Joe Shekarchi

K. Joseph Shekarchi[1] (born May 17, 1962) is an American politician and who is the Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. A Democrat, he has represented District 23 in Warwick since January 1, 2013.[2] He was chairman of the House Labor Committee until his Democratic colleagues elected him as the House majority leader in November 2016.[3] After four years as majority leader, his colleagues elected him speaker in November 2020.[4]

Joe Shekarchi
224th Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Assumed office
January 5, 2021
Preceded byNicholas Mattiello
Majority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 2017 – January 5, 2021
Preceded byJohn DeSimone
Succeeded byChris Blazejewski
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
from the 23rd district
Assumed office
January 1, 2013
Preceded byRobert Flaherty
Personal details
Born (1962-05-17) May 17, 1962
Political partyDemocratic
EducationSuffolk University (BA, JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Education

Shekarchi earned his bachelor's degree in government from Suffolk University and his JD from the Suffolk University Law School. He attended Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island prior to attending Suffolk.

Elections
  • 2012 When District 23 Democratic Representative Robert Flaherty failed to qualify for the ballot, Shekarchi was unopposed for the September 11, 2012 Democratic Primary, winning with 536 votes[5] and won the November 6, 2012 General election with 4,302 votes (67.9%) against Republican nominee John Falkowski.[6]

Personal

Shekarchi is openly gay.[7] He is the second openly gay speaker of the Rhode Island House, after Gordon Fox.

References
  1. "Joseph Shekarchi's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  2. "Representative K. Joseph Shekarchi". Providence, Rhode Island: Rhode Island General Assembly. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  3. "State of Rhode Island General Assembly". State of Rhode Island General Assembly. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  4. Anderson, Patrick (2020-11-05). "Shekarchi secures the votes to become House speaker, replacing Mattiello". The Providence Journal.
  5. "2012 Statewide Primary, Representative in General Assembly District 23". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  6. "2012 General Election, Representative in General Assembly District 23". Providence, Rhode Island: Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  7. Fitzpatrick, Edward (2020-11-05). "Joe Shekarchi's moment has arrived". The Boston Globe.
Rhode Island House of Representatives
Preceded by
John DeSimone		 Majority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
2017–present		 Incumbent
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