John Christopher Velis is an American state legislator and Democratic member of the Massachusetts Senate since 2020.
20 Facts About John Velis
2.
John Velis previously represented the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district, which includes his hometown of Westfield, and currently represents the Hampden and Hampshire district after the 2020 census.
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Prior his election to the state senate, Velis was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2014 to 2020.
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John Velis was born in Westfield, Massachusetts to Susan and Jim John Velis, one of three children with his brother Adam and sister Jennifer.
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John Velis was educated at Westfield High School and graduated in 1998, attended Roxbury Community College, graduated from University of South Florida in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in political science, and from Suffolk University Law School in 2008 with a Juris Doctor.
6.
John Velis was an intern at the White House during the term of President George W Bush.
7.
In 2014, John Velis declared his candidacy for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 4th Hampden District seat held by incumbent Republican state representative Donald Humason, Jr.
8.
On November 8,2019, John Velis announced his candidacy for the Massachusetts Senate's 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district seat following his predecessor Donald Humason, Jr.
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John Velis was challenged by Republican John Cain of Southwick, a businessman and former Navy officer.
10.
On May 19,2020, with the election delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, John Velis won the Senate seat over Cain with 64 percent of the vote, becoming the first Democrat in 25 years to represent the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district.
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John Velis was re-elected to a second term in 2022, defeating Agawam city councilor Cecilia Calabrese.
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John Velis enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in 2011 and is currently serving in the Judge Advocate General Corps as part of the 3rd Legal Operations Detachment.
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On July 4,2018, John Velis was promoted to the rank of major while on deployment in Afghanistan.
14.
John Velis supported a $36.3 billion fiscal year 2015 budget with no tax increases and voted in favor of in-state tuition for veterans at Massachusetts State colleges and universities at about 12:00 AM on Thursday, May 1, securing about $165,000 in the house budget for the city of Westfield.
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John Velis voted in favor of increasing the minimum wage from $8.00 per hour to $11.00 per hour by 2017.
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John Velis voted for the 2018 Car Rental Tax Surcharge, which added a $2 tax surcharge to automobile rentals.
17.
John Velis has cosponsored Docket HD4311 with Representatives Diana DiZoglio and Jonathan Zlotnik, otherwise known as An Act Relative to the Taxation of Inventory in Manufacturing.
18.
In 2015, John Velis introduced legislation on behalf of Gun Owners Action League and the Massachusetts affiliate of the National Rifle Association that would create a commission to review policies regarding the alleged dangers of gun free zones, which GOAL said had become targets for terrorists and murderers.
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John Velis is opposed to legislation limiting the gun rights of law-abiding citizens.
20.
John Velis was one of 11 Democrats to vote against House Speaker Robert DeLeo's bill aimed at preventing gun violence.