He’s a son of Warwick, an avid sports fan and political lifer. That’s Joe Shekarchi, who come January will ascend to what’s often described as the the most powerful post in state government, speaker of the House.
A lawyer known for his deep respect for the traditions of the institution he will lead and his collegial way with colleagues, Shekarchi takes over at a perilous time in the state’s long history.
The Warwick Democrat replaces the combustible Nick Mattiello of Cranston, who lost his seat to a Republican.
At the General Assembly level, Rhode Island has long been a one-party Democratic state. The party now controls 65 of the 75 House seats but the Democratic caucus runs the ideological spectrum from staunch conservatives to Bernie Sanders-like progressives. It’s a fractious group that battles over almost everything, from such arcane matters as legislative rules to budget and taxing priorities that affect every Rhode Islander. Add to that such wedge issues as abortion rights, gun control and gay rights.
Shekarchi, 58, has lived a Rhode Island life. He’s the son of a surgeon, Dr. Khalil Shekarchi, who is of Iranian-American descent and at 94 came to his son’s law office every day until Covid-19 hit. His late mother, Esther, was of Italian-American lineage.
He grew up in the Conimicut neighborhood, worshipped at St. Kevin’s Catholic parish and went to Mount St. Charles High School. He earned undergraduate and law degrees at Boston’s Suffolk University. His brother and sister are both lawyers who share office space with him in Warwick. He lives in his home city’s Lockwood neighborhood with his partner, Kevin Murphy.
Shekarchi is often seen at Red Sox games or at the Dunk cheering on the Providence College Friars. He once enjoyed a cold beer on a hot afternoon at Fenway, but unlike his speaker predecessors, he drinks nothing stronger nowadays than Diet Coke due to a 1997 diabetic diagnosis.
Shekarchi’s debut came as campaign manager for the 1992 Paul Tsongas Rhode Island presidential primary campaign. He was up against the entire Bill Clinton-supporting Democratic hierarchy, and pulled off a comfortable victory.
Shortly after, he joined Bruce Sundlun’s administration as a legislative aide, where he built strong relationships with people who hold power still in state politics, including U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, State Education Board Chairwoman Barbara Cottam and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio.
While Mattiello jousted with Gov. Gina Raimondo, Shekarchi remained close to the governor, whose 2010 campaign for general treasurer he helmed.
As majority leader he was a loyal lieutenant to Mattiello and a vigorous fund-raiser with more than $1 million in his campaign coffers, which he used to boost allies’ campaigns.
Known as a moderate and admirer of Joe Biden, Shekarchi is more liberal than was Mattiello on social issues; he supports abortion rights and stronger gun controls. He’s also close to the state’s small business community.
He’s known as a mensch. One of the reasons he won the overwhelming backing of colleagues is that he has crafted a reputation as a listener who governs by consensus, not combat.
“I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and go to work,” he said. But he won’t announce staff assignments or committee assignments until he formally takes office in January. He did say he would like Newport Democrat Abney to remain as chairman of the influential House Finance Committee. Like Shekarchi, Abney is known as an even-tempered lawmaker.
He won’t criticize Mattiello’s decision to shut down the House during the pandemic. Shekarchi says many older lawmakers have underlying health concerns. “Look, plexiglass or no plexiglass barriers, we’ve got people with serious health issues. I’m over 55, overweight and diabetic.”
Shekarchi is ever-cautious and attuned to perception. He declined Raimondo’s invitation to meet last week because he had not been formally elected by the caucus. He and the governor are slated to get together tomorrow. He did not start making calls to line up support for speaker until Mattiello told him on election night that he should. His majority leader will be Chris Blazjewski, a progressive Providence Democrat and Cumberland native.
The challenges for Shekarchi are steep. A state budget drowning in a sea of red ink, soaring unemployment and a virus spike. Not to mention pandemic fatigue that’s stirring resistance to state public health restrictions.
Whatever you think of Shekarchi’s politics or party, we need to wish him the best. His fate is now ours.
Scott MacKay’s commentary can be heard every Monday morning at 6:45 and 8:45 and at 5:44 in the afternoon.