Kim Driscoll | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2023 | |
| 73rdLieutenant Governor of Massachusetts | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2023 | |
| Governor | Maura Healey |
| Preceded by | Karyn Polito |
| 50thMayor of Salem | |
| In office January 2, 2006 – January 4, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Stanley Usovicz |
| Succeeded by | Bob McCarthy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1966-08-12)August 12, 1966 (age 59) Hawaii, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nick Driscoll |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Salem State University (BA) Massachusetts School of Law (JD) |
Kimberley Lord Driscoll (born August 12, 1966) is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the 73rdlieutenant governor of Massachusetts since 2023. A member of theDemocratic Party, Driscoll previously served as the 50thmayor ofSalem from 2006 to 2023.[1][2] Before becoming mayor, Driscoll served as an elected member of the Salem City Council and worked as the deputy city manager and chief legal counsel for the city ofChelsea.
Driscoll was born inHawaii while her father was serving in theUnited States Navy.[3] Her mother was born inGrenada and raised inTrinidad. Driscoll moved toSalem, Massachusetts, in 1986 and graduated fromSalem State College in 1989. She earned aJuris Doctor from theMassachusetts School of Law.[4][5]After interning in Salem's planning department during college, Driscoll became Beverly's community development director. After graduating from law school, she spent three years as a real estate and commercial development attorney.[6] Driscoll went on to serve as chief legal counsel and then as deputy city manager ofChelsea, Massachusetts, for five years.[7] She was a city councilor for the fifth ward in Salem before running for mayor in 2005.
Driscoll was elected mayor of Salem in 2005, taking office in January 2006 atCity Hall.[8] She was re-elected to the position in 2009 with over 80% of the vote, and won again in 2013 and 2017.[9]
During Driscoll's time as mayor, Salem became one of 110cities andtowns in the state ofMassachusetts designated as Commonwealth "Green Communities". This status made the city eligible for municipal renewable power and energy efficiencygrants from the state. In 2013, Salem received eight stations where drivers can charge theirelectric vehicles;[10][11] four are located at the Museum Place Mall, near thePeabody Essex Museum, and the other four are located inside the South Harborparking garage across the street from the Salem Waterfront Hotel.[12] Also in 2013, the city moved to a mandatoryrecycling program for trash pick up in Salem.[13][14][15][16]
Driscoll obtained afederal grant to cover 90% of the cost ofNathaniel Bowditch, a $2.1 million 92-foot high-speedcatamaran that travels from Salem toBoston annually from May to October.[17] The maiden voyage took place on June 22, 2006.[18] The ferry is named afterNathaniel Bowditch, who was from Salem and wrote theAmerican Practical Navigator.[19][20][21][22][23] In 2016, Driscoll set up for the Salem acquisition and redevelopment of the parcel at 289 Derby St. into a gateway park along the waterfront.[24][25]
As of 2017, a $1 billion transformation of the Salem waterfront is underway. The project was originally proposed in 2006, and involveddredging to make the waters deeper for larger boats. In 2016, the city acquired the vacant parcel at 289 Derby Street for redevelopment as gateway park along the waterfront. TheSalem Harbor Power Station, an old 1940s coal-powered facility, was replaced with a smaller and cleaner natural gas powered plant, occupying one-half of the original footprint, allowing for additional waterfront redevelopment in the future.[26] 40-acres of prime waterfront land is up for sale, the largest deal in the city's modern history.[27][28]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2025) |
In January 2022, Driscoll declared her candidacy forlieutenant governor of Massachusetts in the 2022 election.[29] At the Massachusetts Democratic Party State convention in June 2022, Driscoll topped the field with support from 41.4 percent of the delegates, winning the endorsement of theMassachusetts Democratic Party.[30][31] Since announcing her candidacy, Driscoll consistently led the field in the polls.[32][33] She won the Democratic primary and faced RepublicanLeah Cole Allen in the November general election.[34] Driscoll defeated Cole Allen.[35]
On January 5, 2023, Driscoll was inaugurated as the 73rd lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Stanley Usovicz | Mayor of Salem 2006–2023 | Succeeded by Bob McCarthy |
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts 2023–present | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forLieutenant Governor of Massachusetts 2022 | Most recent |
| Lieutenant Governor |
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| Secretary of Administration and Finance |
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| Secretary of Education |
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| Secretary of Climate |
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| Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs |
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| Secretary of Economic Development |
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| Secretary of Technology Services and Security |
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| Secretary of Public Safety and Security |
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| Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development |
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| Secretary of Transportation |
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| Secretary of Health and Human Services |
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| Secretary of Veterans' Services |
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| Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities |
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