Claire D. Cronin (born 1959/1960) is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 11th Plymouth district.[1] Cronin is the first woman to serve as House Majority Leader. [2]
Claire Cronin | |
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United States Ambassador to Ireland | |
Nominee | |
Assuming office TBD | |
President | Joe Biden |
Succeeding | Edward F. Crawford |
Majority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
Assumed office February 11, 2021 | |
Preceded by | Ronald Mariano |
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representativesfrom the 11th Plymouth district | |
Assumed office January 2013 | |
Preceded by | Geraldine Creedon |
Personal details | |
Born | 1959/1960 (age 61–62) Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Ray Cronin |
Children | 2 |
Residence | Easton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Education | Stonehill College (BA) Suffolk University (JD) |
Website | Official website |
In May 2021, President Joe Biden was reported to have selected Cronin as the United States Ambassador to Ireland.[3] On June 23, 2021, the nomination was officially announced.[4]
Early life and education
Cronin graduated from Brockton High School in 1978[5] and attended Stonehill College in Easton and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1982. She went on to earn a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1985.[6]
Career
Early career
Cronin was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar Association in 1985 and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court and before the United States Supreme Court.
Cronin has maintained a law practice in Brockton. She was formerly a member of the Brockton Democratic City Committee, and previously served on the Easton Democratic Town Committee and Democratic State Committee.[6]
Cronin served as mediator in the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston sex abuse scandal settlement.[1]
Massachusetts House of Representatives
In 2012, long-time State Representative Geraldine Creedon announced her plans to retire from public office. On February 14, 2012, Cronin announced her candidacy for the newly redistricted seat.[5] She won a four-way Democratic primary with 33% of the vote, defeating Brockton Councilors-at-Large Robert Sullivan and Jass Stewart, and Southeast Regional School Committee member Mark Linde.[7] In the general election, Cronin defeated Republican Dan Murphy.[8]
In the legislature, Cronin serves as the Majority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Prior to assuming this role, Cronin served as the chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. She is the first woman in the history of the Massachusetts House of Representatives to serve as chair of the House Judiciary Committee. In her role as chair, Cronin was the architect of the comprehensive House criminal justice reform bill and was the lead negotiator for the House of Representatives during the conference committee. This sweeping piece of legislation marked the most extensive reform of the state’s criminal justice system in decades.[9]
Cronin previously served as the vice chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, and as a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, and the House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight.[6]
Cronin announced Massachusetts' votes in the roll call at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.[10] During the 2020 United States presidential election Cronin was a fund-raising bundler for the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign in the state of Massachusetts.[1]
U.S. Ambassador to Ireland
In May 2021, Cronin was reported as President Joe Biden's nominee for United States Ambassador to Ireland.[3] He announced her nomination on June 23, 2021, along with the nomination of Cindy McCain to be Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture.[4]
Personal life
Claire D. Cronin is married to Ray Cronin, the CEO and co-founder of Club Benchmarking, a performance analytics company that assists private recreational clubs.[11]
See also
- 2019–2020 Massachusetts legislature
- 2021–2022 Massachusetts legislature
References
- ^ a b c Stout, Matt (June 23, 2021). "Claire Cronin, No. 2 Democrat in the Mass. House, to be nominated as US ambassador to Ireland". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
- ^ Murphy, Matt. "Brockton, Easton state Rep. Claire Cronin named Mass. House's first female majority leader". Enterprise News. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "Claire Cronin likely to become next U.S. Ambassador to Ireland". Boston Globe. May 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Karni, Annie (June 23, 2021). "Cindy McCain is Biden's choice for ambassador to the U.N.'s food program". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Maguire, Patrick. "Easton Resident Announces Candidacy for State Rep". Easton Patch. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Member Profile: Claire D. Cronin". Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ^ Vogler, Paula. "Cronin Wins Primary for 11 Plymouth Seat". Wicked Local Easton. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ^ Maguire, Patrick. "Claire Cronin Wins State Rep Seat in 11th Plymouth District". Easton Patch. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ^ Service, Colin A. Young / State House News. "Criminal justice reform bill sent to governor". Easton Journal. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
- ^ Staff (August 19, 2020). "Watch Full Roll Call at the 2020 Democratic National Convention". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ^ "Ray Cronin CEO/Co-Founder, Club Benchmarking" (PDF). texascmaa.org. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
Massachusetts House of Representatives | ||
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Preceded by Ronald Mariano | Majority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 2021–present | Incumbent |