BARRIOS TO LEAVE SENATE FOR BLUE CROSS GROUP

By Jim O’Sullivan
and Michael P. Norton
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, MAY 22, 2007….Sen. Jarrett Barrios has accepted an offer from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts to become its next president, he said this afternoon. 

Asked outside a Senate budget caucus if he'd accepted the post, which wields millions of dollars annually in grants, Barrios said, "Pending negotiations of details, yes."  Asked later about his new salary, Barrios replied, “It’s not set yet.”

The move pulls from the Senate one of its most vocal and progressive members, a 38-year-old openly gay Democrat viewed as one of the Legislature’s fast climbers, a press-savvy lawmaker from a politically active district. Barrios said he would remain in the Senate through July.

During a brief interview in his State House office, Barrios said he planned to give up both his Senate seat – which touches Cambridge, Everett, Somerville, Chelsea, Revere, Saugus, and Boston – and his law practice. He declined to rule out a future run for office, but said it wouldn’t be soon.

Asked about his decision to leave the Senate, Barrios replied, “I ran for office for the same reason I’m excited to be president of this foundation – the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people, particularly our most vulnerable citizens.”

A memorandum on foundation stationery dated today from senior vice president Fredi Shonkoff and obtained by the News Service proclaimed Barrios “an effective voice for low income people” with “a particular interest in health care access and disparities. Needless to say, the Foundation Board is enthusiastic about its new selection … We expect a story to run in the Globe tomorrow.” 

Rumors of Barrios’s departure have swirled for weeks, and he is often mentioned as a prospective candidate for other offices. Last year, the former state representative ran for district attorney before dropping out of a race eventually won by Gerard Leone.

His decision opens a second contiguous state Senate seat. Voters in Boston, Revere, Winthrop, and Cambridge will choose Senate President Robert Travaglini’s successor during a special election next week.

During his tenure, Barrios showed a knack for garnering media attention, often proposing legislative action in tune with current affairs. Last year, he drew derision for trying to amend a junk-food bill by cutting down on the use of the marshmallow spread Fluff in public schools.

Many of Barrios’ Democratic colleagues, on their way into this afternoon's pre-budget debate caucus in Senate President Therese Murray's office, said they were unaware of any impending departure.  As the caucus continued and Barrios arrived, he was congratulated by a group of lobbyists and Sen. Cynthia Creem.

Later, as the caucus broke up, colleagues joked with Barrios that he should stay in touch for campaign contribution purposes.

Barrios last week attended a health care summit hosted by the foundation, which acknowledged the work of outgoing chairwoman Nancy Turnbull.  He is a member of the foundation's board, which is chaired by former state Democratic Party chief Phil Johnston.

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