Biography

State Representative Tim Toomey has served the people of Somerville and of Cambridge since 1992. He helped secure passage of the law that allowed the creation the Cambridge Health Alliance, which has led to improved health services for Somerville and Cambridge residents.  

He is a member of the House Committee on Rules which makes recommendations and propose changes in the rules for the purpose of improving and expediting the business and procedures of the House of Representatives and its committees; the Joint Committee on Public Safety & Homeland Security which considers all matters concerning laws relating to shipping or otherwise transporting energy sources, the safety of the public, including civil defense, firearms and gun control, fire laws, motor vehicle laws, motor vehicle safety belts (including school buses), the correction system including administration, prisoners' rights, furloughs, work release, probation, rehabilitation, homeland or Commonwealth security matters, other matters related to federal affairs, including, but not limited to, the prevention of terrorist attacks; the reduction of the vulnerability to terrorism; the minimizing of the damage and recovery from possible attacks that may occur, and the coordination of homeland security related activities of the Commonwealth with those of the Federal Government, and; the Joint Committee on Public Health which considers all matters concerning the public health of the Commonwealth.

Tim is a past member of the Joint Committees on Health Care, Housing and Community Development, Government Regulations, State Administration and The Judiciary. He has served as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee on Education and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Special Education.

In January 1997, he was appointed to the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Service. This committee reviews all matters related to state and municipal employees, public retirement systems, civil service and collective bargaining. In his first act in that position, Tim authored and sponsored Chapter 17 of the Acts of 1997, An Act Relative To The Annual Cost Of Living Adjustments For Retirees, guaranteeing cost of living adjustments for all government retirees in the Commonwealth.

In January 2001, he was named Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety, and in this capacity he has fought for and secured grant programs to help the Fire and Police Departments in Somerville and Cambridge and across the state. He has also advocated for local control of speed limits, increased child passenger safety, and for the right of victims of violent crimes to testify at Parole Board hearings.

Tim began his work in government in 1985 when he was elected to the Cambridge School Committee. He served two terms on the School Committee and was elected to the Cambridge City Council in 1989. He is serving his ninth term as a member of the City Council, was elected by his colleagues Vice Mayor and is the Co-Chair of the Public Safety and Goverment Regulations Committees and Chair of the Claims Committee. Tim is a graduate of Suffolk University and Matignon High School. He has served on the Boards of Directors of several non profit organizations including the East End House and the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee.

Tim is a strong advocate for the elderly, and a leader in the fight for more open space and affordable housing in our communities.

Tim has received recognition from the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and many other labor organizations for having a strong record on work and labor issues, and has received numerous awards for his legislative and community service achievements.