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. He was the Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies; and served on the Joint Committee on Housing, the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy and the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. In May 2018, Collins won the election for the open Massachusetts Senate seat vacated by the resignation of Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry. He was elected to Forry's old seat on May 1, 2018. Senator Collins was sworn into the Massachusetts Senate on May 9, 2018 by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.
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 Gunnery prep school in Connecticut, 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. Nick got his start in public service as an aide 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 served on a variety of committees, including the Joint Ways & Means Committee and the House Committee on Personnel and Administration, the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, and the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. He has also served as chair of the Boston legislative delegation. An outspoken advocate for stronger public health laws, 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. An ardent supporter of increased funding for law enforcement and public safety, Collins has successfully secured state funding for hazardous materials training for the Boston Fire Department. He has also successfully lobbied the Boston Police Department to reinstate the daytime drug unit in his district and across the city of Boston. For his work, Collins was recognized by the Urban Public Safety Alliance of Massachusetts at their 2013 annual banquet for his dedicated commitment to public safety. His leadership has been recognized by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation, who in 2011 named Collins one of the top 50 state legislative leaders in the U.S. at the Emerging Leaders Conference at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. In 2012, he was selected by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston to be part of a Massachusetts legislative delegation to Israel focused on strengthening partnerships with the Israeli business and government leaders, particularly in the area of water innovation. Most recently, his leadership was recognized by the European Union as "a young, promising leader" in the United States. In January 2014, Collins was selected to participate in the European Union Visitors Programme, meeting with leaders of the European Commission covering the areas of Transportation, Biotechnology, Energy, Fisheries & Maritime Affairs, and Financial Services regulation and investment and their impacts on Massachusetts. In addition to his legislative duties, he was a founding board member of UP Academy of Dorchester and Boston, an advisory board member of Excel High School in South Boston, and a co-founder, along with Sean Regan, of the South Boston Leadership Initiative. In March 2016, he served as chairman of the South Boston Citizens Association's Evacuation Day ceremonies. Also in May 2016, he was elected as a delegate for Hillary Clinton at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
Personal life
Collins lives in South Boston with his wife Dr. Olivia J. Liff, a board-certified family physician. They have a daughter who was born January 23, 2018.
