Emmet Hayes

Emmet Hayes
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 7th Plymouth District
In office
1983–1991
Preceded by Andrew Card
Succeeded by Michael Sullivan
Personal details
Born February 11, 1951 (1951-02-11) (age 61)
Brockton, Massachusetts
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Shannon O'Brien
Residence Whitman, Massachusetts
Alma mater Northeastern University
University of Massachusetts Boston
Occupation Lobbyist
Politician

Robert Emmet Hayes (born February 11, 1951 in Brockton, Massachusetts) is an American lobbyist and politician who represented the 7th Plymouth District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1983 to 1991.[1]

In the late 1980s Hayes sponsored legislation to help Massachusetts cities and towns meet the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act.[2] Hayes' legislation, the Massachusetts Clean Water Act, resulted in a State Revolving Fund which allocated $900 million in no-interest loans for planning, design or construction of waste-water projects in 85 Massachusetts communities.[3]

Hayes lost re-election in 1990 to Abington lawyer Michael Sullivan.[4] He later became a lobbyist.

He is the husband of former Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts Shannon O'Brien. Hayes' role as a lobbyist became a campaign issue during his wife's 2002 gubernatorial run after O'Brien's opponent, Mitt Romney, was accused of leveraging harsh business practices against Dade Behring, Stage Stores, AmPad, GS Industries, and Details for personal gain.[5] Romney in turn criticized Hayes for having represented shamed energy-giant Enron.[6] However, as the Boston Globe reported, "Hayes stopped lobbying for (Enron) nearly two years before accounting fraud surfaced and its stock price plummeted, (and) failed to get Enron the business it was after in Massachusetts."[7]

Hayes is a veteran of the United States Navy, and holds a degree from the University of Massachusetts at Boston.[8]

References

  1. ^ 1989-1990 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. http://www.archive.org/stream/publicofficersof20012002bost#page/120/mode/2up. 
  2. ^ Malone, M.E. (March 2, 1989). "Water, sewer bond proposal gets backing". Boston Globe. 
  3. ^ Franklin, James L. (September 4, 1990). "Mass. to lend $900 million to sewer projects". Boston Globe. 
  4. ^ McGrory, Brian (November 11, 1990). "Four area incumbants ousted". Boston Globe. 
  5. ^ Kosman, Josh (February 19, 2001). "Romney's past is more a working class zero". New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/ad_mitt_mistakes_jRmd2LHaPIb0bbNn1ZkgaJ. 
  6. ^ Nuz zo, Jim (November 4, 2002). "A Premature Examination". National Review. http://old.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-nuzzo110402.asp. Retrieved 3 April 2011. 
  7. ^ Klein, Rick (September 26, 2002). "Positive and negative O'Brien's spouse used to portray image of insider". Boston Globe. 
  8. ^ Sacks, Pamela (2002). "Silent Partner: R. Emmet Hayes". Telegram & Gazette. http://www.pamelahsacks.com/silent-partner-r-emmet-hayes-81.htm.