John Drinkwater is currently serving his first term on the Lowell City Council after being elected in November 2019, and Chairs the Housing and Municipal Facilities Subcommittees. Since 2006 John has worked for the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the state’s largest umbrella organization for labor, representing over 400,000 unionized workers throughout Massachusetts. He has served the organization in a variety of roles including Chief of Staff and Legislative Director, in which he helped to pass pro-worker legislation including protections for temporary workers, a domestic workers’ bill of rights, and a higher minimum wage. Currently, John serves as the Senior Workforce Development Specialist and assists with the AFL-CIO’s Dislocated Worker Assistance Program and efforts to provide training opportunities and career pathways to incumbent, under-employed and unemployed workers.

John grew up in Tewksbury and moved to Lowell in 2002 to attend UMass Lowell where he met his wife, Julie. Both John and Julie were All-American track athletes at UMass Lowell, but now can barely keep up with their three children, Adeline (8), Sean (6), and Reilly (3). He claims to still enjoy running, but would much rather be at the beach.

John is a “Double-Riverhawk,” with two degrees from UMass Lowell -- A Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (2006) and a Master’s degree in Regional Economic & Social Development (2011). Earlier this year John also received an Executive Leadership Certificate from Harvard University’s Trade Union Program.