Robert DeLeo (politician)
| Robert DeLeo | |
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| 85th Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
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Assumed office January 27, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Salvatore DiMasi |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 19th Suffolk district |
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Assumed office January 4, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Susan Tracy |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 20th Suffolk district |
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In office January 3, 1991 – January 4, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Alfred Saggese |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Alfred DeLeo March 27, 1950 Winthrop, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater |
Northeastern University Suffolk University |
Robert Alfred DeLeo (born March 27, 1950 in Winthrop, Massachusetts) is an American politician from the state of Massachusetts. Since 2009 he has been Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, succeeding Salvatore DiMasi, who resigned due to allegations of an ethics violation.
DeLeo represents the "Nineteenth Suffolk" district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and before becoming House Speaker, was the chairperson of the House Ways and Means Committee. The Nineteenth Suffolk district includes Winthrop and Revere.
In addition to serving as a state representative, DeLeo served as a Winthrop town meeting member from 1977 to 2005 and was a member of the town's board of selectmen from 1978 to 1988.
DeLeo resides in the same house in which he grew up. When he was young, his father, Al, was in charge of a restaurant at Suffolk Downs. Al was often seen around the community including at the Winthrop Golf Club, but "DeLeo never took up the game". DeLeo attended solely Boston area schools, graduating from the Boston Latin School, attaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern University and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School.
During his time in the Massachusetts House of Representatives between 1990 and 2005, he was known as "an amiable, rank-and-file lawmaker who focused on constituent issues such as toll hikes, the expansion of Logan Airport, and rates charged by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority".
In 2005, Speaker Salvatore DiMasi appointed DeLeo as chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means. According to the Globe, "He became so identified with handing out perks to members that earmarks became known as DeLeo Dollars".
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Wikipedia