Mike Capuano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Capuano
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts |
|
| In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2019 |
|
| Preceded by | Joseph P. Kennedy II |
| Succeeded by | Ayanna Pressley |
| Constituency | 8th district (1999–2013) 7th district (2013–2019) |
| 33rd Mayor of Somerville | |
| In office January 1, 1990 – January 3, 1999 |
|
| Preceded by | Eugene Brune |
| Succeeded by | Dorothy Kelly Gay |
| Member of the Somerville Board of Aldermen | |
| In office 1985–1989 |
|
| In office 1977–1979 |
|
| Constituency | At-Large Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michael Everett Capuano
January 9, 1952 Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Barbara Teebagy
(m. 1974) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Chris Evans (nephew) Scott Evans (nephew) |
| Residences | Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Education | Dartmouth College (BA) Boston College (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Michael Everett Capuano (born January 9, 1952) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as a U.S. Representative for Massachusetts from 1999 to 2019. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
His district included parts of Boston, Cambridge, and his hometown of Somerville. Before becoming a U.S. Representative, he was an Alderman and Mayor of Somerville.
Capuano grew up in Somerville. After college and law school, he worked as a lawyer. He also served as an alderman in Somerville. He ran for mayor three times, winning in 1989. He served as mayor from 1990 to 1999.
In 1998, Capuano was elected to the U.S. Congress. He was re-elected nine times. He was known for his liberal views. In 2018, he lost his re-election bid to Ayanna Pressley.
After leaving Congress in 2019, Capuano joined a law firm. He also began teaching at Boston University.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Capuano was born on January 9, 1952, in Somerville, Massachusetts. His parents were Rita Marie and Andrew Capuano. His father served in World War II. After the war, his father became the first Italian American elected to the Somerville Board of Aldermen. His mother had Irish roots.
Capuano finished Somerville High School in 1969. He then went to Dartmouth College, graduating in 1973. He earned his law degree in 1977 from Boston College Law School. He focused on tax law.
Early Political Career
In 1976, Capuano was elected to the Somerville Board of Aldermen. This is a local government body. He represented Ward 5, a position his father once held. He served one term.
In 1979, he ran for Mayor of Somerville. He lost that election. He ran again in 1981 but did not win.
From 1978 to 1984, Capuano worked as a chief legal advisor. He advised the Massachusetts General Court's tax committee. In 1985, he returned to the Somerville Board of Aldermen. This time, he was an at-large member, meaning he represented the whole city.
Mayor of Somerville
In 1989, Capuano ran for mayor for the third time and won. He served as mayor from 1990 to 1999. He was known for being a very active leader.
One of his main goals was to reduce the city's population density. Somerville had the highest density in New England at the time. He used state money to tear down some buildings. In their place, he built playgrounds and parking areas. As mayor, he also made sure that school class sizes were smaller. They were limited to a maximum of 19 students.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections to Congress
In 1998, the U.S. Representative for the 8th District, Joseph Kennedy II, decided to retire. Capuano joined a crowded race with many other Democrats. This district was very Democratic, having been represented by John F. Kennedy and Tip O'Neill.
Capuano won the Democratic primary election. This victory almost guaranteed his win in the general election. He easily won in November with 81% of the vote. He was re-elected nine times. He usually won with more than 80% of the vote. He faced a Republican candidate only once, in his first election in 1998.
2018 Election
In the September 4, 2018, primary election, Capuano was defeated. Ayanna Pressley, a Boston City Councilor, won with 58.5% of the vote. Capuano received 41.3%.
Some important politicians from Massachusetts did not support Capuano. However, many other members of the Massachusetts federal delegation did support him. Congressman John Lewis also endorsed Capuano. He called Capuano "a champion and fierce advocate."
Time in Congress
| Committee assignments |
|---|
| 115th Congress (2017–19) |
|
During his time in Congress, Capuano helped start five special groups called caucuses. These groups focused on topics like Community Health Centers, Sudan, and Korea. He also started a caucus for former Mayors.
Capuano voted against the War in Iraq. He supported bringing troops home quickly. In 2005, he visited Iraq to learn about the situation. Capuano was a strong supporter of giving more international aid. He also worked to help developing African nations.
After the 2006 election, Democrats gained control of the House. Capuano was chosen to lead a task force on ethics. In 2008, he helped create the Office of Congressional Ethics.
Capuano strongly supported labor rights and unions. He believed in people standing up for their rights.
Following the 2008 financial crisis, Capuano spoke out against bank leaders. His speech was featured in the 2010 documentary film Inside Job. This film was about problems in the financial industry.
Capuano called himself a "fiscal conservative." He opposed tax cuts for the wealthy. In 2013, he joined Senator Elizabeth Warren to protest budget cuts. He called the cuts "stupid."
Capuano was also a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus and the U.S.-Japan Caucus.
Campaigns for Other Offices
1994 Secretary Nomination
In 1994, Capuano ran for Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. This is a state-level position. He focused on helping poor and urban communities. He argued that less wealthy cities received less money.
He needed support from at least 15% of delegates at the state party convention. He only got 13% of the votes. This meant he could not participate in the primary election.
2010 Senate Campaign
After Senator Ted Kennedy passed away, a special election was held. On September 18, 2009, Capuano announced he would run for the Senate seat. He said he was a "Washington insider," like Kennedy.
He received support from important figures. These included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis.
However, he was consistently behind Massachusetts Attorney General, Martha Coakley, in polls. On December 8, 2009, Capuano lost the Democratic primary to Coakley. He won 28% of the vote.
2014 Governor Election
Capuano thought about running for Governor of Massachusetts in 2014. Some people encouraged him to run. He said that important political battles might happen more at the state level.
In September 2013, Capuano announced he would not run for governor. Instead, he decided to focus on his re-election to Congress.
Personal Life
Capuano was named after his two grandfathers. He has seven siblings. One sibling died as a baby, and another died from polio at age 5.
Capuano married Barbara Teebagy in 1974. They have two sons, Michael and Joseph. He is the uncle of actors Chris Evans (known for Captain America) and Scott Evans. They are his sister Lisa's children.
In 2003, the city of Somerville honored Capuano. They named a new school after him. The Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center opened in September 2003.
Capuano is a Roman Catholic.
