Marian Walsh
Encyclopedia
Marian Walsh was born in Roslindale, Boston, Massachusetts
. She was a State Senator
representing several cities and towns in Suffolk
and Norfolk
counties. She served six terms in the Massachusetts State Senate and was promoted to the position of Assistant Majority Leader
in early 2003. She was the first woman from her district
to serve in both the House of Representatives
and in the State Senate. Senator Walsh did not seek re-election in 2010 following a scandal over her acceptance of a position as the head of HEFA—a cushy assignment widely criticized for Walsh's perceived lack of experience, and the apparent patronage that landed her the position.
and Newton College of the Sacred Heart
with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy
and American Studies
, and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Theological Studies
from the Harvard Divinity School
. She also achieved a Juris Doctor
from Suffolk University Law School
. Walsh failed her first attempt at the Massachusetts bar exam, but later passed and obtained her license. She has been a guest lecturer at Suffolk Law, Tufts University
, Boston College
, Boston College Law School
, and Salem State College
.
’s Office, she established the Victim/Witness Assistance Program; the Homicide Response Team; and the first full-time, permanent Organized Crime Division. When she was released from her position, she filed suit, accusing her employer of sexual discrimination for failing to promote her during her tenure. Later, she was appointed Assistant Director of Governmental Relations for the Massachusetts Medical Society
. Walsh served the 10th Suffolk District in the House of Representatives between 1988 and 1992.
Before she became Assistant Majority Leader, she served as Senate Chair of the Joint Legislative Committees on Taxation; Banks and Banking; Public Service; Criminal Justice; Ways and Means; Education; and the Committee on Housing and Urban Development.
In 2004, Walsh was opposed by independent Bob Joyce in the general election. Walsh won every precinct in the district.
Walsh's Republican
opponent during the 2006
elections was Douglas E. Obey of Westwood
. Walsh won every town in the district; the final vote margin was 69-31%, with a spread of over 20,000 votes.
In 2009, Walsh faced criticism for an appointment as assistant director of the Massachusetts Health and Education Facilities Authority, a position that had been vacant for twelve years. Many viewed the appointment as unncessary during a bad economy.
Walsh announced on 27 January 2010 that she would not seek reelection to her seat in the 2010 general election.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/20100127sen_marian_walsh_says_she_wont_seek_reelection/srvc=home&position=also
, the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern Massachusetts, and the ALS Society of Massachusetts. In 2003, she was included in the list of "Boston's 100 Most Powerful Women" by Boston Magazine
.
Roslindale, Boston, Massachusetts
Roslindale is a primarily residential neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, bordered by Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, West Roxbury and Mattapan.It is served by an MBTA Commuter Rail line, several MBTA bus lines and the MBTA Orange Line in nearby Jamaica Plain...
. She was a State Senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
representing several cities and towns in Suffolk
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Suffolk County has no land border with Plymouth County to its southeast, but the two counties share a water boundary in the middle of Massachusetts Bay.-National protected areas:*Boston African American National Historic Site...
and Norfolk
Norfolk County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Adams National Historical Park* Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area * Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site* John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site-Demographics:...
counties. She served six terms in the Massachusetts State Senate and was promoted to the position of Assistant 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 early 2003. She was the first woman from her district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
to serve in both the House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
and in the State Senate. Senator Walsh did not seek re-election in 2010 following a scandal over her acceptance of a position as the head of HEFA—a cushy assignment widely criticized for Walsh's perceived lack of experience, and the apparent patronage that landed her the position.
Education
Walsh graduated from Ursuline AcademyUrsuline Academy of Dedham
Ursuline Academy is an independent college preparatory day school for young women in grades 7–12. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, USA, it is owned and operated by the Ursuline Sisters, a worldwide teaching order. The academy is a private Catholic school located on a...
and Newton College of the Sacred Heart
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and American Studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
, and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Theological Studies
Theological Studies
Theological Studies is a quarterly academic journal published by the Society of Jesus in the United States. It is published at Marquette University....
from the Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
. She also achieved a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Suffolk University Law School
Suffolk University Law School
Suffolk University Law School, also known as Suffolk Law School or SULS, is one of the professional graduate schools of Suffolk University. Suffolk University Law School is a private, non-sectarian, law school located in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Suffolk University Law School was founded in...
. Walsh failed her first attempt at the Massachusetts bar exam, but later passed and obtained her license. She has been a guest lecturer at Suffolk Law, Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
, Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, Boston College Law School
Boston College Law School
Boston College Law School is one of the six professional graduate schools at Boston College. Located approximately 1.5 miles from the main Boston College campus in Chestnut Hill, Boston College Law School is situated on a wooded campus in Newton, Massachusetts.With approximately 800 students and...
, and Salem State College
Salem State College
Salem State University is a four-year public institution of higher learning located in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem State University, established in 1854 as Salem Normal School, is located approximately fifteen miles north of Boston, Massachusetts. Salem State enrolls over 10,000 undergraduate and...
.
Career
While working as Chief Administrator at the Suffolk County District AttorneyDistrict attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
’s Office, she established the Victim/Witness Assistance Program; the Homicide Response Team; and the first full-time, permanent Organized Crime Division. When she was released from her position, she filed suit, accusing her employer of sexual discrimination for failing to promote her during her tenure. Later, she was appointed Assistant Director of Governmental Relations for the Massachusetts Medical Society
Massachusetts Medical Society
The Massachusetts Medical Society is the oldest continuously-operating state medical society in the United States. Incorporated on November 1, 1781, by an act of the Massachusetts General Court, the MMS is a non-profit organization that consists of approximately 22,000 physicians, medical students...
. Walsh served the 10th Suffolk District in the House of Representatives between 1988 and 1992.
Before she became Assistant Majority Leader, she served as Senate Chair of the Joint Legislative Committees on Taxation; Banks and Banking; Public Service; Criminal Justice; Ways and Means; Education; and the Committee on Housing and Urban Development.
In 2004, Walsh was opposed by independent Bob Joyce in the general election. Walsh won every precinct in the district.
Walsh's Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
opponent during the 2006
Massachusetts general election, 2006
A Massachusetts general election was held on November 7, 2006 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.The election included:* statewide elections for U.S. Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, and Auditor;* district elections for U.S...
elections was Douglas E. Obey of Westwood
Westwood, Massachusetts
Westwood is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,618 at the 2010 census. In July 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Westwood 13th on its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States. Boston Magazine listed Gay Street in Westwood on its...
. Walsh won every town in the district; the final vote margin was 69-31%, with a spread of over 20,000 votes.
In 2009, Walsh faced criticism for an appointment as assistant director of the Massachusetts Health and Education Facilities Authority, a position that had been vacant for twelve years. Many viewed the appointment as unncessary during a bad economy.
Walsh announced on 27 January 2010 that she would not seek reelection to her seat in the 2010 general election.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/20100127sen_marian_walsh_says_she_wont_seek_reelection/srvc=home&position=also
Awards
She has been named Legislator of the Year by a variety of groups, including the Environmental League of Massachusetts, the State Police Association, the YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern Massachusetts, and the ALS Society of Massachusetts. In 2003, she was included in the list of "Boston's 100 Most Powerful Women" by Boston Magazine
Boston magazine
Boston is a monthly magazine concerning life in the Greater Boston area and has been in publication for more than 40 years.-About the magazine:The magazine is self-described as:...
.