About Carl

Legislative District:

34th Middlesex District - Medford Wards 4, 5, 7-1 and 8-2; Somerville Wards 4-1, 4-2, and 7

Party Affiliation:

Democrat

Committees:

Public Health, Transportation, and Community Development & Small Business

Education:

Tufts University, Bachelor of Science
Joseph A. Foran High School (Milford, CT)

General Background:

Carl Sciortino is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He represents the 34th Middlesex district, including neighborhoods in both Somerville and Medford. Rep. Sciortino serves on the Joint Committees of Transportation, Public Health, and Community Development & Small Businesses. He was first elected in November 2004, defeating a conservative Democratic incumbent.

Rep. Sciortino is deeply committed to working for the families in his community, and has been a tireless advocate for issues of social and economic justice. He passed amendments to the state budget which resulted in increased funding for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) and Hepatitis-C prevention and treatment programs. Rep. Sciortino also helped pass and override the governor's veto on legislation which resulted in an increase to the minimum wage to $8.00/hour, the highest in the nation. He supported an amendment to the state's constitution which would make health care for all a constitutionally guaranteed right and he helped pass a landmark bill that makes affordable, quality insurance accessible to 95% to the state's 500,000 uninsured residents within three years. As one of the few members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, & transgender community serving in the Massachusetts legislature and as an avid civil rights proponent, Rep. Sciortino has also taken on a leadership role in opposing a constitutional amendment which would outlaw same sex marriage.

Prior to serving in the legislature, Rep. Sciortino worked in the public health field as a research manager at a community health center specializing in HIV/AIDS. He graduated with a degree in Biology from Tufts University. He is Vice-Chair of the Medford Democratic City Committee, a member of the Medford Ward 4 Democratic Committee, Progressive Democrats of Somerville, Mass NOW, the Sierra Club, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.