Growing up near Albany, New York, this son of a public school teacher first became politically active in high school, where he advocated for increased school budgets and progressive school board candidates. A longtime activist and leader, he spent twelve years as the chair of the Watertown Democratic Town Committee. In 2016 he was elected to the Democratic State Committee, where he helped the party enact reforms to increase voter participation.
Massachusetts has a long history of welcoming immigrants from around the world, educating them, and allowing them to succeed and thrive. We must further that tradition.
To that end, Representative Owens is a cosponsor of the long-overdue Safe Communities Act, which allows undocumented immigrants to contact, assist, and seek the protection of law enforcement without fear of retribution for their legal status. This in turn protects all residents of the Commonwealth by helping law enforcement take violent criminals off the streets.
Representative Owens is also a supporter of the Work and Family Mobility Act, which ensures equal access to driver’s licenses, regardless of immigration status, so families can travel to school and doctor’s appointments without fear of arrest or separation. By ensuring that these drivers meet Massachusetts’s driving standards, the Act will make roads safer for everyone.