“Harriett didn't just give me opportunities, she made them for me, and then pushed to see that I took advantage of them. She's been a very important person in my life -- without her, I never would have been chosen as a Fulbright Scholar.”
— Christina Zahara
Pentucket 2000
Groveland/Georgetown
Biography
Representative Harriett L. Stanley (D-West Newbury) is a fifth term legislator who represents seven Essex County communities – six small towns and part of the city of Haverhill. She's known for her high-energy, hands-on approach to her job and is often seen at local events, ranging from guest lecturer in high school government classes to stand-in chef at local senior centers.
 Harriett (at the right, in surgical scrubs) discusses robotic surgery techniques while on an official visit to Brigham and Women's Hospital. |
From Wall Street to Main Street
During most of the '80s, Harriett worked as an investment banker in public finance, commuting between Massachusetts and Wall Street. A transportation finance specialist, her job was to structure large capital projects, as well as analyze their economic impact on states and regions. It turned out to be ideal training for her job as State Representative.
A Legislator Who Gets Things Done
Harriett has always been known as someone who gets things done for the 2nd Essex District. Accomplishments during her tenure include:
- Bringing a substantial increase – exceeding $90 million – in state funding back to the 2nd Essex District.
- Leading the Legislature's efforts to reform Chapter 40B, the comprehensive permit law.
- Winning the Pioneer Institute's national 2003 Better Government Competition with her plan called "Re-engineering Medicaid."
- Bringing about $50 million in new school construction back to the 2nd Essex communities.
- Overseeing legislation abolishing county government - which saved the Commonwealth more than $1 billion dollars.
- Structuring a trust fund to protect the state's $8 billion tobacco settlement.
Winning runs for the roses! Here's Harriett with victory bouquets after another election victory.Give 'em Hell, Harriett!
Harriett was born in Northern Virginia in March, 1950. One of her earliest memories is hearing President Harry S Truman on the radio and the man from Missouri has remained one of her political heroes for nearly half a century. She attended public schools in Falls Church, Virginia and graduated in 1972 from the College of William and Mary. Harriett also earned a masters degree in journalism from Boston University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Harriett first ran for the State Legislature in 1994, a heavily Republican year all over America. Nonetheless, she was one of only 33 Democrats in the nation to defeat an incumbent Republican.
A "College Degree" in State Budgeting
Harriett got a fast start on Beacon Hill. During her first term, she won a seat on the House Ways and Means Committee and eight months later was named Assistant Vice Chair. The position put her third in command of one of the legislature's most powerful committees. Harriett also served as a "conferee" or member of the budget negotiating team from 1997-2000 — which is the equivalent of a college degree in state budgeting!
Reforming Housing Law
While helping lead Ways and Means, Harriett won "The Extra Mile" award from the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance for her willingness to use her Harvard M.B.A. skills to analyze the causes of homelessness, not just deal with the symptoms. Today, she remains active in housing issues as Chair of the West Newbury 40-B Compliance Committee.
This session, Harriett was named to the Governor's Commission on Chapter 40B, where she played a significant role in re-working the Commonwealth's Chapter 40B housing law. The data that her office researched and formulated for the Commission won wide praise, with one industry engineer observing that the report contained some of the "best work done by state government in 20 years."
Re-engineering Health Care
From 2001-2003, Harriett served as chair of the House Health Care Committee. As such, she oversaw one of the Commonwealth's toughest public policy areas because health care drives a good portion of the state economy. She also co-chaired the House of Representatives Medicaid Working Group as it looked for ways to make the Commonwealth's largest program more efficient. However, in early 2003, she was replaced and now chairs the Caucus of Women Legislators.
In June 2003, Harriett's work on Medicaid identified ways in which the program could save millions of dollars. This resulted in her winning the 2003 Pioneer Institute's national Better Government Competition.
In Her Spare Time
When she is not working in the House or her District, Harriett sails with friends on the Parker River in Newbury, provides foster care for lost or abused animals, and dabbles in photography. She, her dog Kearney, and stray cats live in West Newbury.