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Aaron Vega

Aaron was born in South Holyoke, attended Morgan Elementary School and eventually followed his parents’ footsteps by attending Holyoke Community College. He graduated from Keene State College with a dual bachelor degree in film and psychology. Aaron soon became a film editor, working on projects such at for Ken Burns, PBS, TLC and HBO. After living in New York City and New Hampshire for a number of years, Aaron moved back to Western Mass with his wife Debra. Together they opened Vega Yoga and Movement Arts, a small business that has quickly become one of the most successful yoga studios in the region.

In 2009, Aaron was elected one of Holyoke’s first Latino at-large councilors. Over his two terms he worked to keep his commitment to improve the quality of life for all residents by strengthening ordinances while giving city departments and citizens the tools they need to address the many issues facing his hometown. It is on the Council where Aaron learned about the importance of providing good constituent services.

In 2012 Aaron was elected to serve as the State Representative for the Fifth Hampden district. In his first term he served on the Joint Committees for Higher Education, and Economic Development. He was the only Freshman Rep appointed to a special committee to address Student Debt crisis in the Commonwealth. The report drawn from numerous hearings across the State have many recommendations that have already been enacted and others he continues to work on.

Aaron has also made a major push at the Statehouse to focus on regional issues, especially in Gateway Cities. Again, in his first year in office 20 legislators and staff from the Gateway Cities Caucus on a district tour to look at how state programs are working, and where they could use improvement. Due to the success of this tour, they are now being planned across the state.

In his second tern as State Rep Aaron continues to serve on the Joint Committee of Economic Development and is now the Vice Chair of the Committee on Children and Families and Persons with Disabilities where he has become a strong advocate for families and is working on collaborative approaches to address the issues within DCF.

Additionally Rep. Vega serves on the Committee of Public Services that oversees the State Retirement, Insurance and Employee benefits for State workers. This committee has allowed Aaron to gain a better understanding of the Sate Budget which is the primary work of a Stet Rep.

During his time in office Aaron has continued his focus on providing great constituent services.

Aaron has served on the boards of the Holyoke Health Center, and the Morgan School turnaround team. He continues to volunteer as a board member for the Homework House and the Connections Afterschool Program. He is also a member of the Holyoke Taxpayers Association, Friends of the Council on Aging, Friends of the Holyoke Public Library and was a Rotary Club member for 3 years. In 2010 he was named one of the “40 under 40” by Business West magazine, a recognition given out to young civic and business leaders in the Pioneer Valley.

In addition to being a small business owner with Aaron, his wife Debra performed as a New York City Rockette for over four years and is now the Dance director at Williston Northampton school in Easthampton.  She also teaches dance at Mt. Holyoke College and yoga at a day enrichment facility to traumatic brain injury survivors. They bought their first home, a historic row house in downtown Holyoke. Aaron has three daughters, two of whom are the third generation in their family to go to Holyoke Community College. In November 2013, Aaron and Debra welcomed their first son Odin to the world and he has quickly become a staple at events throughout the city.