Richard Tisei Explained

Richard Tisei
Office:Minority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate
Term Start:January 3, 2007
Term End:January 3, 2011
Predecessor:Brian Lees
Successor:Bruce Tarr
Office1:Member of the Massachusetts Senate
Constituency1:3rd Middlesex (1991–2003)
Middlesex and Essex (2003–2011)
Term Start1:January 3, 1991
Term End1:January 3, 2011
Predecessor1:John A. Brennan, Jr.
Successor1:Katherine Clark
State House2:Massachusetts
District2:22nd Middlesex
Term Start2:January 3, 1985
Term End2:January 3, 1991
Predecessor2:Alfred Minahan
Successor2:William F. Cass
Birth Date:13 August 1962
Birth Place:Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S.
Party:Republican
Alma Mater:American University (BA)
Website:Campaign website
Residence:Wakefield, Massachusetts
Spouse:Bernie Starr (m. 2013)

Richard R. Tisei (; born August 13, 1962) is an American politician and real estate agent from Massachusetts. A Republican, he served in both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court for a combined 26 years, eventually becoming Minority Leader in the Massachusetts Senate. He was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in 2010 and the nominee for Congress from Massachusetts's 6th district in 2012 and 2014.

A graduate of American University, Tisei was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1984. At 22, he was the youngest Republican ever elected to the Massachusetts General Court. Tisei served in the House until 1990, when he was elected to the Massachusetts Senate. He was elected Assistant Minority Leader in 1997 and Minority Leader in January 2007. He did not run for re-election in 2010, instead running for Lieutenant Governor alongside Republican gubernatorial nominee Charlie Baker. The two lost to Democratic incumbents Deval Patrick and Tim Murray by 6.41%.

Tisei ran for the United States House of Representatives in 2012, narrowly losing to seven-term Democratic incumbent John F. Tierney by 1.2%. He ran again in 2014 and faced former U.S. Marine Seth Moulton in the general election after Moulton defeated Tierney in the Democratic primary. Tisei was defeated again, this time by almost 14%. Tisei has received attention as one of the few openly gay Republicans to have run for Congress.

Early life, education, and early career

Tisei was born in Somerville, Massachusetts.[1] [2] Tisei's grandparents were immigrants from Tivoli, Italy.[3] The son of a builder, he graduated from Lynnfield High School in Lynnfield, Massachusetts in 1981.[2]

Tisei received his B.A. from American University in 1984. A high school visit to the Massachusetts State House gave Tisei "the political bug." In 1982, Tisei was an intern at the White House at the domestic office of Vice President George H. W. Bush.[2] [4] Later, Tisei interned at the office of Massachusetts House Minority Leader William G. Robinson.[5]

Massachusetts House of Representatives (1985–1991)

In 1984, Tisei ran for the open 22nd Middlesex district seat of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Running as a Republican, Tisei defeated Democratic candidate Donald Flanagan, of Wakefield 11,189 to 8,263 and took office the following year.[6] Tisei was the youngest Republican ever elected to the Massachusetts House.[7] He won re-election in 1986 and 1988 with 77% of the vote.[8] [9]

In 1990, he voted against Republican Minority Leader Steven Pierce's budget.[10]

Massachusetts Senate (1991–2011)

See also: Massachusetts Senate's 3rd Middlesex district. The district included Lynnfield, Malden, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, and Wakefield.

Elections

In 1990, incumbent Democratic State Senator John A. Brennan decided to retire. Tisei decided to retire his seat in the lower chamber to run for that open senate seat. He defeated Democrat Mike Festa and Independent Paul Maisano 54%–37%–9%.[11] [12] He won re-election unopposed in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2008. In 2000, he defeated Democrat Steve Spain 73%–27%.[13] [14] In 2004, he defeated Katherine Clark 57%–43%.[15] In 2010, he decided to retire in order to run statewide. Clark ran again and won the seat.

