Thomas H. Trimarco (born April 1, 1939)^[1][2] is an American politician and lawyer who served as Massachusetts Secretary of Administration and Finance from 2005 to 2007. He is currently a senior vice president in the government relations division at O’Neill and Associates.

A graduate ofDartmouth College andBoston College Law School, Trimarco began his career in government service as assistant general counsel at theUnited States Department of Transportation in 1970. When Transportation SecretaryJohn A. Volpe was namedUnited States Ambassador to Italy, Trimarco joined him as a special assistant and embassy counsel.^[3][4]

When Volpe left office in 1977, Trimarco became a partner at the law firm of Csaplar & Bok.^[3] He also served as field coordinator forEdward Brooke's 1978 re-election campaign and co-chair ofHoward Baker's 1980 presidential campaign.^[5][6]

In 1980, Trimarco served as Volpe's legal counsel while he appeared before theWard Commission, which was investigating corruption in government projects.^[7]

That same year, Trimarco was aRepublican candidate for theUnited States House of Representatives inMassachusetts's 6th congressional district. He ran as a fiscal conservative and social moderate. His campaign picked up the endorsements of party leaders includingJohn Volpe,Francis W. Hatch, Jr., andJosiah Spaulding.^[8] Trimarco defeated William Bronson 51.2% to 48.8% in the Republican primary, but lost to incumbentNicholas Mavroules 50.8% to 47.1% in the general election.^[9][10]

In 1981, Trimarco was a finalist for the position ofUnited States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, howeverWilliam Weld was selected instead.^[11] It was believed that Trimarco had the backing of the White House, but was opposed by theJustice Department due to his association with John Volpe.^[12]

In 1982, Trimarco was considered byJohn Lakian, the Republican frontrunner for governor, to be his running mate.^[13][14] However, Trimarco was more interested in running against Mavroules again and declined.^[15]

Trimarco announced his candidacy for the 1982 Congressional election on June 6 at the Briarcliff Lodge inLynn, Massachusetts. During his campaign, he supported PresidentRonald Reagan'seconomic program, but opposed his plan to reduce Social Security benefits and cut student loans. He promised "not be bound by the dictates of any one President".^[16] He lost to Mavroules 57.8% to 42.2% in the general election.^[17]

In 1988, Trimarco served as co-chair ofBob Dole's presidential campaign in Massachusetts.^[18]

In 1990, Trimarco served as co-chairman and policy director forJoe Malone's campaign forTreasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts.^[19][20] After Malone won he named Trimarco First Deputy Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In this capacity, he acted as the Chairman-designee of the Massachusetts Pension Reserve Investment Management Board and the State Board of Retirement.^[3] He resigned in 1998 following the election ofShannon O'Brien to the Treasurer's office.^[21]

In 2004, Trimarco was appointed by GovernorMitt Romney to serve on the Springfield Finance Control Board, a five-person board responsible for restoring stability toSpringfield, Massachusetts' finances. During his tenure on the board, Springfield's deficit was reduced from more than $40 million to less than $10 million.^[22]

On July 7, 2005 Trimarco was appointed Massachusetts Secretary of Administration and Finance.^[22] In this position oversaw the Commonwealth's $25 billion budget and its capital spending program. He also played an important role in the passage ofthe Massachusetts health care reform law and served as chairman ex officio of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, which was given broad powers to implement and oversee the law.^[3]

Romney also appointed Trimarco to theMassachusetts Turnpike Commission.^[3]

On April 2, 2007, Trimarco was named senior vice president at O'Neill and Associates, a government and public relations firm run by formerMassachusetts Lieutenant GovernorThomas P. O'Neill III.^[23]

• Dartmouth College alumni
• Boston College Law School alumni
• Massachusetts secretaries of administration and finance
• Massachusetts Republicans
• Living people
• 1939 births