Gordon D. Fox
Encyclopedia
Gordon D. Fox is an American politician from Providence, Rhode Island
and the Speaker
of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
. A Democrat
, he was first elected to the legislature in 1992 and was elected speaker on February 11, 2010.
an mother, who worked as a maid and later at a golf ball factory. The family lived for a time in a Providence apartment with a view of the statehouse. Fox considers himself mixed race.
Fox attended Providence College
but had to drop out after a year when his father died. He continued his studies at Rhode Island College
, where he earned a degree in history and political science. He then graduated from Northeastern Law School in Boston, paying his way by working at a Carvel ice cream shop. He became an attorney.
, namely the Mount Hope
, Summit
and Blackstone
neighborhoods. Fox was first elected a state representative in November 1992 and served for a time as chairman of the House Finance Committee. He was elected Majority Leader
in late 2002 and served until February 2010, when he ascended to the speakership.
, first elected speaker in 2002, indicated his intention to retire from the speakership, Fox expressed interest in the position. In October 2009, Murphy endorsed Fox in the race to succeed him. Fox faced several more conservative opponents and, in the election held on February 11, 2010, won 51 of the 75 votes. He became the 222nd House Speaker since the Rhode Island legislature's establishment in colonial times.
in 2004 and is in a long-term relationship with Marcus LaFond. He is one of four openly gay
members of the Rhode Island General Assembly
, alongside Sen. Donna Nesselbush
(D–Pawtucket) and Reps. Frank Ferri
(D–Warwick) and Deb Ruggiero
(D–Jamestown).
He is the first openly gay house speaker in the United States, although Assemblyman John Pérez
(D–Los Angeles) was elected to the speakership of the California State Assembly
several weeks before Fox. Pérez, however, was not sworn in as speaker until March 1, 2010, whereas Fox took office almost three weeks earlier on February 11.
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
and the Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 75 members, elected to two year terms from 75 districts of equal population. The Rhode Island General Assembly does not have...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he was first elected to the legislature in 1992 and was elected speaker on February 11, 2010.
Early life and career
One of six siblings, Fox is the son of an Irish-American father, a jewelry polisher, and a Cape VerdeCape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
an mother, who worked as a maid and later at a golf ball factory. The family lived for a time in a Providence apartment with a view of the statehouse. Fox considers himself mixed race.
Fox attended Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
but had to drop out after a year when his father died. He continued his studies at Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College is a nationally ranked, coeducational, state-supported comprehensive college founded in 1854, located in Providence, Rhode Island, USA...
, where he earned a degree in history and political science. He then graduated from Northeastern Law School in Boston, paying his way by working at a Carvel ice cream shop. He became an attorney.
In the legislature
Fox represents the 4th district, which includes parts of the East Side of ProvidenceEast Side, Providence, Rhode Island
The East Side is a collection of neighborhoods in Providence, Rhode Island on the eponymous eastern part of the city. It officially comprises the neighborhoods of Blackstone, Hope , Mount Hope, College Hill , Wayland, and Fox Point.The area is separated from East Providence, Rhode Island to the...
, namely the Mount Hope
Mount Hope, Providence, Rhode Island
Mount Hope is a neighborhood in northern Providence, Rhode Island. It is one of six neighborhoods comprising the East Side of Providence. The area is bounded to the north by Rochambeau Avenue, to the east by Hope Street, to the south by Olney Street, while the western border is the former New...
, Summit
Hope, Providence, Rhode Island
Hope is a neighborhood on the northern border of Providence, Rhode Island. To the west, it is bounded by North Main Street, the North Burial Ground, and Interstate 95, while Rochambeau Ave, Hope Street, and the Providence-Pawtucket city line roughly delineate its boundaries to the south, east, and...
and Blackstone
Blackstone, Providence, Rhode Island
Blackstone is a predominantly residential neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island. It is in the northeast corner of the city and is bounded to the south and west by Lloyd Avenue and Hope Street respectively...
neighborhoods. Fox was first elected a state representative in November 1992 and served for a time as chairman of the House Finance Committee. He was elected Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
in late 2002 and served until February 2010, when he ascended to the speakership.
Election as Speaker
As soon as William J. MurphyWilliam J. Murphy (Rhode Island politician)
William J. Murphy is an American attorney and a Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing the 26th District since 1992. He served as the 221st Speaker of the House from January 7, 2003 to February 11, 2010, when he handed over the gavel to his majority leader,...
, first elected speaker in 2002, indicated his intention to retire from the speakership, Fox expressed interest in the position. In October 2009, Murphy endorsed Fox in the race to succeed him. Fox faced several more conservative opponents and, in the election held on February 11, 2010, won 51 of the 75 votes. He became the 222nd House Speaker since the Rhode Island legislature's establishment in colonial times.
Personal
Fox came out publiclyComing out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
in 2004 and is in a long-term relationship with Marcus LaFond. He is one of four openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
members of the Rhode Island General Assembly
Rhode Island General Assembly
The State of Rhode Island General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. A bicameral body, it is composed of the lower Rhode Island House of Representatives with 75 representatives, and the upper Rhode Island Senate with 38 senators...
, alongside Sen. Donna Nesselbush
Donna Nesselbush
Donna M. Nesselbush is an American lawyer, judge and politician from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. A Democrat, she serves in the Rhode Island Senate, representing the 15th district...
(D–Pawtucket) and Reps. Frank Ferri
Frank Ferri
Frank G. Ferri is an American politician who is a Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing the 22nd district since a special election in November 2007...
(D–Warwick) and Deb Ruggiero
Deb Ruggiero
Deborah L. Ruggiero , commonly known as Deb Ruggiero, is an American radio personality and politician from Jamestown, Rhode Island. A Democrat, she serves in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing the 74th district, which contains all of Jamestown and part of Middletown...
(D–Jamestown).
He is the first openly gay house speaker in the United States, although Assemblyman John Pérez
John Pérez
John A. Pérez is a union organizer and politician from Los Angeles, California, who has been the Speaker of the California State Assembly since March 1, 2010. A Democrat, he represents the 46th district in the California State Assembly.-Early life and career:Pérez grew up in El Sereno and Highland...
(D–Los Angeles) was elected to the speakership of the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
several weeks before Fox. Pérez, however, was not sworn in as speaker until March 1, 2010, whereas Fox took office almost three weeks earlier on February 11.
External links
- Rhode Island House - Representative Gordon D. Fox official RI House website
- Profile at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Follow the Money - Gordon D. Fox
- In-depth profile in the Providence Phoenix