Tenure

As a member of the State Senate, Tisei served for many years as a member of the Joint Committee on Human Services and Elder Affairs.[16] He was named legislator of the Year by the Massachusetts Alliance for the Mentally Ill, The Human Service Providers of Massachusetts and the Home Health Care Association Of Massachusetts. Tisei had a 100% rating from MASS NARAL[17] and Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts. He was also a supporter of same-sex marriage.[18]

Tisei is known best for sponsoring the 1993 Welfare Reform Law and the Whistleblower Protection Law. He also sponsored legislation that would limit the amount of campaign funds candidates can rollover from year to year.[3] [19]

He is a fiscal conservative and strongly supported a sales tax holiday.[20] [21]

In a Washington Post article, he described himself as "a live-and-let-live Republican. My philosophy is, the government should get off your back, out of your wallet and away from the bedroom."[18]

Committee assignments

Campaigns for higher office

In 1995, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) encouraged Tisei to run against Democratic U.S. Congressman Ed Markey of Massachusetts's 7th congressional district. He decided not to challenge him in 1996.[26] [27]

2010 statewide election

See main article: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2010. On July 28, 2009, Tisei was named the campaign chair for Charlie Baker's 2010 gubernatorial run. On November 23, 2009, Baker named Tisei as his running mate, and thus as a candidate for lieutenant governor.[28]

Just prior to the announcement of Tisei as Baker's running mate, Tisei publicly disclosed that he is gay for the first time in an interview with the Boston Globe. Baker and Tisei, unopposed in the Republican primary, were defeated in the general election.

The Patrick/Murray ticket defeated Baker/Tisei 48%–42%.

2012 congressional election

In November 2011, Tisei announced his plans to challenge eight-term U.S. Congressman John F. Tierney (D-MA 6th).[29] The newly redrawn Massachusetts's 6th congressional district remained largely the same, but added Billerica, Tewksbury, and Andover.[30] This was a swing district where Scott Brown got 58% of the vote in January 2010 and where Baker/Tisei got 50% in the November 2010 gubernatorial election.[31] Tierney barely came out on top over Tisei, by 3,500 votes out of 374,244 cast.[32] The race was the closest in New England.[33]

Tisei’s campaign made a number of payments for a political consultant, campaign aides, a fundraiser, and a digital marketing firm in 2011 from a state campaign fund. David Scharfenberg of The Boston Globe speculated that the payments were to support his campaign for Congress. The Tisei campaign has noted that the payments were all made prior to his official declaration of candidacy for Congress and that they were for activities in support of a potential run for state-level office.[34]

2014 congressional election

Tisei ran against Democratic nominee Seth Moulton in 2014. It was widely thought that he would face incumbent Congressman John F. Tierney in a rematch from the 2012 race. But on September 9, Tierney became the fourth member of the U.S. House of Representatives to lose a primary election in the 2014 cycle.[35] Roll Call previously called the race between Tierney and Tisei a "Toss up", but did not re-evaluate the race after the primary upset.[36] Tisei was notably endorsed by Marisa DeFranco, a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for United States Senate in the 2012 election.[37]

Tisei boycotted the Republican state convention because of the "socially conservative platform the party adopted."[38] But the National Republican Congressional Committee has given him "On the Radar" status, meaning that the NRCC "will help to provide candidates and their campaigns the tools they need to run successful, winning campaigns."[39]

He was endorsed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund[40] but was soundly beaten by Moulton in the general election, by 149,638 votes (54.97%) to 111,989 (41.13%).

