Speaker: See you at NU?
Winthrop Dem wants job at alma mater
House Speaker Robert DeLeo is considering a job at Northeastern University, according to a disclosure he filed on Friday, confirming this week’s rampant speculation about his future plans that’s already spurred a race for his successor.
DeLeo announced his “intention to begin negotiating prospective employment opportunities with Northeastern University” — the 70-year-old’s alma mater — in a disclosure filed with the House clerk and the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission that morning, a copy of which was obtained by the Herald.
As that time, DeLeo said he had “not personally had any discussions with anyone from Northeastern University relative to any possible employment opportunities.”
But he had his personal legal counsel contact the State Ethics Commission to “ensure compliance” with the state’s conflict of interest law.
And he wrote that he knew of no matter or legislation currently before him in the House that would affect Northeastern.
Speculation that DeLeo was in talks to potentially depart the State House took Beacon Hill by storm this week. And it quickly set off a race for the speaker’s gavel that DeLeo has held since January 2009.
Quincy state Rep. Ron Mariano, the majority leader who has long been discussed as a potential successor to DeLeo, quickly announced his intent to run.
“If Speaker DeLeo resigns, I will be a candidate for Speaker,” Mariano said in a statement. “I believe I have earned the trust and confidence of my colleagues and that I have gained their support to lead the House forward.”
Mariano, 74, also said the House must remain focused on securing police reform and expanded access to abortions in spite of the amendments to both proposals Gov. Charlie Baker sent back to the Legislature this week.
Sources have told the Herald that Mariano has the votes locked up to succeed DeLeo and has been amassing support for some time.
But state Rep. Russell Holmes, a Mattapan Democrat, threw his hat into the ring on Friday, telling the Herald he wants to increase transparency and deconsolidate power in House leadership.
Baker said he spoke “briefly” with DeLeo on Friday morning and touted working relationships with both of his potential successors.
“If I have a concern about this … it would be that we’re toward the end of the session and there’s a whole bunch of pretty important pieces of legislation kicking around,” including police reform, Baker said in a press conference. “I really hope that people find a way to focus on trying to get those through the process and to our desk.”
Still, Baker said he did not ask DeLeo to stay on through the end of session in early January.
The race may also be on to fill DeLeo’s 19th Suffolk seat should he leave.
Juan Pablo Jaramillo, a Democratic State Committee member from Revere, filed as a candidate with the state on Friday and Valentino Capobianco, a Winthrop School Committee member and state Sen. Paul Feeney’s chief of staff, posted on Facebook that he was “seriously considering” launching a bid.