Mike Rush
 |
Mike Rush | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the Norfolk and Suffolk district | |
| Assumed office January 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Marian Walsh |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 10th Suffolk district | |
| In office 2002 – January 2011 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Alma mater | Providence College |
| Occupation | Educator |
Michael F. "Mike" Rush is a Democratic member of the Massachusetts Senate, representing the Suffolk and Norfolk district. This includes Boston, ward 18, precincts 7 to 20, inclusive, 22 and 23, ward 19, precincts 10 to 13, inclusive, and ward 20, in the county of Suffolk; and Dedham, Norwood and Westwood, in the county of Norfolk.
He previously served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 10th Suffolk District from 2002-2010.
Background
Prior to being elected to the State Legislature, Rush was a history teacher at his alma mater, Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury. He also taught at the Newman School in Boston's Back Bay.
Rush is a Lieutenant in the United States Navy where for the past thirteen years he has served in the Reserve component following his active duty training. He is currently assigned to NATO Deploy Charlie and was formally assigned to the Joint Central Command. Prior to serving as a commissioned officer, Rush traveled both home and abroad on peacetime construction projects as an enlisted sailor with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 27, better known as the Seabees.
Education
Rush holds a JD from Southern New England School of Law as well as a Master of Arts Degree with distinction in United States History and a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major in History and Political Science from Providence College. He is also a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the International Honor Society for Historians.
Rush was the president of his high school class at Catholic Memorial High School and college class at Providence. He also attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
Career as a Legislator
In the 2009-2010 Legislative session, House Speaker Robert DeLeo appointed Rush to serve on the House Committee on Ways and Means, the Joint Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment, and the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. Previously, he had served on the Joint Committees of Judiciary, Revenue, Public Service, Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Rush also served as the House Historian, having been appointed to the position by former Speaker Thomas Finneran.
Having been elected by his colleagues in the House and Senate as chairman of the Boston Legislative Delegation, Rush works as the liaison on legislative matters between Boston's Mayor Tom Menino and the City Council and the legislature.
Rush is the chairman and founder of the State Parks Caucus. As such, he has been successful in securing more funds for state parks and creating a stronger collaboration between legislators whose districts encompass state park lands and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Rush is the 2009 recipient of the Marine Corps League's Semper Fidelis Public Servant Award, as well as the Boston Police Emerald Society's Man of the Year Award.
References
External links
- Massachusetts General Court - State Representative Michael F. 'Mike' Rush official MA House website
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Michael F. 'Mike' Rush (MA) profile
- Follow the Money - Michael F. 'Mike' Rush