Patrick Guerriero | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Deputy Chief of Staff forGovernor of Massachusetts | |
| In office May, 2001 – 2002 | |
| Governor | Jane Swift |
| Mayor ofMelrose, Massachusetts | |
| In office January, 1998 – May 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Lyons |
| Succeeded by | Robert Dolan |
| Member of theMassachusetts House of Representatives from the35th Middlesex district | |
| In office November 2, 1993 – January 3, 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Robert M McCarthy |
| Succeeded by | Mike Festa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1968-03-03)March 3, 1968 (age 57) Melrose, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Catholic University of America |
Patrick Guerriero (born March 3, 1968) is a formerMassachusetts state legislator, mayor, and advocate formarriage equality. In 2002, after serving as then-GovernorJane Swift's deputy chief of staff, Guerriero became the nation's firstopenly gay candidate for lieutenant governor when he was chosen by Swift to be herrunning mate.[1]
Guerriero entered politics when he served as president of the Liberty Education Forum andLog Cabin Republicans from January 1, 2003[2] to September 1, 2006.[3] From 1993 to 2001, Guerriero won five consecutive elections.
Guerriero was born to anItalianimmigrant,mason father and asocial worker mother. He worked his way through college, spending summers mixing cement and hauling bricks for his family's masonry business. Guerriero attendedThe Catholic University of America inWashington, DC, where he playedsoccer and graduatedSumma cum laude in 1990. The next year, Guerriero attendedBoston College'sThomas P. O'Neill Jr. Fellowship in American Government Program. After college, Guerriero moved to Melrose to manage the successful mayoral campaign of Richard Lyons.
In 1993, Guerriero was elected to theMassachusetts House of Representatives (35thMiddlesex District). He went on to twice win re-election. In the House his legislative committee assignments included, Ways and Means, Ethics, Insurance, Health and Human Services, and Long-Term Debt and Capital Expenditures. He supported initiatives related to lower taxes, limited government expenditure, improvedpublic schools, public safety, andwelfare reform. Guerriero was a staunch supporter of the 1993Education Reform Act that required students to pass standardized graduation tests (MCAS). He was also an advocate for gay and lesbian issues, effecting strict anti-hate crimes legislation and increasedAIDS awareness funding.
Guerriero was awarded theJohn F. Kennedy Library's Fenn Award for politicians 35 years of age and younger on November 10, 1998.
In 1998, Guerriero was elected mayor of the city ofMelrose, Massachusetts. He served two consecutive terms, and received more than 80% of the vote in both elections. As during his tenure,Moody's Investors Service upgraded the city's bond rating. During his tenure as mayor, Guerriero created a "Civility Initiative" which encouraged residents to show each other respect and courtesy. For this project he received the City Livability Award at the U.S. Mayor's Association 2000 City Livability Awards.[4] In 2001, the Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers named Guerriero the municipal official of the year.
Guerriero stepped down in May 2001 to accept the position of deputy chief of staff with acting GovernorJane Swift's administration.
In May 2001, Guerriero accepted the position of deputy chief of staff to acting Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift. On January 3, 2002, Swift named Guerriero her running mate.[5] In March, Swift announced that while she was pulling out of the race for Governor, she openly supported Guerriero's continued run as Lieutenant Governor on the Republican ticket.[6]
Guerriero is an advocate for LGBT equality, having appeared on major television programs such asNightline,[7]Hardball with Chris Matthews,The Today Show, andThe O'Reilly Factor. He has written op-eds for publications includingThe Wall Street Journal andThe Denver Post and has been profiled inThe New York Times Magazine,[8]The L.A. Times Magazine,[9]The Washington Post,[10] andThe Advocate.[11] Guerriero is the recipient of the U.S. Mayor's Association 2000 City Livability Award[12] for his nationally-recognized "Civility Initiative" and the 1998 Fenn Award for Political Leadership from theJohn F. Kennedy Library's New Frontier Society.[13]
On January 1, 2003, Guerriero succeeded Rich Tafel as the leader of theLog Cabin Republicans. While at Log Cabin, he praised theMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's 2003 decision in the case ofGoodridge v. Department of Public Health as aconservative ruling supporting stable families, relationships, and society, limited government, individual liberty, and religious freedom. In early 2004, Patrick gained national recognition for successfully challenging PresidentGeorge W. Bush - launching the first national television ad that helped defeat Bush's proposedFederal Marriage Amendment.[14] In October 2004, Patrick filedLog Cabin Republicans v. United States challenging the constitutionality of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.[15] It was not until the White House came under Democratic control, however, that any significant legislative progress toward the repeal of the policy was made. U.S. PresidentBarack Obama signed the legislation repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in December 2010.[16][17]
In 2013, Guerriero was a signatory to anamicus curiae brief submitted to the Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage during theHollingsworth v. Perry case.[18]
On September 1, 2006, Guerriero became the first executive director of theGill Action Fund, an organization working to advancegay andlesbian equality through the legislative, political, and electoral process. During his tenure, Guerriero oversaw a national network of donors contributing more than $15 million to political campaigns and organizations in dozens of states with the aim of electing equal-rights politicians and advancing or blocking legislation. In 2006, of the 68 campaigns supported by Gill Action, 56 were successful.[19] Gill Action under Guerriero also advocated for passage of state laws onnondiscrimination andrelationship recognition in 13 states.
Guerriero served as executive director until June 30, 2011.
Guerriero is a founding partner of Civitas Public Affairs Group, aWashington, D.C.–based government affairs firm. Civitas Public Affairs Group provides bipartisan government relations, issue-based donor-giving strategies, and public-policy campaign management to individuals, non-profits, and corporations.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ronald W. Alley | Mayor ofMelrose, Massachusetts 1998 – 2001 | Succeeded by Robert J. Dolan |