State Representative

1st Hampden District – serving the towns of Brimfield, Holland, Palmer, Sturbridge, Wales, Ware, Warren

Education:

Palmer High School Graduate, Class of 1995

Associates Degree in Liberal Arts, Holyoke Community College

Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography and Regional Planning, Westfield State College

Public Offices and Positions Previously held: 

Palmer Planning Board, 1997 – 2002

Palmer Board of Selectmen, 2001 – 2004, present (chairman 2002 - 2003, 2004)

Pioneer Valley Planning Commissioner, 2 years

Education Liaison, Palmer Public Schools, 4 years

Chief Legislative Aide to State Representative Reed V. Hillman, 2001 – 2004 

State Representative, 2005 – present

Todd began his life in politics at age 19 when he ran for a seat on the Planning Board and became the youngest elected member in Palmer’s history. He followed that trend 3 years later and became the youngest elected member on the Board of Selectmen where he served both elected offices simultaneously.

In 2001 Todd was tapped by State Representative Reed V. Hillman to become his Legislative Aide working on Beacon Hill until August of 2004 when he ran to replace the outgoing Hillman as Representative of the 1st Hampden District.

Todd currently serves as the ranking member of the Joint Committee on Public Service and the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.  He is also a member of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, the Joint Committee on Municipalities Regional Government, the Joint Committee on Veteran’s and Federal Affairs and the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development.

As the Chairman of the Palmer Board of Selectmen, Todd oversaw a local government transition that began in January of 2005 when the 3 member Board of Selectmen and Open Town Meeting was replaced by a Town Manager and a 9 member Town Council that was elected in November of 2004.

Todd served on the Palmer Senior Center Building Committee, the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and is currently a member of the Divine Mercy Parish Council, Sons of Amvets, the St. Stanislaus Polish Lyceum, and the St. Joseph’s Society.

Representative Smola (far right) joins members of the 2008 Polish Caucus to honor their commitment to preserving Polish community and heritage.