Jerry was born and raised in Beverly, went through the public school system and still lives and works here today. He is serving his fifth term as Beverly’s state representative. Jerry currently serves as Chairman of the Economic Development Committee. Parisella’s work experience includes serving as an attorney in private practice, Assistant City Solicitor for the City of Salem and with the City of Beverly Law Department. This combination of private and government experience gives Jerry a unique perspective on how the law affects ordinary citizens.
Jerry currently chairs the economic development committee and authored legislation to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts that will bring in millions of dollars to support our communities, provide hundreds of jobs and ensure those who suffer from gambling addiction get the services they need. He supported hundreds of millions of dollars to support the green energy economy and helps hundreds of businesses and residents get much-needed support during the pandemic.
During Jerry’s tenure as state rep, Beverly has received record amounts of funding for its school, with over $23 million in just the last two years. Beverly received over $50 million from the state for the middle school construction and hundreds of thousands of dollars to support efforts to protect our teachers and students during the COVID crisis.
Jerry serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Massachusetts National Guard and was co-chair of the Legislature’s Veterans Committee. He authored the HOME Act to ensure all veterans receive proper housing and related services. As a veteran himself with deployments to Bosnia and Iraq, he uses these experiences to fight for programs so that all veterans young receive the support they need.
Jerry voted to ensure Massachusetts is net-zero emissions by 2050 and for a landmark bill that will make Massachusetts a leader in offshore wind and provide millions in infrastructure upgrades to ensure we can support an expanded electric vehicle fleet throughout the Commonwealth. Families in Massachusetts can also receive free or reduced fees to make energy efficient upgrades in their homes.
Jerry believes a modern transportation system is critical to ensuring the economic growth of our state. Jerry helped secure funds for the recently built commuter garage located near the Beverly Depot, which provides residents with a much needed place to park, but also help the environment by promoting public transportation. The city is close to completing an upgrade of Route 1A (Rantoul Street) from near the Beverly-Salem Bridge to the Memorial School with help from a $20 million state grant. The state also awarded Beverly $5 million to improve the off-ramp at exit 19 near Brimbal Avenue. Jerry also helped the City secure millions of dollars in so-called Chapter 90 funds to fix our roads.These projects, and others, provide jobs for our community and improve our transportation infrastructure.