NEWBURYPORT — Former City Councilor Kathleen O’Connor Ives will be inaugurated tomorrow as a state senator.
The onetime at-large councilor has resigned from the City Council and will move on to representing the 1st Essex District on Beacon Hill later this week.
Ives, a lawyer, has said that she will be a full-time senator, unlike some who remain active in their given occupations.
Yesterday, Ives said she is looking forward to being sworn in and representing residents in her new capacity.
As for committee assignments, she said she’d like to be named to ones focused on economic development, higher education, transportation and public safety.
“Regardless of my committee assignments, our Senate office will be working to provide responsive constituent services; and in the immediate future, I’ll be meeting with municipal representatives in each of the seven cities and towns in the district to discuss their concerns and priorities so we can be effective partners,” she said.
The Senate is comprised of 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state. Senators serve two-year terms without term limits.
Ives replaces Steven Baddour, D-Methuen, who resigned in March to join a law firm in Boston.
With the arrival of O’Connor Ives, the Senate consists of 36 Democrats and four Republicans.
O’Connor Ives used this Democratic domination as a talking point during her recent campaign, saying, “If elected as a Democrat, I will be with the dominant party and can be named to committees that can help our district.”
The position of senator pays $58,237 per year, plus a per diem. In addition, senators are paid for committee work.
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