Larkin resigns to join lobbyist firm

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Peter J Larkin with Gov. Mitt Romney, during his visit to Pittsfield in Oct 2003
PITTSFIELD — State Rep. Peter J. Larkin, D-Pittsfield, today announced that he was resigning as representative from the Third Berkshire District to join the lobbyist and consulting firm ML Strategies as its senior vice president of government relations. “It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the people of the Third Berkshire District for the past 14 years,” Larkin said during a 4 p.m. news conference at City Hall. “I have enjoyed every minute of this job, where we’ve made Pittsfield and Massachusetts a better place to live and work.” Larkin, 51, who was just re-elected in November, cut short his eighth term in the Legislature to join the Boston office of ML Strategies, which also has offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. A special election will probably be held in mid-April to fill his seat, and many candidates are expected to seek it. Larkin cited family responsibilities as part of his reason to resign. He has two children with his wife, Dr. Anne Larkin. His son, Matthew, is 3 months old, and his daughter, Aliya, will be 3 in April. “I’ve come to a new place in my life where I have new responsibilities to my family,” Larkin said in a news release. “I’ve done a lot of soul-searching, and with recent changes in the Legislature I’ve come to a decision that it is more important that I tend to the needs of my young family and allow someone new to tend to the needs of the Third Berkshire District during the new era in the House of Representatives. This will be an exciting time in state government, and I am making my announcement today so that there can be a special election as soon as possible to secure new representation in the Legislature.” Larkin just took the oath of on Jan. 6. His resignation was effective today. He indicated he would continue to remain active in a number of initiatives that he is involved with in the Berkshires and would also maintain his residence on Blythewood Drive in Pittsfield. “Although I am moving on to a new position, I will continue to pursue my leadership role in the Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative, as we transform teaching and learning in Berkshire County’s middle school classrooms,” Larkin stated in his release. “I also plan to maintain my involvement in the Berkshire Higher Education Compact, as we seek to identify the higher education and workforce needs of the citizens of the Berkshires and provide the highest quality public higher education for them.” Stephen P. Tocco, president and CEO of ML Strategies, said in the release, “Peter’s extensive business background, as well as his government experience, make him the ideal choice to lead ML Strategies Massachusetts government affairs practice. He will work closely with our Washington, D.C., lobbying team to provide our clients with expert guidance from Beacon Hill to Capitol Hill.” According to its Web site, ML Strategies is an affiliate of the law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., which employs over 500 lawyers. “Combining the expertise of leaders from the private and public sectors, ML Strategies LLC is a consulting firm specializing in government relations, public relations, real estate, health care, and science, technology and environmental issues,” information on the Web site states. “From offices in Boston, Washington and New York, MLS helps clients manage complex business and communications issues, offering professional services staffed by senior-level team members who drive strategic initiatives and goals critical to ensuring long-term business success.” During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Larkin most recently served as assistant vice chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means. As the state faced a severe revenue shortfall, he said in his release, he played an important role in crafting budgets that managed to keep spending within the state’s means while continuing to provide the core services of government: education, health care, and public safety. Larkin was a member of House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran’s leadership team, and during the most recent session helped author the Legislature’s Economic Stimulus Bill, which seeks to jump-start the Massachusetts economy by offering targeted investments through the state’s quasi-public agencies that build on regional strengths in newly emerging technologies to leverage private sector investment, maintain stability in taxation and regulation, attract federal research and development dollars and create capital formation for early-stage growth companies, thereby increasing employment opportunities. Previously, Larkin served as chairman of the Joint Committee on Education, Arts and Humanities. Additionally, as chairman of the Committee on Taxation, he worked to improve Massachusetts’ business climate with new tax initiatives, such as insurance tax reform, a $700 million tax cut and reform of the tax laws to promote investment in Roth and Education IRAs. Larkin formerly served as the chairman of the Joint Committees on Criminal Justice and Commerce & Labor. He also served as a member of the Joint Committees on Insurance and Redistricting. During his tenure he also served on a number of special legislative committees, including the commission that studies the need for new convention centers and sports facilities in the Greater Boston, Worcester and Springfield areas and throughout the state. He also served as House chairman of the Special Joint Committee Relative to Utility Restructuring, which studied the issues surrounding the deregulation of the electric utility industry in Massachusetts. The legislation that was filed by this commission and subsequently passed allowed combined services that were once provided by a consumer’s local utility company to be divided into two parts: A consumer’s regulated electric utility will continue to deliver power over the wires. Yet, the power running through those wires is now sold by competing firms known as competitive power suppliers that consumers get to choose. In 1996, Larkin was successful in sponsoring and passing legislation, known as the "Brownfields Initiative," which allows for pilot programs to expedite the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated industrial sites around the state. In 1997, he filed legislation that addressed the further need for economic development of brownfield sites through new environmental