February 13, 2020: The start of a new decade marks the beginning of a new era for the Association’s legislative team.
Thomas Bonarrigo and Nancy McGovern – each a well-known and widely respected veterans of Beacon Hill – now lead our lobbying efforts.
As Legislative Chairman, Bonarrigo is a key member of our Executive Board and will work part-time in the Association’s Beacon Hill office. He will oversee our legislative program and our advocacy efforts at the State House.
February 13, 2020: The start of a new decade marks the beginning of a new era for the Association’s legislative team.
Thomas Bonarrigo and Nancy McGovern – each a well-known and widely respected veterans of Beacon Hill – now lead our lobbying efforts.
As Legislative Chairman, Bonarrigo is a key member of our Executive Board and will work part-time in the Association’s Beacon Hill office. He will oversee our legislative program and our advocacy efforts at the State House.
McGovern is our full-time Legislative Liaison, a role once held by Association CEO Shawn Duhamel. She will lead our daily activities at the State House, manage the Association’s legislative package and interact with our allies in the public employee unions.
“I’m very proud and cannot be more excited to announce that Nancy McGovern and Tom Bonarrigo have joined Mass Retirees. They are excellent additions to our team and have been able to hit the ground running from day one,” said Chief Executive Officer Shawn Duhamel. “We have a fantastic group of people here at Mass Retirees, who go above and beyond for our members. These new additions are simply icing on the cake!
“Bill Rehrey and I worked very closely with Nancy in the past. She has in-depth knowledge of public retirement and pension policy. She will play an important part in our day-to-day work going forward. I should also point out that Nancy’s dad was a City of Lowell retiree.
“With Tom, you will be hard pressed to find anyone held in higher regard and more knowledgeable than he. Having both Tom and Frank Valeri (Association President) – two State House veterans – to rely upon for sage advice is invaluable.”
Tom Bonarrigo retired in July of 2019 after 36 years of state service in both the Legislative and Executive branches. His career included positions as a research analyst on the Committees on The Judiciary and Transportation where he researched, analyzed, drafted and redrafted legislation referred to committee. Working for the Chairperson of these Committees his duties included scheduling Committee hearings and informing Committee members and their staff of the legislation before the Committee. In addition, Tom served as chief of staff to the Committee on Technology and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Tom also worked as Special Assistant to the Speaker of the House and the Speaker Pro Tempore, where he worked closely with leadership and members of the House on major issues relative to legislation and budgets that were to be brought forth for debate. He did research and provided advice to the Speaker on a myriad of issues before the House of Representatives during his tenure.
At the Executive level, Tom spent 14 years as the Director of Governmental Affairs at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. As a member of senior staff at the RMV Tom’s duties included monitoring all legislation and budgetary matters affecting the RMV, working closely with Senators, Representatives and their staffs on legislation, budgets and constituent issues and to keep the Registrar and senior staff apprised of any issues that may affect the operation of the agency.
“I am excited and honored to be appointed as Legislative Chairman of the Mass RetireesAssociation” Tom stated. “It’s certainly my hope that my Legislative and Executive level experience can advance initiatives that will benefit retirees across the Commonwealth”.
Originally from Hyde Park, Bonarrigo now lives in Braintree.
A lifelong resident of Lowell, Nancy McGovern started her career in public service as an aide to State Representative Thomas Golden (D-Lowell). During her tenure working in the House, Nancy served as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for the Committee on Bills in Third Reading.
She then went to work for AFSCME Council 93, where she served as the Legislative and Policy Agent/Lobbyist for the union. It was here where Nancy interacted with Mass Retirees officials on a regular basis, often working together on health insurance and retirement legislation.
Since leaving AFSCME in 2014, Nancy worked as an independent consultant for a variety of private sector non-profits and unions. For the past three years, she has worked as the Senior Program Manager for the City of Lowell Workforce Board.
“I’m excited to be joining the team and having the opportunity to be a part of the important work that Mass Retirees does for public retirees and survivors,” comments McGovern.