Political views

Tisei has stated about his political ideology: "I have a pretty independent voting record. I try not to be an ideologue. I look at every issue that comes up individually..."[2] The Martha's Vineyard Times reported that Tisei "sees himself as a traditional Republican, believing in individualism, limited government involvement in people's personal lives, and an emphasis on the role of the individual" and as "a libertarian on social issues."[2]

Personal life

In July 2013 Tisei and his longtime partner Bernie Starr were married. They reside in Wakefield. They also own a home at the Katama neighborhood of Edgartown, Massachusetts, at Martha's Vineyard.[1] [2] [41] Since 1992, Tisei has been a real estate broker with Northrup Associate Realtors. In 2000, Tisei became co-owner of Northrup with Starr.[41] [42]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Richard Tisei. VoteSmart.org. League of Women Voters. September 7, 2012.
  2. Web site: Wolfson. C.K.. Katama resident Richard Tisei: a quiet political presence — until now. The Martha's Vineyard Times. September 7, 2012. September 8, 2010. dead. https://archive.today/20130104020517/http://www.mvtimes.com/2010/09/08/katama-resident-richard-tisei-quiet-political-presence-ae-until-now-2399/. January 4, 2013.
  3. Web site: About Richard. TiseiForCongress.com. September 7, 2012.
  4. Web site: Woodruff. Betsy. A 'Live-and-Let-Live' Republican. National Review. September 7, 2012. September 5, 2012.
  5. Dabilis, Andrew J. (February 28, 1986). "A time of challenge against Republicans." The Boston Globe: p. B15.
  6. "State Representative." The Boston Globe: p. B44. November 8, 1984.
  7. Vennochi, Joan (February 2, 1986). "GOP optimists see silver lining." The Boston Globe: p. A23.
  8. Web site: Our Campaigns - MA State House - Twenty-Second Middlesex Race - Nov 08, 1988. www.ourcampaigns.com. 5 December 2017.
  9. Web site: Richard R. Tisei . William Francis Galvin: Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . July 23, 2021.
  10. News: Pierce's Alternative Budget Plan Is Called Vague And Hard To Find . https://archive.today/20120713133826/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61634618.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+17,+1990&author=Bruce+Mohl,+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=PIERCE'S+ALTERNATIVE+BUDGET+PLAN+IS+CALLED+VAGUE+AND+HARD+TO+FIND&pqatl=google . dead . 13 July 2012 . Boston Globe . Bruce . Mohl . May 17, 1990.
  11. McGrory, Brian (November 7, 1990). "Republicans in State Senate gain numbers to sustain veto." The Boston Globe: p. B27.
  12. Web site: Our Campaigns - MA State Senate - Third Middlesex Race - Nov 06, 1990. www.ourcampaigns.com. 5 December 2017.
  13. News: Stage Is Being Set For Legislative Races . https://archive.today/20120714023445/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/53644085.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+07,+2000&author=JOHN+LAIDLER,+GLOBE+CORRESPONDENT&pub=Boston+Globe&desc=STAGE+IS+BEING+SET+FOR+LEGISLATIVE+RACES&pqatl=google . dead . 14 July 2012 . Boston Globe . John . Laidler . May 7, 2000.
  14. Web site: Our Campaigns - MA State Senate - Third Middlesex Race - Nov 07, 2000. www.ourcampaigns.com. 5 December 2017.
  15. Web site: Our Campaigns - MA State Senate - Middlesex & Essex Race - Nov 02, 2004. www.ourcampaigns.com. 5 December 2017.
  16. News: Lombardi. Kristen. Clerical privilege. 9 September 2014. Boston Phoenix. May 3, 2001.
  17. News: Weigel. David. Massachusetts conservatives versus the RGA. 9 September 2014. Washington Post. May 7, 2010.
  18. News: Kane. Paul. Richard Tisei is a nontraditional Republican vying to represent Massachusetts. 9 September 2014. Washington Post. Sep 29, 2012.
  19. News: Legislative panel OK's bill to curtail special interests . https://archive.today/20121202232308/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61970398.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+08,+1994&author=Doris+Sue+Wong,+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Legislative+panel+OK's+bill+to+curtail+special+interests&pqatl=google . dead . 2 December 2012 . Boston Globe . June 8, 1994.
