Shannon O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Shannon Patricia Elizabeth O'Brien (born April 30, 1959 in Boston, Massachusetts) is a Democrat from Massachusetts
. O'Brien served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from 1987 through 1993, in the Massachusetts Senate
from 1993 through 1995, and was the Massachusetts State Treasurer from 1999 through 2003. In that last position she became the first woman to be elected in Massachusetts to state-wide office by her own accord. She was the Democratic Party nominee in the Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2002
, but lost in the general election to Mitt Romney
.
Her father Edward (1933-2004) was a lawyer who served on the Massachusetts Governor's Council
from 1970 to 1975, left his post for a failed run for Massachusetts Attorney General
, then held it from 1978 until his death. Her mother is named Ann.
She has four siblings: Erin, a clerk at the West Roxbury District Court; Gaelan, a court officer in the Northampton District Court; Tara, a former employee at Boston City Hall
; and Michael, who runs the family funeral home in Easthampton
(job descriptions as of 2002).
Shannon O'Brien was born in Boston
, Massachusetts
. She graduated from Yale University
in 1981, where she was captain of the Yale Bulldogs
varsity women's soccer team. She graduated from the Boston University School of Law
in 1985.
O'Brien served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from 1987 through 1993, and in the Massachusetts Senate
from 1993 through 1995. While a state legislator she authored a law that increased penalties for crimes against children such as abuse and neglect.
She was the Massachusetts State Treasurer from 1999 through 2003, winning the office in the Massachusetts general election, 1998
, after losing in her first attempt for that office in Massachusetts general election, 1994
and subsequently working as a vice president for external affairs at a health-care company. She was the first woman to be elected in Massachusetts to state-wide office by her own accord. She came into the office after it had suffered a major embezzlement scandal, and she tightened controls over the funds involved. While serving as State Treasurer, she restructured the lottery commission and the Abandoned Properties Division in Massachusetts, gaining acclaim for returning dormant funds to the residents of the state. She also refinanced state debt and in doing so saved about $500 million. In dealing with the near-infamous Big Dig
project in Boston, which became the most expensive highway project in U.S. history, she forced public disclosure of a $2 billion cost overrun.
She won the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 2002, defeating State Senate President Thomas Birmingham, former Democratic National Committee
and AIPAC chair Steven Grossman
, former United States Secretary of Labor
Robert Reich
, and former nominee for lieutenant governor Warren Tolman
. In this action she became the first woman to win a major party nominator for governor in the commonwealth. In the general election she garnered 45 percent of the vote to Mitt Romney's 50 percent.
, and as such is the CEO of the Patriot's Trail Girl Scout Council covering greater Boston.
O'Brien lives in Massachusetts with her husband, former state representative
Emmet Hayes
, and children.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. O'Brien served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
from 1987 through 1993, in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
from 1993 through 1995, and was the Massachusetts State Treasurer from 1999 through 2003. In that last position she became the first woman to be elected in Massachusetts to state-wide office by her own accord. She was the Democratic Party nominee in the Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2002
Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2002
The Massachusetts gubernatorial election of 2002 was held on November 5, 2002. Businessman Mitt Romney was elected to a four-year term, to be served from January 2, 2003 until January 4, 2007. Every four years, Massachusetts holds state-wide elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney...
, but lost in the general election to Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
.
Early life and education
O'Brien is a fourth-generation member of the Beacon Hill political establishment.Her father Edward (1933-2004) was a lawyer who served on the Massachusetts Governor's Council
Massachusetts Governor's Council
The Massachusetts Governor's Council is a governmental body that provides advice and consent in certain matters such as judicial nominations, pardons, and commutations to the Governor of Massachusetts...
from 1970 to 1975, left his post for a failed run for Massachusetts Attorney General
Massachusetts Attorney General
The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The office of Attorney-General was abolished in 1843 and re-established in 1849. The current Attorney General is Martha Coakley....
, then held it from 1978 until his death. Her mother is named Ann.
She has four siblings: Erin, a clerk at the West Roxbury District Court; Gaelan, a court officer in the Northampton District Court; Tara, a former employee at Boston City Hall
Boston City Hall
Boston City Hall is the seat of the municipal government of Boston, Massachusetts. Architecturally, it is an example of the brutalist style. It was designed by Kallmann McKinnell & Knowles...
; and Michael, who runs the family funeral home in Easthampton
Easthampton, Massachusetts
Easthampton is the second largest city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is on the southeastern edge of an area called the Pioneer Valley near the five colleges in the college towns of Northampton and Amherst, MA...
(job descriptions as of 2002).
