Who is Marty Walsh - Secretary of Labor: Biography, Personal Life and Career
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| Marty Walsh. Photo: bostonherald.com |
Who is Marty Walsh?
Martin Joseph Walsh (born April 10, 1967) is an Irish-American politician from Boston, Massachusetts. A Democrat, he has served as the 54th mayor of Boston since 2014. He was previously a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, serving in that office from 1997 until 2014 and representing the Thirteenth Suffolk district. President-elect Joe Biden announced Walsh was his nominee for secretary of labor on January 7, 2021.
Early life and Education
Walsh was born in Dorchester, Boston, to John Walsh, an Irish American originally from Callowfeenish, a townland near Carna, County Galway, and Mary (née O'Malley), from Rosmuc. The couple emigrated to the United States in the 1950s and gave birth to Marty in 1967.
Walsh grew up in the Savin Hill area of Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. He was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma at age 7, forcing him to miss most of the second and third grade and repeat fifth grade. At age 11, after going through years of chemotherapy, a scan revealed no traces of cancer. He went to high school at The Newman School.
| As a child, Mayor Walsh survived a serious bout of Burkitt lymphoma, thanks to the extraordinary care he received at Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. His recovery from alcoholism as a young adult led to his lifelong commitment to the prevention and treatment of addiction. |
According to Ballotpedia, while he was serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Walsh received a bachelor's degree in political science from Boston College's Woods School of Advancing Studies in 2009. His professional experience includes working as a labor organizer. Walsh has been involved with the ADSL Board of Directors, Daniel Marr Boys and Girls Club, Federated Dorchester Neighborhood Houses Board Of Directors, Friends for Children, Home for Now, Little House Council, Little House Health Center Committee, and the Murphy Community Council.
For more information about other nominees and appointees of Biden's cabinet, please click here!
Personal life
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| Photo: bostonherald.com |
Walsh resides in the Lower Mills neighborhood of Dorchester with his long-time girlfriend Lorrie Higgins. He is a recovering alcoholic, with more than twenty years of continuous sobriety in a twelve-step program.
Walsh has been a season ticket holder of American football's New England Patriots since franchise owner Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994.
He is a Roman Catholic.
Career
Early political career
Before public office, Walsh was a member of Laborers' Union Local 223 at age 21 and served as the union's president until he became the mayor of Boston.
After following his father into Laborers Local 223 in Boston, he rose to head the Building and Construction Trades Council from 2011 to 2013. He worked with business and community leaders to promote high-quality development, and he created a program called Building Pathways that has become a model for increasing diversity in the workplace and providing good career opportunities for women and people of color, reported boston.gov.
Born and raised in the neighborhood of Dorchester by immigrant parents, Mayor Walsh is driven to make sure Boston is a city where anyone can overcome their challenges and fulfill their dreams.
Election
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| Photo: bostonherald.com |
2008
On November 4, 2008, Walsh won re-election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirteenth Suffolk District unopposed. Walsh raised $147,100 for his campaign.
2010
Walsh won re-election to the Thirteenth Suffolk seat in 2010. He was unopposed in the September 14 primary and in the general election on November 2, 2010.
2012
Walsh won re-election in the 2012 election for Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirteenth Suffolk District. Walsh was unopposed in the September 6 Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.
2013
Walsh was elected mayor of Boston in 2013. He defeated John Connolly in the general election on November 5, 2013.
2017
The city of Boston, Massachusetts, held elections for mayor and city council on November 7, 2017. A primary election occurred on September 26, 2017. All 13 seats on the city council were up for election. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 23, 2017.
Incumbent Martin Walsh defeated Tito Jackson in the Boston mayoral general election.
Boston Mayoral
Martin J. Walsh, a lifelong champion of working people and a proud product of the City of Boston, is the City’s 54th mayor on January 1, 2018. In his first term as mayor, Walsh is credited with adding more than 70,000 jobs and taking major steps to improve the public school system.
According to NBC Boston, since taking office, Mayor Walsh has focused on strengthening Boston’s schools, adding hundreds of high-quality pre-kindergarten seats, funding extended learning time and advanced curriculum at more schools, and securing tuition-free community college for Boston Public Schools graduates.
The Mayor has led Boston to the forefront of the global innovation economy, by attracting industry-leading private sector employers, upgrading the City’s digital infrastructure, and using technology to transform government services — from a parking meter payment app to a new City website.
At the same time, he has created powerful tools for low-income workers, including a “learn and earn” job apprenticeship program and an Office of Financial Empowerment. He is the founding vice-chair of the Cities of Opportunity Task Force at the U.S. Conference of Mayors, elevating the national conversation on income inequality.
The Walsh Administration has addressed the tremendous need for housing in the City with an ambitious plan, setting records for new affordable and middle-class homes. In addition, it has built a state-of-the-art homeless shelter and gotten the City on a path to effectively ending chronic homelessness.
The Administration has been hailed by President Obama for expanding young people’s opportunities and breaking new ground in crime prevention and police-community relations.
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| Photo: wbur.org |
Biden administrationOn January 7, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden announced Walsh was his nominee for secretary of labor. According to Investopedia, as Secretary of Labor, Walsh will be a member of the president's cabinet. He will be responsible for leading the labor department's efforts to promote the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees across the U.S., including administering and enforcing a wide range of labor laws. |
For the Full list of nominees of Biden's administration, please click here!
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