  20. Web site: Tisei: Sales tax holiday on the way. Sen. Richard Tisei/Minority. Leader. 5 December 2017.
  21. News: Ring. Dan. Legislature approves sales tax holiday. 9 September 2014. Mass Live. Jul 31, 2007.
  22. News: Campaign reform bill gets committee OK . https://archive.today/20120722020228/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/59186389.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+25,+1991&author=M.E.+Malone,+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Campaign+reform+bill+gets+committee+OK&pqatl=google . dead . 22 July 2012 . Boston Globe . M.E. . Malone . April 25, 1991.
  23. Web site: Richard Tisei - Ballotpedia. 5 December 2017.
  24. Web site: Tisei: Senate Ways & Means Budget Released . Risei . Richard . May 23, 2007 . Wicked Local Wakefield . July 23, 2021 . https://archive.today/20120918142847/http://www.wickedlocal.com/wakefield/opinion/x1350101341?zc_p=0%23axzz1vNgybfWj . September 18, 2012.
  25. News: New Redistricting Plan Is Called 'Insurance' . en . 26 August 2023 . Mar 5, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305021137/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WO&p_theme=wo&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADEAFBC7A381CD&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM.
  26. News: Specter Urges Run Against Markey . Oct 11, 2018 . en . 26 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181011064406/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WO&p_theme=wo&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADF5718178EC04&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM.
  27. News: Mass. GOP fears gains are eroding . https://archive.today/20120712212458/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/21301517.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+30,+1995&author=Brian+C.+Mooney,+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Mass.+GOP+fears+gains+are+eroding&pqatl=google . dead . 12 July 2012 . Boston Globe . Brian C. . Mooney . July 30, 1995.
  28. Web site: Levenson, Michael. Baker names Tisei as running mate. The Boston Globe. November 24, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091129114526/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/11/24/baker_names_tisei_as_running_mate/. November 29, 2009. December 18, 2009. bot: unknown.
  29. Web site: Map changes incumbents' terrain - The Boston Globe. . 5 December 2017.
  30. Web site: Tisei Plans Run Against Tierney Under Redistricting Proposal. 8 November 2011. 5 December 2017.
  31. Web site: RRH Elections - Elections and Campaigns from the Right Perspective . Redracinghorses.com . 2017-12-05.
  32. News: Massachusetts Congressional District 6 election results. 9 September 2014. NBC News. Sep 9, 2014.
  33. News: Johnson. Chris. Tisei considers rematch in 2014 congressional election. 9 September 2014. Washington Blade. Oct 28, 2013.
  34. Web site: Scharfenberg. David. Officials appear to misuse Mass. campaign funds. www.bostonglobe.com. The Boston Globe. 29 July 2014.
  35. News: Toosi. Nahal. 2014 Primary Election Results. 9 September 2014. Politico. Sep 9, 2014.
  36. News: Gonzales. Nathan. Ratings Change: Massachusetts' 6th District. 9 September 2014. Roll Call. Apr 16, 2014.
  37. Web site: Rizzuto . Robert . 2014-10-16 . Democrat Marisa DeFranco breaks with party in endorsing Republican Richard Tisei in 6th Congressional District race . 2023-02-04 . MassLive . en.
  38. News: Birnbaum. Sarah. Richard Tisei To Skip State GOP Convention. 9 September 2014. WGBH. Mar 21, 2014.
  39. News: Livingston. Abby. House Republicans Put 36 Recruits 'On the Radar'. 9 September 2014. Roll Call. Nov 21, 2013.
  40. News: Blake. Aaron. LGBT group to back two gay Republicans for Congress. 9 September 2014. Washington Post. Feb 25, 2014.
  41. Web site: Our History. Northrup Realtors. September 7, 2012. 24 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201124120418/https://northruprealtors.com/history/. dead.
  42. Web site: Richard Tisei Broker/Owner. Northrup Associate Realtors. September 7, 2012. 3 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903124621/http://northruprealtors.com/realestate/viewagent/55/. dead.