Senator Robert L. Hedlund knows the value of hard work.  As a teenager, he became president of Hedlund Motor Sales, Inc., a truck and fire apparatus repair business, which was founded by his grandfather.  He subsequently volunteered on numerous local and state elections, forging the experience he would draw upon later in his political career. Serving as the youngest member of the South Shore Camber of Commerce’s Governmental Affairs Committee also heightened his political involvement and interests.

Robert Hedlund’s first run for public office came in 1990 as a candidate for the State Senate seat on the South Shore of Boston.  In a seven way-primary win, Bob won by the thin margin of 39 votes. He then went on to a three-way general election race in what proved to be the most expensive Senate race in state history to that date.  Being heavily outspent both in the primary and general election, Bob Hedlund won the race without accepting any financial contributions from lobbyists or special interest groups. Hedlund was narrowly defeated in 1992, when the GOP lost seven Senate seats, but he won the seat back in a 1994 in rematch with Brian McDonald.  Robert Hedlund has since easily won re-election in 1996, 2000 and 2002 and was unopposed in 1998 and 2004.  In this most recent election in 2006, he enjoyed his largest victory, defeating Stephen Lynch 64% to 36%.  Hedlund currently serves as the Minority Whip in the State Senate.

Robert Hedlund serves on several legislative committees including Transportation, Housing, Labor and Work Force Development, Post Audit and Oversight, Public Health, and Community Development and Small Business.  Other organizations that he serves on include the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) Citizens’ Advisory Council, the Department of Corrections Advisory Council and the Board of Directors for the USS Salem/Naval Shipbuilding Museum.

Over his legislative career, Hedlund has proudly supported the interests of working families while protecting the taxpayer interests.  He has earned political endorsements from varied groups and unions, including Citizens for Limited Taxation, Massachusetts Teachers Union, Carpenters Local 424, Boston Carmen's Union Local 589, IBEW Local 103 (Electricians), Massachusetts Nurses Association, Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers Association, National Federation of Independent Business, Pipefitters Local 537, SEIU 5000-NAGE, Woodframers Local 723, SEIU - Local 888 (Service Employees International Union), and the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts.

Hedlund, a 1979 Graduate of Hingham High School, has attended Wentworth Institute of Technology, Quincy College and the University of Massachusetts at Boston.
           
Hedlund is a member of the Weymouth Elks Lodge 2232 and the Hingham Sons of Italy.

Recreationally, Hedlund enjoys history, music, and the outdoors and belongs to several softball leagues. His constituents can often be found watching him hit home runs during South Shore Men’s League games.