Peter I. Blute
Encyclopedia
Peter I. Blute is a former American
Republican
member of the United States House of Representatives
. He served two terms, between January 3, 1993 and January 3, 1997, representing the Third District of Massachusetts.
, one of 11 siblings. He grew up and currently lives in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
, where he attended St. John's High School
. He earned his B.A. at Boston College
in 1978. He was the owner of a sports promotion and marketing firm, and then a marketing representative for The Burdett School.
Blute was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives
in 1986 and served until 1993 when he was elected as a Republican to the 103rd Congress and then reelected to the 104th Congress. A Republican, he defeated 9-term incumbent Joseph Early in 1992
to become the first Republican to represent this district since 1947. After two terms in the House, Blute was defeated by current Congressman James P. McGovern in 1996 in a reelection bid for the 105th Congress.
(MassPort). His tenure at MassPort came to an end following revelations of a workday "booze cruise", originally paid for with Massport funds and billed as a "survey" of Boston Harbor
, during which a female passenger, actress Gidget Churchill, aboard the vessel with Blute exposed her breasts to a Boston Herald
photographer. Questions remain as to why Churchill exposed herself and who notified the local media as to the time and date of the cruise.
He was then a radio talk show host for WRKO
Boston from 5:30 to 9 AM, co-hosting with Andy Moes from 1999 to 2001, John Osterlind
from 2001 to 2003, and Scott Allen Miller
from 2003 until he left WRKO on October 3, 2005. He moved on to AM 830 WCRN
Worcester in early 2006, and hosted the station's 6 to 9AM drive-time program until leaving WCRN on May 27, 2011.
Blute is one of eleven siblings. One of his sisters, Paula Ebben, is a news anchor for WBZ-TV
.
Blute's grandfather, Paul H. Hines, served as state representative and as an aide to Mayor John Hynes
. His uncle, Peter F. Hines
, served on the Boston City Council
from 1958 to 1968 and was a candidate for Mayor in 1967
.
In 2005 Boston magazine
ranked the Blute family the 10th out of 50 families "that run [Boston]".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He served two terms, between January 3, 1993 and January 3, 1997, representing the Third District of Massachusetts.
Early life and career
Blute was born in Worcester, MassachusettsWorcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, one of 11 siblings. He grew up and currently lives in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,640 people, 12,366 households, and 8,693 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 12,696 housing units at an average density of...
, where he attended St. John's High School
St. John's High School (Massachusetts)
Saint John's High School is a private Catholic boys' high school located in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester...
. He earned his B.A. at 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...
in 1978. He was the owner of a sports promotion and marketing firm, and then a marketing representative for The Burdett School.
Blute was elected to the Massachusetts 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...
in 1986 and served until 1993 when he was elected as a Republican to the 103rd Congress and then reelected to the 104th Congress. A Republican, he defeated 9-term incumbent Joseph Early in 1992
United States House elections, 1992
The United States House of Representatives elections in 1992 coincided with the 1992 presidential election, in which Democrats Bill Clinton and Al Gore were elected as President and Vice President, respectively, defeating Republican incumbent President George H. W...
to become the first Republican to represent this district since 1947. After two terms in the House, Blute was defeated by current Congressman James P. McGovern in 1996 in a reelection bid for the 105th Congress.
After Congress
From 1997 to 1999, Blute served as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Port AuthorityMassachusetts Port Authority
Massachusetts Port Authority, or Massport, is a port district in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It operates seaports and airports in eastern and central Massachusetts, mainly the Port of Boston. Its headquarters is located in the Logan Office Center, adjacent to Logan Airport in East Boston,...
(MassPort). His tenure at MassPort came to an end following revelations of a workday "booze cruise", originally paid for with Massport funds and billed as a "survey" of Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor is a natural harbor and estuary of Massachusetts Bay, and is located adjacent to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is home to the Port of Boston, a major shipping facility in the northeast.-History:...
