Nick Collins (politician)
Nick Collins is an American politician who currently serves as a member of the Massachusetts Senate. He is a Boston resident and a member of the Democratic Party. Elected into the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2010, he served four terms in the House representing the 4th Suffolk District.
Nick Collins | |
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| Member of the Massachusetts State Senate from the 1st Suffolk district | |
| Assumed office May 9, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Linda Dorcena Forry |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 4th Suffolk district | |
| In office January 5, 2011 – May 9, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Brian Wallace |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 26, 1982 South Boston, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Babson College (BBA) |
In May 2018, Collins won the election for the open Massachusetts Senate seat vacated by the resignation of Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry. He was sworn into the Massachusetts Senate on May 9, 2018 by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.[1] His district represents several sections of Boston, including Dorchester, South Boston, Mattapan and Hyde Park.
As senator for the 1st Suffolk District, Collins is host of the annual Boston St. Patrick’s Day breakfast, a televised political roast that has featured presidents, vice-presidents, United States Senators and members of Congress throughout its history.
Early life and education
Nick Collins was born and raised in South Boston with five siblings. He is a graduate of Boston Latin School and The Frederick Gunn School, where he played hockey. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in business management from Babson College.
His father, Jim, was a state representative from Charlestown who also worked in the administrations of Boston Mayor Kevin White and Massachusetts Governor Edward J. King. Collins’ began his career in public service as a legislative aide to Massachusetts Senator Jack Hart. He was also a regional field director for the Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign.
Career
Collins was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives seat for the 4th Suffolk District in 2010. He has also served as chair of the Boston legislative delegation.
An outspoken advocate for stronger consumer protections and substance abuse services, Collins was a lead sponsor of the Parental Notification bill that was included in the landmark Prescription Drug Monitoring bill signed into law by Deval Patrick on August 24, 2012.
Collins was a founding board member of UP Academy of Dorchester and Boston and an advisory board member of Excel High School in South Boston. In March 2016, he served as chairman of the South Boston Citizens Association's Evacuation Day ceremonies. In May 2016, he was elected as a delegate for Hillary Clinton at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
Upon assuming office in the Senate in 2018, Collins was named the host of the annual Boston St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast. He moved the breakfast in his first year of hosting to the Flynn Cruiseport Boston and created a theme for the event that focused on the contribution of the immigrant community to the South Boston Waterfront and the city of Boston. Vice-President Joe Biden sent a video message in to the event.
In the Massachusetts Senate, Collins serves on several committees, including chair of the Joint Committee on Export Development; vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets; vice-chair of the Committee on Public Health; Senate Ways and Means; the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight; the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development; the Joint Committee on Veterans Affairs; and the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Collins, in his role as vice chair of the Committee on Public Health, was instrumental in responding to the crisis. As reports surfaced about shortages of personal protective equipment, Collins partnered with community leaders and organized the donation of thousands of masks to COVID-19 hospitals, community health centers, senior living facilities and other locations.
He also led a successful effort to permit the usage of Massachusetts SNAP and EBT benefits for online grocery purchases, which assisted those living in crowded urban housing developments in his district to better socially distance, avoid crowds and buy food without leaving their homes.
As protests unfolded across the United States in the wake of the George Floyd murder, Collins partnered with Massachusetts Representative Bud Williams of Springfield on a sweeping bill aimed at addressing systemic injustice and racial equity in government, business, public health and the courts.
He also filed a bill to improve economic equality and reduce the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts by requiring diversity of race and gender on all development projects on state land. Dubbed the “Massport Model,” the legislation, which was included in a senate economic development package, requires diversity in ownership, as well as construction, design, financing and management on state projects. The bill was inspired by the success of the Omni Seaport, a $550 million development, which included diversity requirements not only for vendors, but also for ownership and financing.
Personal life
Collins lives in South Boston with his wife Dr. Olivia J. Liff, a board-certified family physician. They have two daughters.