Christine Canavan
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name =
|image = 1995 Christine Canavan Massachusetts House of Representatives.png
|state_house = Massachusetts
|district = 10th Plymouth
|term_start = 1993
|term_end = January 7, 2015
|preceded = John F. Cruz
|succeeded = Michelle DuBois
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|01|25}}
|birth_place = Dorchester, Massachusetts
|birthname =
|nationality = American
|party = Democratic
|alma_mater = Massasoit Community College, University of Massachusetts Boston
|spouse = Paul
|children = 2
|residence = Brockton, Massachusetts
|signature =
|website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20120826174108/http://christinecanavan.com/ christinecanavan.com]
|footnotes =
}}
Christine E. Canavan is a former American state legislator who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1993 to 2015. She was the state representative for the 10th Plymouth District, which consists of West Bridgewater, Ward 4, Precincts B&C; Ward 5, Precincts B, C & D; and all of Ward 6 of Brockton, Precinct 3 of Easton, and Precinct 1 of East Bridgewater.{{cite web|title=Member Profile: Christine Canavan|url=http://www.malegislature.gov/People/Profile/cec1|publisher=Massachusetts General Court|accessdate=27 August 2012}} She declined to seek re-election in 2014.
Early life and career
Canavan graduated from Massasoit Community College in 1983 with an Associate degree in nursing. In 1988, Canavan received a Bachelor's degree in nursing from University of Massachusetts, Boston. She was employed as a registered nurse prior to becoming a legislator.
Political career
Before becoming a state legislator, Canavan served for three years on the Brockton school committee.{{cite web|title=Representative Christine Canavan - Biography|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/4775|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=27 August 2012}} Canavan was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1993. She has been re-elected every time since her first campaign. In many years, Canavan has not faced a primary or general election opponent. In 2010, she faced her most difficult reelection campaign in many years, defeating Matt Albanese in the primary with 52% of the vote,{{cite web|title=2010 State Primary Results|url=http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele10/primary_results10.htm|publisher=Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth|accessdate=27 August 2012}} and defeating John Cruz of West Bridgewater in the general election with 53% of the vote.{{cite web|title=2010 Return of Votes Complete Statistics|url=http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/rov10.pdf|publisher=Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth|accessdate=27 August 2012}}
As a state representative, Canavan serves on the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, the Joint Committee on Housing, the Joint Committee on Public Health, the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, and the House Committee on Ways and Means. Creedon's voting record in the house has been consistently high in recent years, with the exception of 2011, when she spent the beginning of the year recovering from a broken leg.{{cite web|last=Kane|first=Corey|title=Brockton Legislators Absent Minded|url=http://www.bu.edu/statehouse/2012/04/15/brockton-legislators-absent-minded/|publisher=Patriot Ledger|accessdate=27 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610224916/http://www.bu.edu/statehouse/2012/04/15/brockton-legislators-absent-minded/|archive-date=10 June 2015|url-status=dead}}
When a bill was before the House regarding the placement of a ballot question that called for banning gay marriage, Canavan initially voted yes for the bill, but changed her position by voting against an amendment later on that essentially killed the bill.{{cite web|title=Lawmakers who changed their vote on the gay marriage question|url=http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO54962/|publisher=WHDH|accessdate=27 August 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209172055/http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO54962/|archive-date=9 February 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=O'Sullivan|first=Jim|title=Gay marriage vote killed by legislators|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/norton/news/x1118717649#axzz24mEAhL8f|accessdate=27 August 2012|newspaper=Norton Mirror|date=June 22, 2007}} Canavan voted in favor of casino gaming in a 2011 vote.{{cite web|title=Roll Call: Mass. House, Senate Votes On Casinos|date=15 November 2011 |url=http://www.wbur.org/2011/11/15/casino-bill-roll-call|publisher=WBUR / Associated Press|accessdate=27 August 2012}} She has publicly stated that she has reservations about the cost of a south coast commuter rail extension, but would support such a project if environmental concerns are taken care of.{{cite news|title=Q&A with Rep. Christine Canavan and challenger John Cruz|url=http://www.enterprisenews.com/topstories/x1272815155/Q-A-with-Rep-Christine-Canavan-and-challenger-John-Cruz|accessdate=27 August 2012|newspaper=Brockton Enterprise|date=October 28, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123153543/http://www.enterprisenews.com/topstories/x1272815155/Q-A-with-Rep-Christine-Canavan-and-challenger-John-Cruz|archive-date=23 January 2013|url-status=dead}}
Canavan announced in January 2014 that she would not seek re-election when her term expired in 2015; also indicated a desire to study and become a Methodist minister.{{Cite web|url=http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/brockton_state_rep_christine_c.html|title = Brockton State Rep. Christine Canavan leaving politics, Catholicism to pursue Methodist ministry|date = 25 January 2014}}
Electoral history
=2010=
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts House of Representatives 10th Plymouth District, 2010}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Christine E. Canavan
|votes = 6,705
|percentage = 53.13
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = John Cruz
|votes = 5,237
|percentage = 41.50
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=Democratic Primary 10th Plymouth District, 2010}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Christine E. Canavan
|votes = 1,477
|percentage = 52.43
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Matthew P. Albanese
|votes = 1,340
|percentage = 47.56
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2004=
{{Election box begin |title=Massachusetts House of Representatives 10th Plymouth District, 2004{{cite web|title=State Election Results 2004|url=http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleres/stateeleres04.pdf|publisher=Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth|accessdate=27 August 2012}} }}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Christine E. Canavan
|votes = 10,604
|percentage = 70.60
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = Mark Chauppette
|votes = 4,414
|percentage = 29.39
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
External links
- [http://www.malegislature.gov/People/Profile/cec1 Massachusetts General Court Member Profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120826174108/http://christinecanavan.com/ Campaign Website]
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Canavan, Christine}}
Category:American women nurses
Category:Democratic Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Category:Politicians from Boston
Category:Massasoit Community College alumni
Category:University of Massachusetts Boston alumni
Category:Women state legislators in Massachusetts
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Massachusetts General Court
Category:20th-century members of the Massachusetts General Court