, during which a female passenger, actress Gidget Churchill, aboard the vessel with Blute exposed her breasts to a Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
photographer. Questions remain as to why Churchill exposed herself and who notified the local media as to the time and date of the cruise.
He was then a radio talk show host for WRKO
WRKO
WRKO is a radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in Burlington, Massachusetts, next to the Burlington Mall.-1920-1940:...
Boston from 5:30 to 9 AM, co-hosting with Andy Moes from 1999 to 2001, John Osterlind
John Osterlind
John Osterlind is an American radio broadcaster.Osterlind was born in Norwalk, Connecticut. He graduated from Roger Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1985 and from Dean Jr College in Franklin, Massachusetts in 1987, where he was on their college station 88.3 FM WGAO...
from 2001 to 2003, and Scott Allen Miller
Scott Allen Miller
Scott Allen Miller has worked in radio since 1992, doing stints as a disc jockey, a producer, and a talk radio host in such places as Kansas City, Tulsa, Los Angeles, and Albany, New York. He was most recently the morning drive host and program director at WROW in Albany.In 2008, Miller earned a...
from 2003 until he left WRKO on October 3, 2005. He moved on to AM 830 WCRN
WCRN
WCRN is an AM radio station in Worcester, Massachusetts, owned by Carter Broadcasting.The station broadcasts at 830 AM at a transmitter power output of 50,000 watts and can be heard from Maine to Providence, Rhode Island, and from Boston to Springfield, Massachusetts...
Worcester in early 2006, and hosted the station's 6 to 9AM drive-time program until leaving WCRN on May 27, 2011.
Family
Blute is the son of Dr. Robert Blute and Ann-Marie Blute, a Dame of Malta.Blute is one of eleven siblings. One of his sisters, Paula Ebben, is a news anchor for WBZ-TV
WBZ-TV
WBZ-TV, virtual channel 4, is a CBS owned-and-operated television station, located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WBZ-TV's studios and office facilities, shared with sister station WSBK-TV , are located in the Allston-Brighton section of Boston, and its transmitter is located in Needham,...
.
Blute's grandfather, Paul H. Hines, served as state representative and as an aide to Mayor John Hynes
John Hynes
John B. Hynes , a Massachusetts politician, was mayor of Boston 1950-1960.Family backgroundHynes was the son of Bernard Hynes, Abbey Street, Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland, who emigrated to Boston about 1890...
. His uncle, Peter F. Hines
Peter F. Hines
Peter Francis Hines was an American attorney and politician who served on the Boston City Council from 1958 to 1968. He was the council president in 1963.Hines joined the council in 1958 after the resignation of Edward J...
, served on the Boston City Council
Boston City Council
The Boston City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Boston. It is made up of 13 members: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Councilors are elected to two-year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms an individual can serve...
from 1958 to 1968 and was a candidate for Mayor in 1967
Boston mayoral election, 1967
The Boston mayoral election of 1967 occurred on Tuesday, November 7, 1967 between Secretary of the Commonwealth Kevin White and Boston School Committee member Louise Day Hicks...
.
In 2005 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:...
ranked the Blute family the 10th out of 50 families "that run [Boston]".
Electoral history
- 1992 Race for 3rd Massachusetts US Congressional District
- Rep. Joseph Early (D), 44.3%
- Peter Blute (R), 50.4%
- Others, 5.3%
- 1994 Race for 3rd Massachusetts US Congressional District
- Rep. Peter Blute (R), 54.6%
- Kevin O'Sullivan (D), 44.2%
- Others, 1.2%
- 1996 Race for 3rd Massachusetts US Congressional District
- Rep. Peter Blute (R), 45.4%
- James P. McGovern (D), 52.9%
- Others, 1.7%
External links
- 2001-11-16 Episode of WGBH's "Greater Boston" detailing the MassPort "booze cruise" incident.
- "Blute says he won't challenge Kennedy" Boston Globe, 2006-02-24