New Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

As many of you know Speaker DeLeo has resigned from his position as State Representative and Speaker of the House to pursue an opportunity with his alma mater Northeastern University. He stepped down right after his vote for the ROE Act and we needed to elect a new Speaker immediately in order to continue working to get critical legislation passed. 

The following day, the House voted for a new Speaker, State Representative and Majority Leader Ronald Mariano. Three candidates, including now Speaker Mariano, competed for members’ votes for some time prior to the election, although the other two candidates dropped out and endorsed Rep. Mariano prior to the actual speakership vote.  All three candidates were ideologically to my right and about the same as each other.

I think Rep. Mariano was able to secure the most votes because of his experience as Majority Leader and his ability to bring together diverse interests to pass significant legislation.  Personally, I have found that even when we have not agreed, Rep. Mariano has continued to keep an open mind.  For example, he was very skeptical of the ROE Act when we first spoke about it.  In the end, he helped secure the votes for passage and a veto override.  It was also the first issue about which he spoke when it was clear Speaker DeLeo was leaving.  

During his first speech as Speaker, he made it clear that the “open door policy” for members that he had as Majority Leader will continue as Speaker. He also specifically mentioned addressing the climate crisis, confronting systemic racism, and financially assisting community hospitals, such as Cambridge Health Center, as some of his goals.

Also, there have been many claims about Speaker Mariano that have been misleading.  Speaker Mariano voted against the Millionaire’s tax in 2016 and 2017, but he voted in favor of advancing the question to voters in 2019.  He also voted in favor of legislation to require drivers to be hands-free in 2019.  The bill became law and has been in effect since February 2020.  Apparently there was a vote from a decade ago on the same subject in which he voted differently.  

I look forward to working with him and to continue pushing for progressive policies and hope we will have more success working with Speaker Mariano than we did under Speaker DeLeo.