Jeff Perry (politician)
Jeffrey Davis Perry (born January 8, 1964) is a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives who represented the 5th Barnstable District from 2003-2011. He was the Republican Party nominee for United States Congress in Massachusetts's 10th congressional district in the 2010 election, losing to Democrat Bill Keating. Education and early career Perry has an associate's degree (A.A.) from Bristol Community College, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in sociology from Curry College. He completed an executive management program at the Law Enforcement Executive Center at Babson College, graduated from the Plymouth Regional Police Academy, and served for eight years as a Wareham police officer. After leaving the police force, Perry started a private investigation business. State representative In 2002, Perry was elected as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He represented the Fifth Barnstable District, covering the town of Sandwich plus portions of Barnstable, Bourne and Mashpee. He was last reelected by a 70% to 30% margin in 2008. In 2010 he resigned to run for the U.S. House; his term ends in January 2011. He was succeeded by Republican Randy Hunt. Perry had served on the following Legislative Committees: Joint Committee on Education; Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security; House Committee on Ways & Means; and Joint Committee on State Administration and Oversight. Academia While serving as a State Representative, Perry attended night classes for four years at the New England School of Law, where he was recognized as "the student who has shown the greatest promise of outstanding contributions to public service." After completing his law degree there, he passed the Massachusetts Bar Examination in 2007 and worked at the firm of Flannigan and Perry, P.C., located in Hanover and Hyannis, while he continued to work in the state legislature. Perry is an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Cape Cod Community College, and previously taught constitutional law at Bridgewater State College. Political positions Perry is an ally of Mitt Romney, and an admirer of Ronald Reagan. He is the author of a self-published book titled, My GOP: It is Time for Republicans to Get Back to the Principles of Ronald Reagan. While in the State House, Perry cosponsored a bill opposing a state proposal to reopen a dredge dumping site in Buzzards Bay. He has supported the efforts of Democratic Governor Deval Patrick to bring casinos to Massachusetts. Perry unsuccessfully sponsored legislation to require residency verification as a condition for receiving public benefits. Public safety and law enforcement Perry opposed allowing police to pull over motorists for not wearing seat belts. He has supported maintaining criminal penalties against possession of small amounts of marijuana. Perry is a member of a special legislative commission on drugs, which has focused on such drugs as OxyContin and oxycodone. Fiscal policy Perry said he hopes efforts by Governor Deval Patrick to reduce earmarks will succeed, but until then "each legislator has to fight or we're going to get left out." Thus, he requested earmarks