Michael A Costello

Education

Costello has dedicated his career to public service. While he was a student at Salem State College (now Salem State University), Costello spent three years organizing and leading a program that resulted in student's building desperately needed housing for some of the poorest Americans living in Appalachia. He also spent a summer working as an intern in the United States Congress.

Costello graduated cum laude from Salem State and went to work as a lay volunteer for the Catholic Diocese of St. Thomas. Later, he served as the Program Director for the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Association of Boston. While attending Suffolk University Law School, Costello earned academic honors and worked for New Hampshire's Office of the Public Defender.

Early career

After earning his Juris Doctor degree in 1996, Costello worked for Essex County District Attorney Kevin M. Burke. As an Assistant District Attorney, Costello prosecuted hundreds of cases involving the possession and distribution of drugs, domestic violence, assault and battery and robbery.

Costello was elected to the Newburyport City Council as a councilor-at-large in 1997 and, a year later, became field director for Congressman John F. Tierney's (D-Salem) campaign. Following Congressman Tierney's successful election, Costello worked as the chief of staff for State Senator Joan Menard (D-Somerset), former chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

State legislator

Costello was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2002. He serves the First Essex District, which includes the cities of Newburyport and Amesbury and the town of Salisbury.

During his first term, Costello served on the Joint Committees on Banks and Banking and Insurance. He appeared on the Pat Whitley Radio Show and on New England Cable News with Chet Curtis to discuss insurance issues and the Bank of America merger with Fleet Bank. He now serves as the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security and is a member of the Democratic leadership team in the House.

In his role as Chairman, Costello has taken a leading role on many critical public safety issues. He was one of the lead sponsors of sweeping identity theft legislation designed to safeguard consumer's information and signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick last year. He is a member of the Governor's Anti-Crime Council, which discusses critical issues like gang violence and the spread of assault weapons. He served on the Governor's CORI Reform Commission, which helped author legislation that will provide meaningful opportunities for people seeking to transition back into society. In a similar capacity, he was just named the National Chair of American Bar Association's Re-entry and Collateral Consequences Committee. In 2007, the Massachusetts Bar Association named Costello its Legislator of the Year.

Within his district, Costello has helped sustain many of the valuable organizations that provide critical social services in the region, including the Newburyport YWCA, the Pettengill House, the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Merrimack Valley, the Newburyport Learning Enrichment Center and the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center. He has also worked hard to preserve the natural environment and historic resources that make the 1st Essex District such a beautiful place to live.

Costello is a member of the Board of directors for the Essex County Bar Association and is of Counsel to Andrews and Updergraph Law Firm of Salem.

Costello announced his retirement effective September 15, 2014, to join a law firm.

Family

Costello is the son of former State Senator Nicholas Costello and Cynthia Costello. He is married to Kerrin D'Archangelo of Massachusetts, and they live in Newburyport with their daughter and son.