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Michael A. Costello
 Michael A. Costello (born May 5, 1965, in Lynn, Massachusetts) is a former State Representative for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, who represented the first district of Essex County, Massachusetts from 2003 to 2014. Education
Costello graduated cum laude from Salem State College (now Salem State University) in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science. As an undergraduate, Costello spent three years organizing and leading a student program that resulted in the building of housing for some of the poorest Americans living in Appalachia. He also spent a summer working as an intern in the United States Congress. He earned a Juris Doctor with academic honors from Suffolk University Law School in 1996. Early careerAfter his graduation from Salem State, Costello 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, he worked for New Hampshire's Office of the Public Defender. 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, battery, robbery, and gang activity. 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 served six terms respresenting the cities of Newburyport, Amesbury and Salisbury in the First Essex District. During his first term, Costello served on the Joint Committees on Banks, 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 served 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. Costello was one of the sponsors of identity theft legislation signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick. He is formerly a member of the Governor's Anti-Crime Council, and also served on the Governor's CORI Reform Commission. In a similar capacity, he was named the National Chair of the American Bar Association's Re-entry and Collateral Consequences Committee. He was also named vice president of the Property-Casualty Insurance Committee by the National Conference of Insurance Legislators.[1] In 2007, the Massachusetts Bar Association named Costello its Legislator of the Year. 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.[2] External links
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