Shannon O'Brien was born in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. She graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1981, where she was captain of the Yale Bulldogs
Yale Bulldogs
The Yale Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the Yale University. The school sponsors 35 varsity sports. The school has won two NCAA national championships in women's fencing, four in men's swimming and diving, and twenty one in men's golf.-Men's baseball:...
varsity women's soccer team. She graduated from the Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
in 1985.
Political career
O'Brien worked for a large Boston law firm before her father alerted her to an open seat in the state legislature, which she won.O'Brien served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
from 1987 through 1993, and in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
from 1993 through 1995. While a state legislator she authored a law that increased penalties for crimes against children such as abuse and neglect.
She was the Massachusetts State Treasurer from 1999 through 2003, winning the office in the Massachusetts general election, 1998
Massachusetts general election, 1998
A Massachusetts general election was held on November 3, 1998 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.The election included:* statewide elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, and Auditor;...
, after losing in her first attempt for that office in Massachusetts general election, 1994
Massachusetts general election, 1994
A Massachusetts general election was held on November 8, 1994 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.The election included:* statewide elections for United States Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, and Auditor;* district elections for U.S...
and subsequently working as a vice president for external affairs at a health-care company. She was the first woman to be elected in Massachusetts to state-wide office by her own accord. She came into the office after it had suffered a major embezzlement scandal, and she tightened controls over the funds involved. While serving as State Treasurer, she restructured the lottery commission and the Abandoned Properties Division in Massachusetts, gaining acclaim for returning dormant funds to the residents of the state. She also refinanced state debt and in doing so saved about $500 million. In dealing with the near-infamous Big Dig
Big Dig
The Central Artery/Tunnel Project , known unofficially as the Big Dig and as the Big Dug since completion, was a megaproject in Boston that rerouted the Central Artery , the chief highway through the heart of the city, into a 3.5-mile tunnel...
project in Boston, which became the most expensive highway project in U.S. history, she forced public disclosure of a $2 billion cost overrun.
She won the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 2002, defeating State Senate President Thomas Birmingham, former Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
and AIPAC chair Steven Grossman
Steven Grossman (political operative)
Steve Grossman is the Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts.-Education:Grossman received his Bachelor's from Princeton University, and his MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar.-Political career:...
, former United States Secretary of Labor
United States Secretary of Labor
The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the Department of Labor who exercises control over the department and enforces and suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and all other issues involving any form of business-person controversies....
Robert Reich
Robert Reich
Robert Bernard Reich is an American political economist, professor, author, and political commentator. He served in the administrations of Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter and was Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997....
, and former nominee for lieutenant governor Warren Tolman
Warren Tolman
Warren E. Tolman is a Massachusetts lawyer and former member of the Massachusetts General Court, serving in both of the Court's houses...
. In this action she became the first woman to win a major party nominator for governor in the commonwealth. In the general election she garnered 45 percent of the vote to Mitt Romney's 50 percent.
Subsequent career
Following her defeat in 2002, O'Brien joined Boston-area local television station WLVI as a consumer advocate. She left there in 2005 to head the Boston Area Girl ScoutsScouting in Massachusetts
Scouting in Massachusetts includes both Girl Scout and Boy Scout organizations. Both were founded in the 1910s in Massachusetts. With a vigorous history, both organizations actively serve thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.-Moby Dick Council:Moby Dick...
, and as such is the CEO of the Patriot's Trail Girl Scout Council covering greater Boston.
O'Brien lives in Massachusetts with her husband, former state representative
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
Emmet Hayes
Emmet Hayes
Robert Emmet Hayes is an American lobbyist and politician who represented the 7th Plymouth District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1983 to 1991....
, and children.
Electoral history
- 2002 Race for Governor
- Mitt Romney (R), 49.8%
- Shannon O'Brien (D), 44.9%
- Jill SteinJill SteinJill Stein is an American physician, activist, co-chair of the Green-Rainbow Party and candidate for President of the United States in 2012. Stein was a candidate for Governor of Massachusetts in the 2002 and the 2010 gubernatorial elections. Stein is a resident of Lexington, Massachusetts and a...
(G), 3.5% - Carla HowellCarla HowellCarla A. Howell is an American political activist and small government advocate. She is President of the Center For Small Government. She is most known for organizing tax cut initiative petitions, called ballot measures in other states...
(L), 1.1% - Barbara JohnsonBarbara JohnsonBarbara Johnson was an American literary critic and translator. She was a Professor of English and Comparative Literature and the Fredric Wertham Professor of Law and Psychiatry in Society at Harvard University...
(I), 0.7%