Preceded by James Collins Domestic partner Bryon Hefner Role American Politician | Political party Democratic Name Stan Rosenberg Partner Bryon Hefner (2009–) | |
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Mass. Senate President Stan Rosenberg Discusses The State Of The State
Stanley C. Rosenberg, commonly known as Stan Rosenberg, is an American politician from Amherst, Massachusetts who currently serves as President of the Massachusetts Senate. Rosenberg was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1986 and served as the representative for Amherst and Pelham until 1991 when he won a special election for the State Senate seat being vacated by Congressman John Olver. A Democrat, he has served in the Senate ever since.
Contents
- Mass Senate President Stan Rosenberg Discusses The State Of The State
- Full Political Happy Hour with Stan Rosenberg
- Education
- Early career
- Legislative career
- Towns represented
- Current committee membership
- Personal
- References
Full Political Happy Hour with Stan Rosenberg
Education
Raised in foster care, Rosenberg is a 1967 graduate of Revere High School. He went on to graduate from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 1977 with a degree in Arts Administration and Community Development.
Early career
While attending UMass Amherst, he founded and became the first director of the Arts Extension Service and then transitioned to becoming director of the Community Development and Human Service Programs in the Division of Continuing Education. Rosenberg was a member of the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band where he played the tuba, and was a Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi. Subsequently, Rosenberg worked as an aide to then-state Senator John Olver from 1980 to 1983. He also served as an Executive Director of the Massachusetts Democratic Party from 1983 to 1985, and as the district director for Congressman Chester G. Atkins from 1985 to 1986.
Legislative career
While in the Senate he has served as Chair of the Election Laws Committee (1991–1993), Chair of the Banking Committee (1993–1996), Chair of Senate Ways and Means Committee (1996–1999), Assistant Majority Leader (1999–2002) and was the Senate's first President Pro Tempore from 2003-2013. He was appointed as the Senate Majority Leader by Senate President Therese Murray on January 31, 2013; becoming the highest ranking LGBT elected official in the Commonwealth.
On January 7, 2015 he was unanimously elected President of the Massachusetts Senate of the 189th General Court.
During the 187th General Court, he served as the Senate Chair of the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting following the 2000 and 2010 US Census. Rosenberg was also a key architect in the battle for same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.
Rosenberg is also a founder and co-chair of the Massachusetts Legislature's Foster Kid Caucus, the first of its kind in the nation. The caucus seeks to improve the conditions and address issues related to foster and adopted children.
Rosenberg has also been heavily involved in Pskov, Russia where he, and other members of the Legislature and professional community have been traveling for over 15 years in an effort to foster goodwill and encourage economic, social, and political progress. He is also an active member of both the Council of State Governments and Americans for the Arts.
Towns represented
In Hampshire County: Northampton, Amherst, Hadley, Hatfield, Pelham, South Hadley.
In Franklin County: Bernardston, Colrain, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Greenfield, Leverett, Leyden, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Warwick, Wendell and Whately.
In Worcester County: Royalston.
Current committee membership
Ethics & Rules
Personal
Rosenberg is openly gay and currently resides in Amherst. He is one of five openly LGBT members of the Massachusetts General Court, alongside Representatives Sarah Peake (D–Provincetown), Kate Hogan (D–Stow), Denise Andrews (D–Orange) and Liz Malia (D–Jamaica Plain).