Meet Kathy

Rep. Kathy LaNatra is currently serving her third term as State Representative of the 12th Plymouth District. It has been the honor of her life to work on behalf of her constituents to find resources, common sense solutions, and legislative pathways that will improve lives. She serves as Vice Chair on the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing; she also serves on the Joint Committee on Ways & Means, the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, and the House Committees on Ways & Means and on Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight. She was named by Speaker Mariano to serve on both the Future of Work Commission, as well as the Madeline Amy Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery 2021 Selection Committee. She was also named Legislator of the Year by the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association in 2020.

Throughout her tenure, Rep. LaNatra has been a strong supporter of mental health and has advocated and legislated to ensure that people suffering with mental health issues have access to life-saving services, and that those fields are properly funded and have an adequate workforce. She has been a strong supporter of workforce development efforts, including the funding of high-quality technical education. She also worked hard to guide the 12th Plymouth District through the COVID-19 pandemic, including helping constituents with unemployment, finding vaccines, and many business-related issues. 

A small-business owner, realtor, and proud mother of four, Kathy LaNatra has long demonstrated a commitment of service to the community as a volunteer and elected official. She served as Vice-Chair of the Kingston Board of Selectmen and a trustee of the Affordable Housing Trust. She also previously served as Recreation Commissioner for eight years and as a member of the Community Preservation Committee. She has a passion for our senior community and continues to be an active volunteer at the Council on Aging. Kathy’s experience in government has made her keenly aware of what matters most to residents. 

Drawing on her success in business, Kathy embraces a pragmatic approach to the most pressing issues in our community. As the structure of our economy changes and our property taxes increase, Kathy is committed to sustainable economic growth to reduce the tax burden on homeowners and create sustainable jobs.

Kathy has lived in Kingston for over two decades and has seen firsthand the mounting challenges working families in our area face. The COVID-19 pandemic created challenges across every facet of our lives: economic, educational, healthcare for all ages (including mental health), municipal government, and many more. The cost of college is skyrocketing and the inventory of affordable housing is far too low. The cost of childcare is unsustainable and employment providing a livable wage is suffering. The opioid epidemic continues to threaten the fabric of our community and our first responders face risks as they work to keep us all safe. Rising sea levels caused by climate change put the future of our coastal community in jeopardy. As your State Representative, Kathy advocates for practical, long-term solutions to these issues on Beacon Hill.

Kathy knows that real solutions to our problems require politicians to work together regardless of political party. She is committed to a bipartisan approach to policymaking that will help keep our region prosperous and safe for our children and grandchildren. She also understands the importance of strong constituent service and is grateful for the opportunity to provide support to individuals contending with challenges, making a difference one life at a time.  The coronavirus crisis tripled the number of constituent requests for assistance to her office and Kathy took her job of finding solutions and making connections to resources in earnest. 

Kathy lives in Kingston with her husband, Mike, a 18-year veteran of the Kingston Police Department, her two teenage children and their three dogs. Her two oldest sons live on their own now, one of whom is an Army Veteran. She was raised in Hanover, MA. 

The 12th Plymouth District consists of Kingston, Plympton, Plymouth (Precincts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 13), Middleboro (Precincts 1 & 5A), Halifax (Precincts 1 & 2A) and Pembroke (Precinct 3). 

Rep. LaNatra can be reached directly at Kathleen.Lanatra@mahouse.gov. To contact her Legislative Aide, Christopher Jean, please call 617-722-2430 or email Christopher.Jean@mahouse.gov.

Her District Office is located at 10 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 229 in Plymouth, MA.