About Astrid

Astrid af Klinteberg is a life long resident of Gloucester. She was born at Addison Gilbert Hospital and grew up in the Lanesville area. She went to Gloucester public schools and later graduated Magna Cum Laude from UMass Boston in 1993. Astrid went on to earn a law degree from Northeastern University in 1998. After graduating law school, Astrid started a private practice as a criminal defense attorney, primarily representing disadvantaged youth. Today, Astrid is very active in her Church and currently resides in East Gloucester with her daughter, Carson.

Astrid strongly believes in a call to service, a public responsibility to get involved in one's community and advocate for the good of all people. Her belief in service led her to run for public office, and she was first elected in 1999 to the Gloucester City Council. As a Councilwoman, she advocated for policies that reflected her commitment to fiscal responsibility and accountability in local government. Astrid fought for cost cutting measures, affordable housing, and transparency in government during her two terms representing Ward 4.

While serving as a Councilwoman, Astrid witnessed first hand how local government struggles against rising costs and decreasing aid and support from the state. Since her time on the city council, she has remained an active leader in the community, working with many organizations including Get Gloucester Going, the Cape Ann Business Incubator, Time Share, and Cape Ann Equality, fighting for equal rights.

Astrid is a fighter. As a single mother, she had to raise her daughter while going to school and building a successful law practice from the ground up. Astrid knows what it is like for working families struggling to get by in today's challenging economy. She has put in tireless hours not only defending children, protecting the rights of political activists, and litigating cases for disabled veterans returning from the war in Iraq.

Astrid has gone to the State House to advocate for her community and the values she believes in. As your representative, she will do all that and more with the same level of passion and enthusiasm.

Astrid would be a strong voice for the 5th Essex District because she understands the local issues that effect residents in their daily lives. She will advocate for increased local aid, smart growth and development, and bring home the support that the District deserves. Now more than ever, the communities of Essex, Rockport, and Gloucester are in need of effective representation. Astrid will be that new, fresh voice and a tireless advocate for the 5th Essex District.