Gale Candaras, an attorney, has a twenty-year record of exemplary public service.  She resides in Wilbraham with her husband, a law professor.  She has a grown son, who is also an attorney. All three are products of public schools.  Prior to her election to the Massachusetts State Senate, representing the 1^st Hampden and Hampshire District, Gale Candaras represented Wilbraham, Springfield and East Longmeadow for ten years as State Representative for the 12^th Hampden District, the largest district in the state.  Before being elected State Representative in 1997, Gale served Wilbraham as a local volunteer on the Finance Committee, Planning Board and Board of Selectmen.  Her work in local government gave Gale valuable insights into the issues facing our cities and towns.

Gale first came to Massachusetts to attend Western New England College School of Law after graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Honor’s College, magna cum laude. Gale is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.  Gale took post-doctoral courses in Elder Law, Medicaid Planning and Estate Taxation at Western New England College to prepare her to legislate in the complex legal and regulatory environment facing seniors.  In 2006, Gale passed important legislation that will save seniors thousands of dollars.

Gale’s professional experience includes work in New York City’s financial district at Goldman Sachs where her responsibilities ranged from preparing the Division’s budget to serving as the compliance liaison between the legal department and the trading floor.  Gale has worked for several law firms and practiced family and business law in Hartford and Springfield.

Gale’s leadership improves the lives of the people she serves.  Her achievements can be seen throughout the District.  From Parks to Libraries to Court Houses to Hospitals, Gale has fought hard to get more equitable funding for Western Massachusetts and, in 2006, Gale’s effort yielded record amounts of education and local aid as well as funding for a county-wide, oral health pilot project for all preschoolers.

Gale is a tireless advocate for the issues important to Western Massachusetts.  She was the lead sponsor on a tough drunk-driving bill, supported by our District Attorney, and passed one of the toughest anti-drag-racing bills in the country, which helped our City residents.

Gale last month was named Senate Chair of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities by Senate President Therese Murray. In addition to her chairmanship appointment, she was named Vice-Chair of both the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing—a committee through which nearly every health care related bill must pass—and the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.  Gale was also assigned to the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight, and the Joint Committees on the Judiciary; Public Safety and Homeland Security; and Public Service.

Last Updated 02/22/2010