Marty Walsh, Secretary of Labor
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Life In Brief Massachusetts State House without a college degree Political Party: Democratic Party Advocates for low-income families through workforce development initiatives and Born: April 10, 1967 affordable housing, including pushing for higher state-wide minimum wage and expanding public Hometown: Dorchester, MA housing Education Summary: Struggled with alcoholism as a young adult and has made combatting substance abuse a Boston College, BA, 2009 priority as mayor and in his role at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Work History: Selected to be the US Secretary of Labor in United States Secretary of Labor, 2021-Present 2021 under the Biden administration Mayor of Boston, 2014-2021 President, Laborers' Union Local 223, 2011- Approach and Motivations 2013 Secretary-Treasurer, Boston Metropolitan Cultivates working class persona who advocates District Building Trades Council, 2010 for underdogs Member, Massachusetts House of Considers himself an underdog having faced Representatives, 1997-2014 host of health problems in his young life Strong background in labor union leadership; Quick Summary was arrested at rally for UPS workers when he first entered State House Boston mayor and Democrat with union Believes union jobs are the foundation of a background who advocates for low-income middle class. However, does not believe being communities and has become a leading voice on pro-union and pro-business are mutually substance abuse; frequently cites unconventional exclusive political profile as recovering alcoholic who earned his college degree as an adult Policy Position and Areas of Son of Irish immigrants who was born and Focus raised in Dorchester and battled childhood cancer Concern for underserved communities drives Union member for his entire adult life and policy priorities of economy, housing market, and received crucial support from labor groups substance abuse programming during mayoral run; has embraced pro-business groups, including Boston Chamber of Economic Development: Bringing business to Commerce, on initiatives to grow economy Boston and empowering workers Work with State Rep. James Brett served as Negotiated incentive packages for companies primer to entering public office; earned spot in relocating to Boston, including GE and Reebok 1 Attracts trade and tourism, including through Before becoming Mayor, led Boston trade missions with China, Israel, and Ireland Metropolitan District Building Trades Council. Instituted policies to protect low-wage workers While there, created partnership with while boosting consumer spending to grow organizations, including Boilermakers economy, including salary negotiation training Northeastern and Springfield Electrical, to train and $15/hour Minimum Wage Task Force women and minorities in construction trades Campaign support from unions including Housing Insecurity: Expands housing options for Service Employees International and Working city’s low-income and homeless populations America Upgraded Inclusionary Development Policy Collaborates with unions on workforce requiring developers to build and fund more development, including matching previously homes for low-income families incarcerated people with apprenticeships at Secured federal funding and dedicated unions such as Boston’s Sprinkler Fitters proceeds from city-owned parking garage to Business Community: Involves business-minded rebuild and add public housing in Roxbury, East individuals and groups on economic growth Boston, and South Boston strategy and safety initiatives Expanded housing options for Boston’s homeless population, including through Partners with Governor Charlie Baker on additional shelters and the Landlord Guarantee negotiating economic incentives to attract Fund pilot, which supports landlords who rent to companies like GE to Massachusetts chronically homeless individuals Regularly engages with Boston Chamber of Commerce, including aligning with them in 2024 Fighting Addiction: Resources for individuals Olympic bid. Supported by group for re-election struggling with substance abuse disorders Enlisted help of local business groups, including Created Office of Recovery Services and Massachusetts Business Roundtable, to form launched a 24-hour hotline public-private partnership to end sex trafficking Created Engagement Center for people who Mayors: Partners with mayors from across the experience addiction to receive services country on policy areas of interest As Chair of U.S. Conference of Mayors substance abuse task force, crafted toolkit for Worked with friend and Framingham, MA mayor mayors to address substance abuse disorders, Yvonne Spicer on Student Opportunities Act including overdose prevention training Collaborates with fellow Co-Chair Mayor Steve Williams of Huntington, WV on U.S. Conference Core Communities of Mayors substance abuse task force Organized report and conference on income inequality with NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Despite union background, also maintains network of pro-business advocates. Involved in larger community of U.S. mayors Unions: Strongly backed by unions and has partnered with them on employment initiatives 2 Relevant Financial Information Publications, Media and Speaking During mayoral run, has attracted donations from Primarily comments on Massachusetts economy working-class New Englanders and national labor in state and national newspapers, cable news, and unions economic forums. Also discusses social issues and personal background Biggest Individual Donors (2013-present) Publications: Has authored op-eds in national and Ryan Denver, Owner of Select Demo (Kingston, city newspapers on Boston’s economic progress NH), $6,500 and social policies, including sanctuary city Dana Barrett, Police Officer (Boston, MA), status $5,500 Favorite Subjects: Immigration, gun control, Stephen Marcus, Venture Capitalist at Riot VC legalization of marijuana, economic (Boston, MA), $4,750 development Jacques Abatto, Retired (Boston, MA), $3,000 Preferred Outlets: National news outlets Dominic Abramo Jr., Carpenter (Melrose, MA), including CNN, and Boston-based newspapers $2,500 including the Boston Herald, Boston Magazine, and the Boston Globe Labor Union Donors (2013-present) Frequently co-authors with Governor Charlie Has received $500,000 in contributions from Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey labor unions across the country, mostly headquartered in Massachusetts, Washington Media: Appears in national and local media to D.C., and the Midwest speak on personal background, city progress, and criticize the Trump Administration Boston Firefighters Union Local 718: $15,000 Illinois’ Laborers’ Legislative Committee: Favorite Subjects: Substance abuse, cancer, $15,000 the Massachusetts economy, President Trump Wisconsin Laborers' District Council Political Preferred Outlets: National cable news Fund, $150,000 including MSNBC, and local outlets including WGBH, Boston Herald, and WCVB Channel 5 International Association of Bridge, Structural, Boston Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, $15,000 Social Media Habits: Active on Twitter New England Regional Council of Carpenters, Speaking: Discusses personal experience $15,000 overcoming health obstacles at medical foundations and engages with state business Political Donations: Walsh and his election community on the economy committee have donated to Massachusetts politicians Favorite Subjects: Substance abuse, cancer, innovation in the economy, employment Stephen Lynch for Congress, $2,500, 2001, 2004 Preferred Audience: Health centers including Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Lowell John Kerry for President, $1,000, 2004 House, and economic development groups 3 including Boston Chamber of Commerce and Dorchester Board of Trade Family and Personal Background Grew up in working-class Irish family and still lives in hometown of Dorchester Son of Irish immigrants who faced adversity as a child and young adult Son of working-class Irish immigrants and is fluent in Gaelic Leukemia survivor, diagnosed at age 7 and found cancer-free at age 11 College drop-out, but returned to school as an adult to take night classes at Boston College Recovering alcoholic with more than twenty years of sobriety 4 .