State Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty to join Walsh administration

By Jim O’Sullivan

|  GLOBE STAFF  JANUARY 06, 2014

State Representative Eugene O’Flaherty, the Chelsea Democrat who has held the House Judiciary Committee gavel for over a decade, will join the Walsh administration as its top attorney, officials with knowledge of the decision said Monday.

O’Flaherty’s decision comes as Mayor Martin J. Walsh, sworn in on Monday morning, begins to populate his administration, and installs a long-time personal friend in a high-ranking post.

O’Flaherty has been Walsh’s closest friend in the House, like him the son of Irish immigrants and like him on the losing side in two consecutive House leadership fights. Unlike Walsh, who was relegated to a lesser role after both battles, O’Flaherty retained his committee chairmanship both times.

The appointment vacates yet another seat in the House. O’Flaherty has represented his district, which includes Charlestown and much of Chelsea, since 1996.

As co-chair of the powerful Judiciary Committee, O’Flaherty has wielded tremendous control over legislation affecting drunk driving, the courts, sex offenders, and criminal sentencing and records.

Jim O’Sullivan can be reached atJim.OSullivan@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter at@JOSreports.