James Kelcourse is a member of the Massachusetts Parole Board. Kelcourse was previously a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. A resident of Amesbury, Massachusetts, he was elected as a Republican to represent the 1st Essex district. Kelcourse, a former Amesbury city councillor, defeated Newburyport city councillor Ed Cameron in a very close election. He was declared the victor by 12 votes after a month-long recount. He was re-elected in 2016, 2018, and 2020. Kelcourse served the cities of Newburyport and Amesbury and the town of Salisbury for 4 terms in the House of Representatives.
In 2012, Kelcourse ran for the Massachusetts State Senate in the 1st Essex district as an unenrolled candidate. He placed last in the general election.
On June 16, 2021, Kelcourse announced his candidacy for Mayor of the City of Amesbury. On November 2, 2021, in Amesbury's Mayoral election, Representative Kelcourse lost to incumbent Mayor Kassandra Gove.
On June 1, 2022, Kelcourse was nominated by Governor Charlie Baker to serve on the state Parole Board. On June 22, his nomination was confirmed by the Massachusetts Governor's Council. He resigned his position as State Representative on June 29, 2022 and was officially sworn in as a member of the Parole Board.
Kelcourse resides in Amesbury with his wife Amanda and their two children. Prior to his appointment to the Parole Board, Kelcourse operated a legal practice in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Electoral history First Essex - 2012 State Senate General ElectionPartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticKathleen A. O'Connor Ives36,40545.9RepublicanShaun P. Toohey26,65433.6UnenrolledPaul A. Magliocchetti12,87016.2UnenrolledJames Kelcourse3,3584.2Write-insAll others400.1
First Essex - 2014 State Representative Republican Primary PartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanJames Kelcourse1,13399.7Write-insAll others30.3
First Essex - 2014 State Representative General ElectionPartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanJames Kelcourse6,97842.0DemocraticEdward C. Cameron6,96842.0UnenrolledAri B. Herzog1,6289.8UnenrolledSteven J. Stanganeli7914.8UnenrolledJoseph L. Valianti2311.4Write-insAll others20
First Essex - 2016 State Representative Republican Primary PartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanJames Kelcourse (inc.)663100.0
First Essex - 2016 State Representative General ElectionPartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanJames Kelcourse (inc.)13,27254.0DemocraticBrianna Sullivan11,28045.9Write-insAll others70.1
First Essex - 2018 State Representative Republican Primary PartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanJames Kelcourse (inc.)2,09699.6Write-insAll others90.4
First Essex - 2018 State Representative General ElectionPartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanJames Kelcourse (inc.)11,38452.7DemocraticJennifer A. Rocco-Runnion10,21947.3Write-insAll others50.0
First Essex - 2020 State Representative Republican PrimaryPartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanJames Kelcourse (inc.)2,12399.7Write-insAll others60.3
First Essex - 2020 State Representative General ElectionPartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanJames Kelcourse (inc.)14,53751.6DemocraticAmber Hewett13,61448.3Write-insAll others110.1
Amesbury Mayoral - 2021 Mayoral General ElectionPartyCandidateVotes%UnenrolledKassandra Gove (inc.)3,61161RepublicanJames Kelcourse2,30738.9Write-insAll others120.1
See also 2019–2020 Massachusetts legislature 2021–2022 Massachusetts legislature
References