First Woman Elected Senate President in Mass.!

[Breeze54]

Murray elected to replace Travaglini as Senate president

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO46502/

BOSTON --

Therese Murray succeeded Robert Travaglini as president of the Massachusetts Senate
on Wednesday, becoming the first woman to lead a legislative body in the state.

Murray, a Plymouth Democrat who chaired the budget-setting Senate Ways and Means Committee,
now holds one of the three most powerful political positions in state government.

Murray was elected by a 34-5 margin along party lines less than an hour after Travaglini resigned
for a more lucrative career in the private sector and to spend more time with his family.

Immediately after the vote Murray walked up to the podium to deliver her first speech as president
and was greeted by Gov. Deval Patrick.

"Who would have thought?" Murray said beaming as the senate applauded. "Never did I imagine that
I would ascend to the presidency of the Massachusetts Senate."

Murray, noting she was only the 16th woman ever elected to the Senate, thanked Travaglini, calling
him a friend and inspiration. She said she was humbled by his faith in her and the support of her
fellow senators.

Sen. Robert S. Creedon nominated Murray, recalling that in 1969 there were only four women in the
House and one in the Senate.

"We've come a long way and it's about time," said Creedon, D-Brockton.

Murray also won praise from Republicans, who went through the formality of nominating one of
their own, GOP majority leader Richard Tisei, R-Wakefield, as their pick for president.

"Senator Murray never gives up and she'll lead us with that spirit," said Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester.

Murray was first elected to the Senate in 1992 representing the Plymouth and Barnstable district.
Having lived in Plymouth for over three decades, Murray previously worked as mitigation manager
for the Massachusetts Highway Department, community relations coordinator for American Cable
Systems and founder and treasurer of South Shore Cablevision Inc.

More at link...

:applause: :applause:

[Breeze54]

1. Congratulations President Therese Murray!!

Codfish Press
Where oysters speak only to lobsters and lobsters speak only to cod!

Tale Of Two Murrays: Sen. Therese Murray—Poised To Most Powerful Woman In Massachusetts Politics
http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/Codfish/2007/03/17/tale_of_two_murrays_sen_therese_murray_p

Ask anyone who knows State Sen. Therese Murray—the multi-tasking chairwoman of the Senate Committee
on Ways and Means and one of the most influential women in a state dominated by powerful “Y” chromosomes
—and they will tell you she is a font of energy that can compete with any power source in Massachusetts.
Her drive, passion and verve light up Beacon Hill....

snip-->

“I was raised at a time of the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War,” she says, noting the turmoil had an indelible affect on her. “I saw horrible things on television at night. Blacks being hosed, beaten and attacked by dogs, and thousands of soldiers killed in war. I will never forget it. I have an innate sense of caring and fairness from my parents. If I’m off balance on it, it makes me a little crazy.”

Her feral nature has been a great blessing to Massachusetts residents, who have benefited from the many welfare reform and human services enhancements she has successfully advocated through her work as chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Welfare Reform and on the Long-Term Care Committee—among them the Catastrophic Illness In Children Relief Fund and the Choice Bill that offers essential human services to seniors who want to say in their homes. She also has made significant contributions in the areas of local aid, public safety, transportation improvements, and law enforcement issues. <--snip


.......more

[Nutmegger]

2. Damn commies...

:kick: and :thumbsup: !