William N. Brownsberger (born March 21, 1957) is an American politician and the President pro tempore of the Massachusetts Senate[1] representing the Suffolk and Middlesex District[2] which includes his hometown of Belmont, as well as Watertown, the Boston neighborhoods Allston and Brighton, part of Boston's Fenway-Kenmore area, and part of Cambridge. From 2007 to 2012, he was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2013 special election to succeed Ed Markey in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Early life and education
Brownsberger was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in nearby Watertown. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College in 1978 and then went on to obtain his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1985.[3]
He served three terms as a Belmont Selectman and as Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General for six years.[3]
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Brownsberger served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2007 to 2012, where he represented the 24th Middlesex district. He was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America while seeking reelection in 2010.[4]
Massachusetts Senate
A member of the Democratic Party, he ran uncontested in a January 2012 special election to replace Steven Tolman in the Massachusetts Senate, having won a crowded Democratic primary.[5] He was sworn in on January 24, 2012.[6] He was then re-elected in November 2012 to a 2-year term to the 188th General Court.
Union opposition
In 2022, Brownsberger joined Senate President Karen Spilka in opposing unionization effort by Senate staffers, stating "There would be a whole lot of conflict of interest issues if they're working with a union who has its own political agenda. You can't have people serving multiple masters, that’s just not acceptable."[7]
Electoral history
Brownsberger ran unsuccessfully in the 2013 special election to succeed U.S. Representative Ed Markey, who resigned in June 2013 to take a seat in the U.S. Senate.[8]
Personal life
Brownsberger resides in Belmont, Massachusetts. He is married with three daughters. He is also a marathoner, triathlete, and cyclist.[3] Amidst the Pride parades of June 2023, he came out as bisexual while explaining that his announcement would not change his married lifestyle.[9]
See also
References
- ^ "New Job". 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- ^ [1] (Massachusetts General Court).
- ^ a b c "About Will Brownsberger". Will Brownsberger - State Senator. the Brownsberger Commitee [sic]. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ^ "Socialist group endorses Mass. Legislators".
- ^ Tucker, Franklin; Breitrose, Charlie (December 14, 2011). "Why Will Won: Staying Close to Home Pays Off for Brownsberger". Belmont Patch. Belmont, MA.
- ^ General Election Results. Elect Will Brownsberger.
- ^ Bedford, Tori (29 July 2022). "State House staffers aren't buying Spilka's reason to reject their union". GBH. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Miller, Joshua (July 1, 2013). "Candidates propose 'People's Pledge' for US House race". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Brownsberger, Will (June 11, 2023). "Pride 2023 - Will Brownsberger". Will Brownsberger - STATE SENATOR. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
External links
- Legislative website
- State House website
- Campaign website
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Meet the candidates for state Senate: Will Brownsberger, Boston Globe, November 30, 2011
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