remediation laws. That legislation developed into the newly passed "brownfields law," which allows for liability relief as well as economic incentives for redevelopment of contaminated sites. Larkin was also a key player in the PCB clean-up negotiations between the city of Pittsfield and General Electric Co. Anticipating a need for reuse of the GE site, he introduced legislation that created the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority — a board that could manage the redevelopment of the General Electric site. Having these pieces of legislation in place contributed to the arrival of a comprehensive remediation and restoration settlement in September 1998. He has been honored by the National Commission Against Drunk Driving and AAA for his efforts in establishing the Graduated Licensing Law. The Graduated Licensing Law requires that a teenager applying for a junior operator’s license has completed a certified driver education program in addition to at least 12 hours of supervised driving with a parent, guardian, or designated adult, and has had at least six months immediately preceding application that are free from any at-fault accidents, moving violation or drug or alcohol convictions. The curfew for junior operators was expanded from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., and during the first six months of licensure, no passengers under the age of 18 (immediate family members exempted) are allowed in the car with a new driver at any time unless someone over 21 years of age is in the passenger seat. Since 1984, Larkin has been a member of the Pittsfield Democratic City Committee, serving currently as the treasurer and as the vice chairman of the Ward 6 Democratic Committee. He previously served as secretary of the Ward 5 Committee. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Democratic Leadership Council and is a board member of the Workforce Investment Act Advisory Council. In addition to his civic and political responsibilities, Larkin served as the vice-president of Fahey Beverage Co., his family-owned beer and soft-drink distributing company in Pittsfield, until its closing in 2000. Larkin is a cum laude graduate of St. Bonaventure University and a graduate of St. Joseph’s Central High School in Pittsfield. According to ML Strategies' Web site, its professionals are actively involved in leading business and professional organizations, including various private and public boards. “We maintain a wide network of relationships with leaders and opinion-makers in many fields; these include academics, business groups and the media, as well as legislative leaders and elected officials, state agencies and authorities, and market and economic impact consultants,” information on the Web site states. Examples of what the company does for its clients include • Managing the multifaceted public sector process of developing airports, seaports and other transportation infrastructure. • Large-scale public-private real estate partnerships, urban development and redevelopment and military base reuse. • Corporate and CEO image and visibility building. • State and federal regulatory representation. • Media management during and after a crisis and the development of crisis management plans. • Audits for environmental, health and safety compliance. • Generating innovative revenue sources for health-care providers. • Public issue campaigns and referenda. • Legislative advocacy. • Representation on budgetary issues and priorities developing international business strategies and opportunities. The Government Relations division of the company “comprises an interdisciplinary team of experts in the fields of business, government, law, politics and communications.” According to the Web site, the division has “a proven track record in public and private sector market expansion, federal, state and local government affairs, coalition- and constituency-building, community relations and image building.” “Our professionals provide clients with information, insight and critical thinking,” the Web site states. “We enable clients to analyze the ways in which public actions will affect their corporate interests, and to develop reasoned, affirmative and anticipatory legal and public affairs strategies. Clients come to us who want a customized response, need professionals who understand the political climate locally and nationally, and have the right network of relationships. Our clients are involved in a wide variety of industries, including energy, communications, environmental services, health care, biotechnology, insurance, pharmaceuticals, real estate and telecommunications. It adds, “Working closely with other sections of ML Strategies and the law firm, we participate in formal governmental processes. Our professionals are frequently involved in drafting legislation, preparing testimony and advocacy material, and intervening in the administrative and regulatory arenas. For some matters our representation is less visible, discreetly advising clients in their efforts to build a constituency or community support for a particular policy position that concerns them. Our clients include major companies and business associations, international and multinational firms, real estate developers, public agencies and municipalities, and nonprofit institutions. Additionally, members of the Mintz Levin/ML Strategies team have assisted foreign corporate, government and trade association clients in Washington on legislative and regulatory issues requiring registration with the U.S. Department of Justice.”
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Senior Golf Series Returns in September

Community submission
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Berkshire County Fall Senior Golf series returns in September with events on five consecutive Wednesdays starting Sept. 18.
 
It is the 22nd year of the series, which is a fund-raiser for junior golf in the county, and it is open to players aged 50 and up.
 
The series will feature two divisions for each event based on the combined ages of the playing partners.
 
Golfers play from the white tees (or equivalent) with participants 70 and over or who have a handicap of more than 9 able to play from the forward tees.
 
Gross and net prices will be available in each division.
 
The cost is $55 per event and includes a round of golf, food and prizes. Carts are available for an additional fee.
 
Golfers should call the pro shop at the course for that week's event no sooner than two weeks before the event to register.
 
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