to Pelham, NH when Rodney was in eighth grade. He is the second oldest and only son of a working class family of six children one sister, Karen, passed away as an infant.[1]
As an Undergraduate he attended Plymouth State College and was the first member of his family to graduate. He traveled abroad with the College to the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War and saw firsthand how a totalitarian government suppresses its people. This made an impression on him and helped form his belief that American style democracy is the greatest system of governance in the world. It also jumpstarted his desire to begin a career in public service. Elliott graduated from Plymouth State in 1982 with a degree in Political Science and moved back to his hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts.[1]
Career
Elliott’s first job out of college was as a Legislative Aide to then State Senator Phillip Shea. He was primarily focused on constituent services (and buying Tab) for the Senator. This is where he developed an understanding and appreciation for constituent based public service. Elliott went on to work for the City of Lowell as its Planner while simultaneously pursuing his Master’s Degree in Public Administration at Suffolk University in Boston and bartending at local theaters to pay for his education. He then became the Administrative Assistant for the Town of Groton, MA.[2]
Elliott moved to Washington D.C. to pursue a second master’s degree in Political Science at Catholic University. While there he began his 25 year career at the United States Environmental Protection Agency.[2] While in Washington he was able to attend the inauguration of President Clinton.
He returned to Lowell, MA in 1994 and married Laurie (Machado) and transferred to the EPA Boston, MA office. He has two daughters Katelyn, a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Mikayla, a graduate of Simmons College with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Both are now registered nurses. [1]
Lowell City Council
With a background and education in public administration and political science, Elliot ran for office in 1995 and lost his initial run. He ran again in 1997 and was successfully elected to the Lowell City Council. He spent 24 years as part of the council, serving as Chairman to several sub-committees over his 21 year tenure on the City Council, Flood, Youth, Pubic Safety, Audit Oversight, and many more. He was known as the "fiscal watchdog" of the town.[3]
Mayor of Lowell
Elliot was elected the City’s 34th Mayor on January 4th 2014 . "Elliott initiated several substantive changes" according to the Lowell Sun Newspaper, and was more than deserving of a second term.[4] His colleagues on the city council deemed him "a man of conviction" after his term.[5]
Massachusetts State Representative
Elliot won 65.3% of the vote on November 8th 2022, defeating the Republican candidate Karla Miller for the State House position. [6] Since his election, Rodney has sponsored several bills related to mental health funding and affordable housing. He has signed on as a cosponsor for 288 bills in his first legislative session.("Representative Rodney Elliot". Massachusetts Legislature. The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.)
References
- ^ a b c Elliott, Committee to elect Rodney. "Committee to elect Rodney Elliott". Committee to elect Rodney Elliott. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
- ^ a b "Rodney Elliot Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
- ^ "City Council candidate profile: RODNEY ELLIOTT". Lowell Sun. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ "Elliott has earned another mayor's term". Lowell Sun. 2015-11-11. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ "'Mayor' Elliott, Councilor Martin bid farewell to Lowell Council". Lowell Sun. 2015-12-15. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ "Rodney Elliott". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-07-10.