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Rep. Mariano elected House Speaker, says COVID is first priority Chris Lisinski One day after House Speaker Robert DeLeo resigned, the Speaker Ronald Mariano era began. The House elected Mariano, a 74-year-old Quincy Democrat and longtime DeLeo deputy, as its next speaker on Wednesday with 123 votes, and he takes control of the House six days before the end of the unusual 2020-2021 lawmaking session. All 31 Republican members of the House voted for Minority Leader Brad Jones as speaker rather than Mariano. Independent Rep. Susannah Whipps of Athol chose Mariano. Democrat Rep. Denise Provost o...

Speaker Ronald Mariano addressed his colleagues after being elected leader of the House. (Sam Doran/SHNS) The audio atop this post contains a conversation between reporter Steve Brown and WBUR's All Things Considered host Lisa Mullins about the newly elected speaker.  The House Speaker Ronald Mariano era is here, and there will be no gently paced transition period. Mariano, a 74-year-old Quincy Democrat and longtime deputy to now-departed Speaker Robert DeLeo, took the reins of the House on Wednesday with only six days remaining in the unusual 2020-2021 lawmaking session, against the backd...

With Speaker Mariano, progressives get what they deserve Progressive activists helped defeat at least one progressive who could have challenged Mariano. By Joan Vennochi Globe Columnist,Updated December 28, 2020, 3:55 p.m. Email to a Friend Rep. Ron MarianoLane Turner/Globe Staff/file So, it looks like leadership of the Massachusetts House will be handed off from one white guy to another. It also looks like some of the people complaining about the lack of diversity in leadership are the same people who helped make it happen. If there’s no progressive alternative to Ronald Mariano — ...