Denis Lawrence, Jr., Councillor At Large, continues his families commitment of public service to the City of New Bedford. His father, Denis Lawrence, Sr., is a former Councillor At Large and State Representative from the 13th Bristol District.

Denis, a life long resident of New Bedford, is a graduate of the New Bedford Public School System and majored in Communications and the Performing Arts, at Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Councillor Lawrence currently serves as the City Council President (2010).  He also served as its president in 2001.  Councillor Lawrence has served as Council First Vice President from 2002 - 2005. He is the co-founder of SouthCoast Children’s Theatre, an after school program reaching out children in the greater New Bedford area who show an interest in the performing arts.  Councillor Lawrence is also a produced playwright. His play "The Waiting Room" which deals with six teenagers infected and affected by the AIDS virus has been produced by the New Bedford Housing Authority, Neighborhood Police program and the Massachusetts Disease Prevention Center.

Denis is employed by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. Denis is married to Deborah Ann (Rego) formerly of Swansea, MA. He has two children Denis Robert and Sarah Ann.

Councillor Lawrence has served and/or is currently serving on the following committees: Ordinance (Chairman), Public Safety (Chairman), Finance, Appointments and Briefings (Chairman), City Property, Recreation, Tourism, Memorial and Dedications, Audit, Elderly Affairs, Health, Housing and Veterans, Commerce, Labor and Transportation, Audit, Streets, Lights and Sidewalks, Internal Affairs, The Special Committee on the Airport and the Marine Fisheries Committee.