Hello!
Danvers is my home; I grew up here and have raised my children, Nora and Peter, here with my husband, Michael Whouley. Having served three terms in the Legislature from 1990-1996, I decided not to run for a fourth term at that time in order to focus on family. Michael’s role with the Gore campaign in the historic and fateful election of 2000 took us to Alexandria, Virginia from 1999-2001, after which we came back home to Danvers. We’ve been here ever since. I'm a pro-choice, anti-death penalty Democrat and believe that we are, indeed, a Commonwealth.
I have served on the Danvers Finance Committee, Committee for Diversity, Human Rights and Inclusion, Danvers Town Meeting, and the Board of CitizensInn. I attended Westfield State College and graduated UMass in 1982. I earned a Master's in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1997.
I believe government has a role to play in ensuring equity of opportunity.
"Some men see things as they are and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not."
That quote has stayed with me since I wrote my term paper on Bobby Kennedy when I was a junior at Danvers High School in 1977. Other role models of that era who influenced me include Gloria Steinem, Bella Abzug and Women of the Massachusetts Legislature.
I returned to the House of Representatives two years ago (unexpectedly) after Ted Speliotis announced in April of 2020 that he would not seek re-election. I knew my experience in the Legislature would be extremely useful at this time as we faced the pandemic and confronted racism and inequity in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. I campaigned for the seat (in a mask, six feet away from people), was unopposed in the Democratic Primary, won the General election, and was sworn into office on January 6, 2021 (a day made memorable by the insurrection in our nation's capitol; a profoundly scary and sad day for our country).
I currently serve as the State Representative of the 13th Essex District, which includes Danvers, Peabody 6, Middleton Precinct 2, Topsfield Precinct 2 and Wenham Precinct 1A.
It is an honor to to serve and I'm proud of the work we have done in the Legislature over the past year and a half.
In 2021 -2022 we passed legislation to :
-
Address climate change in our state by enacting comprehensive carbon emissions reductions by half by 2030 and to net zero by 2050
-
Protected access to reproductive rights and abortion care in the wake of the Dobbs decision by the SCOTUS
-
Passed the S.P.E.E.D. act to help veterans and their families by easing credentialing requirements for spouses who move with their service member and ensuring access to treatment for the effects of burn pits (among other measures; my hat is off to Rep. Paul McMurtry and Sen. Mike Rush for this legislation)
-
Passed the C.R.O.W,N. Act (sponsored by Rep. Steve Ultrino) to protect young people from disciplinary action related to their natural hair (outrageous that such legislation was even necessary)
-
Passed legislation requiring the teaching of Holocaust and Genocide in our schools.
-
Allocated Federal ARPA funds for local infrastructure (including Rail Trails assistance in Danvers and Middleton).
As a member of the Transportation Committee, I've pushed for crucial, overdue changes at the T to put safety first.
I am working closely with North Shore colleagues to :
Address local transportation issues, including improving safety on Rt. 114 and better bus routes & regional connectivity,
I continue to oppose the Peabody Peak Capacity power plant foisted on Peabody by the Mass Municipal Wholesale Electric Company.
My work with Senator Lovely and neighbors in Danvers and Wenham to reduce excessive noise from Beverly Airport noise continues,.
Our area legislators and I are working with our Town and City officials, Water Districts and the Ipswich River Watershed Association and water supply issues for Ipswich River watershed communities including Danvers, Peabody , Middleton, Wenham and Topsfield.
I welcome your thoughts about issues of concern to you. Feel free to email me at sallykeransforrep@gmail.com.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
