Politics & Government

Berry to Deliver Senate Farewell Speech Thursday

Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Frederick E. Berry will deliver his farewell speech in the Senate Chamber on Thursday evening.

Retiring State Sen. Fred Berry will deliver his farewell speech on the Senate floor Thursday evening, according to Beth Mullen, Berry's deputy chief of staff.

Mullen made the announcement on Wednesday.

Berry, a Democrat from Peabody, serves at the Senate Majority Leader. Mullen said colleagues, friends, and family will gather on Thursday at 6 p.m. to hear Berry deliver his farewell speech before the Senate.  

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"This will mark the final time that Senator Berry will speak on the Senate floor, concluding his 30-year career in the legislature," Mullen said in the announcement.

Last week, Berry was one of eight local residents awarded a Distinguished Leadership Award by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce during the chamber's annual dinner at Danversport Yacht Club.

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Before accepting the award, Karen Andreas, publisher of the Salem News and outgoing Chamber president, called Berry a "true leader" who has been "an inspiration to us all."

During his career, Berry has been involved in dozens of initiatives, from his effort to merge the Essex Agricultural and Technical Institute and North Shore Technical High School with Peabody High vocational programs into a new state-of-the-art school that is now under construction in Danvers to expanding the North Shore Community College campus in Danvers, where there is a building named after him.

His charitable organization has raised more than $1 million for people in need on the North Shore.

After leaving the Senate, Berry will go to work for Work Inc. in Boston, a non-profit that "develops community based employment and other programs for individuals with disabilities."

Salem City Council President Joan Lovely will fill the 2nd Essex District seat in the Senate starting in January, representing Beverly, Danvers, Peabody, Salem and Topsfield.

Berry endorsed Lovely before she won a four-candidate Democratic Party primary in September.


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