Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Sen. Ed Markey
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey will address municipal leaders from across the state during the MMA’s Annual Business Meeting on Jan. 19 in Boston.
Sen. Markey, a member of Congress since 1976 and a senator since 2013, will offer his perspective on federal-local relations and the key federal issues of importance to Massachusetts.
Sen. Markey also addressed local officials at the MMA Annual Meeting in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Last year, he and Sen. Elizabeth Warren were unable to attend the conference due to a federal government shutdown, but each sent a video message.
Throughout his public service career, Markey has focused on issues including energy policy, environmental protection, telecommunications, transportation, infrastructure, public safety, privacy and consumer protection. He has been a leading voice in Congress on the issue of climate change.
He serves on four Senate committees: Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; Foreign Relations; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Markey served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 37 years, until he was elected to the Senate in a special election in June 2013.
Also at the MMA Annual Business Meeting, to be held from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m., MMA members will deliberate two policy resolutions – on state aid for municipal programs and on recycling and solid waste management – and will induct the incoming MMA president, vice president and Board of Directors for 2019.
Boston Mayor Martin Walsh will also address the Annual Business Meeting.
The MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show, being held this year under the theme “Strong Communities for a Stronger Commonwealth,” is the largest regular gathering of local officials in Massachusetts.
This year’s event marks the 40th anniversary of the association. The opening session will honor Nancy Eddy, a former selectman from Amherst who served as the first president of the MMA when it was formed in 1979.
Anna Maria Chávez, named one of the “World’s Greatest Leaders” by Fortune magazine and recognized as a “transformative” CEO at the Girl Scouts of the USA, will deliver the keynote address. Also speaking at the conference will be Senate President Karen Spilka, former New England Patriot Matt Light, and Jim Braude and Margery Eagan of WGBH’s “Boston Public Radio,” who will host a live “radio show” with two special guests: former Acting Gov. Jane Swift and former Public Safety Secretary Andrea Cabral.
The conference will also feature 34 workshops on a range of timely topics and 10 additional Learning Lab sessions. The annual Trade Show will host more than 200 exhibitors offering the latest products and services to benefit cities and towns.
Annual awards programs will recognize the work of municipal leaders in the areas of innovative programs, websites, town reports, workplace safety, and wellness programming.
A record 1,300 local officials are expected at this year’s event.