Senator Pavel M. Payano proudly represents the First Essex District, serving the communities of Lawrence, Haverhill, and Methuen in the Massachusetts Senate. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Lawrence, he is the son of two public school teachers and the first Dominican elected to the Massachusetts Senate. Before serving in the Legislature, he worked as a public school math teacher, served on the Lawrence School Committee, and as an At-Large City Councilor. In the Senate, he focuses on expanding educational opportunities, supporting working families, strengthening small businesses, improving access to healthcare, and creating pathways to economic mobility for all residents.