Thomas Finneran
No. 22611 Thomas Finneran, Boston Herald, March 13, 2009
Thomas Finneran wasMassachusetts’ former Speaker of the House. As Speaker, he was known for his fiscal conservatism; he insisted on balanced budgets, and created that state’s “rainy day fund.” He was also known for having somewhat more conservative positions on some social issues than most Massachusetts Democrats. After serving the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park and Milton as state representative for 26 years, for 8 of which he also served as Speaker of the House, he resigned his seat and accepted the position of President of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. He continues to reside in Mattapan in his former district
Finneran had to leave the legislature after he pleaded guilty to a count of obstruction of justice for making misleading and false statements under oath about the drawing of electoral maps for the city of Boston.
Thomas M. Finneran accepted the position of President of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, Inc. in October 2004.
Former House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran, a Democrat from Boston, represented the 12th Suffolk District, which includes sections of Dorchester, Mattapan, and Milton. He was a member of the House of Representatives since 1979. From 1991 to 1996, former Speaker Finneran served as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He was elected Speaker of the House in April 1996 and was re-elected in January of 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003. In 2002 he was elected by the Speakers of 49 states to serve as the president of the National Speakers’ Conference, a conference of Speakers from all 50 states.
A graduate of Boston Latin School, former Speaker Finneran attended Northeastern University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Finance. In 1978, he received his Juris Doctorate from Boston College Law School and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar that same year.
During his service on both the House Ways and Means Committee and as Speaker, Tom Finneran consistently promoted the idea of establishing a Rainy Day Fund, a state savings account to cushion declines in the economy. He convinced the House to annually deposit excess revenue into this fund, and it totaled $2.3 billion when first tapped in response to the lingering recession.
Among his other accomplishments as Speaker, Tom Finneran is particularly proud of doubling the number of full day kindergarten classes in the Commonwealth and dramatically increasing early childhood literacy programs. The former Speaker also established a Lyceum Lecture Series. Distinguished leaders from all walks of life, including government, academic, business, cultural and literary circles have been invited to address the Massachusetts House of Representatives during a full formal session.
Tom Finneran lives in Mattapan with his wife Donna and their two daughters, Kelley and Shannon. He is a recreational gardener, and enjoys biking, swimming, reading, and spending time with his family.
Source: Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, Inc. on the web
Finneran worked as a morning talk-show host on WRKO 680 from 2007 to 2012.