Douglas Bennett’s ties to Massachusetts are deep. His grandfather Roland Gardner was orphaned in Room 43 of the Massachusetts State House at 5 years old. Bennett’s mother was born Winchester. She then lived in Westborough until she met Bennett’s father and moved to Pennsylvania where Douglas was born. After Bennett’s military/college and work experience, he returned to Massachusetts. Bennett lives in St. Ann’s Parish in Dorchester with his beloved Keli and is the proud father of two sons.Bennett was employed as Suffolk County Criminal Trial Court Case Specialist at Pemberton Square in Government Center downtown Boston from 2008-09′ for Suffolk County. Bennett’s duties ranged from assisting the Judges and Clerks, processing and returning bail money, and organizing court cases and files. Before Bennett worked for Suffolk County for the Criminal Trial Court, he worked in the blue collar workforce as a Carpenter on Nantucket. He is a man of the people. It was there where Bennett was elected by the year round voting residents as their Selectman and County Commissioner for 3 years from 2004-2007. During Bennett’s tenure he:
Balanced $80 million municipal budget, Helped save 23 teachers’ jobs that were going to be cut. By Bennett bringing attention to the issue, these jobs were eventually saved. (click link), Helped build $45 million wastewater treatment facility which created hundreds of jobs., Wind Farm Creation – Influential in pushing a compromise between the late U.S. Senator Kennedy, several Massachusetts Congressmen, and the residents of the Cape & Islands to build what would have been the first ocean based wind farm in the nation. (click link)
Douglas Bennett enlisted in the United States Military in 1994 by serving as an Army Reservist. After Basic Combat training in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, he attended Valley Forge Military College in Wayne, Pennsylvania. He became the second highest ranked Cadet within the 850 cadet military circle. Additionally, Douglas attended the United States Military Air-Assault School in August 1997 graduating as the Honor Graduate from Ft. Belvoir, VA. Academically, Bennett became Class Valedictorian, an honor that was also shared 61 years ago by General Norman Schwarzkopf, a former Valley Forge Cadet who was Commander of the American led Allied Forces during the first Gulf War in the Middle East. After his service in the U.S. Army Reserves, Douglas Bennett graduated from Penn State University with two bachelors of arts degrees: one in History and a second in Labor Studies and Industrial Relations graduating in May 2001.
Real Estate Agent from 2010 – present.
2007 Boston Marathon Runner
Member of the OPEIU, Local 6 (part of the AFL-CIO) from 2008′-09′