Quick Facts
Biography
Barbara A. L'Italien (born January 3, 1961) is an American politician from the state of Massachusetts and, as of January 2015, the State Senator from the 2nd Essex and Middlesex District. She was previously the director of government affairs for the Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts, Steve Grossman. From 2003 to January 2011 she was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing the 18th Essex District.
Early life and career
L'Italien was born in Passaic, New Jersey and later graduated from Andover High School in 1978. She attended Merrimack College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1984.
Prior to her election to the House of Representatives, L'Italien worked for Elder Services of Merrimack Valley as a case manager and with the Greater Lawrence Psychological Center working the elder abuse hotline for intakes and referrals. She also worked with West Suburban Elder Services with the title of Supervisor of Case Management and Elder Abuse.
State government
Massachusetts House of Representatives
L’Italien is the first State Representative to represent the 18th Essex district, which was created by redistricting following the 2000 census. She held office from 2003 to 2011.
In the district's first campaign in 2002, L’Italien defeated Republican Kathleen Sachs and unenrolled candidate Alfred DePietro, winning by less than 1000 votes (47–41% over Sachs). In 2004, she defended the seat against Republican Maria Marasco, winning with 58% of the vote. In 2006 and 2008, Republican Lawrence Brennan ran against L’Italien, but she defeated him with 56% of the vote in 2006 and 55% in 2008. In 2010 she was defeated for re-election by Andover Republican Jim Lyons, who won with 53% of the vote.
Representative L'Italien was the author of the landmark legislation on Autism insurance coverage, House Bill 4935 (formerly H. 3809), which requires insurance companies to provide coverage of evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies, such as applied behavior analysis.
Treasury department
After her House term ended in January 2011, she became director of government affairs for the Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts, Steve Grossman.
Massachusetts Senate
L'Italien was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in November 2014 to succeed Barry Finegold in the 2nd Essex and Middlesex seat. She took office January 7, 2015.