Joe Shekarchi
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Joe Shekarchi
|image = Joseph_Shekarchi_Speaker_of_the_Rhode_Island_House_of_Representatives.jpg
|office1 = 224th Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
|deputy1 = Charlene Lima
|term_start1 = January 5, 2021
|term_end1 =
|predecessor1 = Nicholas Mattiello
|successor1 =
|office3 = Majority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
|term_start3 = January 3, 2017
|term_end3 = January 5, 2021
|predecessor3 = John DeSimone
|successor3 = Christopher Blazejewski
|state_house4 = Rhode Island
|district4 = 23rd
|term_start4 = January 1, 2013
|term_end4 =
|predecessor4 = Robert Flaherty
|successor4 =
|birth_name = Khalil Joseph Shekarchi
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|5|17}}
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|education = Suffolk University (BA, JD)
|website = {{URL|joeshekarchi.com|Official website}}
}}
Khalil Joseph Shekarchi{{cite web |url= http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/142089 |title= Joseph Shekarchi's Biography |publisher= Project Vote Smart |access-date= February 24, 2014}} (born May 17, 1962) is an American politician currently serving as speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. A Democrat, he has represented District 23 in Warwick since January 1, 2013. He was chairman of the House Labor Committee until his Democratic colleagues elected him as the House majority leader in November 2016. After four years as majority leader, his colleagues elected him speaker in November 2020 following the defeat of longtime speaker Nicholas Mattiello. Shekarchi considers himself a moderate Democrat.
Early life and education
Shekarchi was born to a father of Iranian-American descent and a mother of Italian-American heritage. He grew up in the Conimicut neighborhood of Warwick.{{cite news |last1=MacKay |first1=Scott |title=Commentary: Meet Joe Shekarchi, Speaker-elect |url=https://thepublicsradio.org/episode/commentary-meet-joe-shekarchi/ |access-date=December 15, 2024 |publisher=The Public's Radio |date=November 8, 2020}}{{cite news |title=Political Scene: The little-known story of House Speaker Shekarchi's Iranian roots |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/02/house-speaker-k-joseph-shekarchi-opens-up-about-iranian-roots/69739881007/ |work=The Providence Journal |date=January 2, 2023}} He earned his bachelor's degree from Suffolk University and his Juris Doctor from the Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, prior to attending Suffolk.
Career
Shekarchi was the manager of Paul Tsongas's Rhode Island campaign for the 1992 Democratic Party presidential primaries and then served as a legislative aide in the administration of governor Bruce Sundlun. In 2010, he led future governor Gina Raimondo's successful campaign for general treasurer.
When Robert Flaherty, the incumbent Democratic representative for District 23 in Warwick, failed to qualify for the ballot, Shekarchi was unopposed for the September 11, 2012, Democratic Primary, winning with 536 votes.{{cite web |url= http://www.ri.gov/election/results/2012/statewide_primary/races/160.html |title= 2012 Statewide Primary, Representative in General Assembly District 23 |publisher= Secretary of State of Rhode Island |location= Providence, Rhode Island |access-date= February 24, 2014}} He won the November 6, 2012, General election with 4,302 votes (67.9%) against Republican nominee John Falkowski,{{cite web |url= http://www.ri.gov/election/results/2012/general_election/races/165.html |title= 2012 General Election, Representative in General Assembly District 23 |publisher= Secretary of State of Rhode Island |location= Providence, Rhode Island |access-date= February 24, 2014}} and has served in the position since January 1, 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/representatives/Shekarchi |title=Representative K. Joseph Shekarchi |publisher=Rhode Island General Assembly |location=Providence, Rhode Island |access-date=February 24, 2014}}
Shekarchi was chairman of the House Labor Committee until his Democratic colleagues elected him as the House majority leader in November 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/representatives/Shekarchi/Pages/Biography.aspx|title=State of Rhode Island General Assembly|website=State of Rhode Island General Assembly|language=en-us|access-date=June 26, 2018}} After four years as majority leader, his colleagues elected him speaker in November 2020 following the defeat of longtime speaker Nicholas Mattiello. Shekarchi considers himself a moderate Democrat.{{cite news|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/05/shekarchi-secures-votes-become-speaker/6182277002/|title=Shekarchi secures the votes to become House speaker, replacing Mattiello|work=The Providence Journal|date=November 5, 2020|first=Patrick|last=Anderson}}
Personal life
Shekarchi is openly gay.{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/05/metro/joe-shekarchis-moment-has-arrived/|title=Joe Shekarchi's moment has arrived|work=The Boston Globe|date=November 5, 2020|first=Edward|last=Fitzpatrick}} He is the second openly gay speaker of the Rhode Island House, after Gordon Fox.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/representatives/Shekarchi Official page] at the Rhode Island General Assembly
- [http://joeshekarchi.com/ Campaign site]
- {{CongLinks | congbio = | votesmart = 142089 | fec = | congress = }}
- [http://ballotpedia.org/K._Joseph_Shekarchi K. Joseph Shekarchi] at Ballotpedia
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{{s-par|us-ri-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=John DeSimone}}
{{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives|years=2017–2021}}
{{s-aft|after=Christopher Blazejewski}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Nicholas Mattiello}}
{{s-ttl|title=Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives|years=2021–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Speakers of U.S. State Houses of Representatives}}
{{Rhode Island House of Representatives |state= collapsed}}
{{Current Rhode Island statewide political officials}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shekarchi, Joseph}}
Category:21st-century members of the Rhode Island General Assembly
Category:American gay politicians
Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Rhode Island
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Politicians from Warwick, Rhode Island
Category:Speakers of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Category:Democratic Party members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives