Lees attended Amesbury High School (class of 1971) and graduated in Bachelor of Business Administration from Salem State College in 1975.

Two years later he won an upset victory over Springfield City Council President Frank Keough for the State Senate.

[2] Within the walls of the State House, Lees is known as a consensus builder by creating and sustaining debate in the Senate chamber.

Lees was instrumental in the installation of television cameras inside the Senate chamber, so that the proceedings could be viewed by the public.

He did not seek a 10th term in the Massachusetts Senate in 2008, instead running for Hampden County Clerk of Courts as a write-in during the Republican primary.