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| term_end = February 16, 2022
| term_end = February 16, 2022
| predecessor = Robert Hargraves
| predecessor = Robert Hargraves
| successor = Margaret Scarsdale
| children = 3
| children = 3
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
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| birth_place = [[Salem, Massachusetts]]
| birth_place = [[Salem, Massachusetts]]
| spouse = Steve Harrington
| spouse = Steve Harrington
| website = {{ubl| {{url|https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/SCH1|Government website}}| {{url|https://repharrington.com/|Official website}}| {{url|https://attorneyharrington.com/|Business website}}}}
| website = {{ubl| {{URL|https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/SCH1|Government website}}| {{URL|https://repharrington.com/|Official website}}| {{URL|https://attorneyharrington.com/|Business website}}}}
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| profession = [[Lawyer|Attorney]]
| profession = [[Lawyer|Attorney]]
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}}
}}


'''Sheila Curran Harrington''' (born September 8, 1960) is an American politician and attorney. She represented the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives's 1st Middlesex district|1st Middlesex]] [[Massachusetts House of Representatives's 1st Middlesex district|district]] in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] from 2011 until February 2022, when she resigned to take up the position of Clerk Magistrate of the Gardner District Court.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-19 |title=Baker taps GOP Rep. Shelia Harrington for court post |url=https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2022/01/19/baker-taps-gop-rep-shelia-harrington-for-court-post |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=Sentinel and Enterprise |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mass. Governor’s Council unanimously approve 2 first-degree murder commutations |url=https://whdh.com/news/mass-governors-council-unanimously-approve-2-first-degree-murder-commutations/ |access-date=2023-01-04 |language=en-US}}</ref> She is a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican party]].<ref name="Campaign">{{cite web |title=About Sheila |url=http://www.repharrington.com/?page_id=11 |access-date=19 April 2015 |website=Sheila Harrington for Massachusetts State Representative |publisher=The Committee to Elect Sheila Harrington}}</ref>
'''Sheila Curran Harrington''' (born September 8, 1960) is an American politician and attorney. She represented the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives's 1st Middlesex district|1st Middlesex district]] in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] from 2011 until February 2022, when she resigned to take up the position of Clerk Magistrate of the Gardner District Court.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-19 |title=Baker taps GOP Rep. Shelia Harrington for court post |url=https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2022/01/19/baker-taps-gop-rep-shelia-harrington-for-court-post |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=Sentinel and Enterprise |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mass. Governor’s Council unanimously approve 2 first-degree murder commutations |url=https://whdh.com/news/mass-governors-council-unanimously-approve-2-first-degree-murder-commutations/ |access-date=2023-01-04 |language=en-US}}</ref> She is a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican party]].<ref name="Campaign">{{cite web |title=About Sheila |url=http://www.repharrington.com/?page_id=11 |access-date=19 April 2015 |website=Sheila Harrington for Massachusetts State Representative |publisher=The Committee to Elect Sheila Harrington}}</ref>


Her district included the towns of [[Groton, Massachusetts|Groton]], [[Dunstable, Massachusetts|Dunstable]], [[Pepperell, Massachusetts|Pepperell]], [[Townsend, Massachusetts|Townsend]], [[Ashby, Massachusetts|Ashby]] and a precinct in [[Ayer, Massachusetts|Ayer]] and [[Devens, Massachusetts|Devens]].
Her district included the towns of [[Groton, Massachusetts|Groton]], [[Dunstable, Massachusetts|Dunstable]], [[Pepperell, Massachusetts|Pepperell]], [[Townsend, Massachusetts|Townsend]], [[Ashby, Massachusetts|Ashby]] and a precinct in [[Ayer, Massachusetts|Ayer]] and [[Devens, Massachusetts|Devens]].
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Sheila has been a practicing attorney in Massachusetts for over 30 years. She continues to have a law practice in Groton, Massachusetts along with two other attorneys.
Sheila has been a practicing attorney in Massachusetts for over 30 years. She continues to have a law practice in Groton, Massachusetts along with two other attorneys.


One of Harrington's most notable positions is her stance on [[Transgender rights]]. In an [[op-ed]] from the [[Lowell Sun]] she wrote, how after "passionately protesting a bill on the Massachusetts House Floor", she came to realize, that was wrong in her own mind.
One of Harrington's most notable positions is her stance on [[Transgender rights]]. In an [[op-ed]] from the [[Lowell Sun]] she documented how she came to change her position from opposition to support of transgender rights., how after "passionately protesting a bill on the Massachusetts House Floor", she came to realize, that was wrong in her own mind.


In an [[op-ed]] from the [[Lowell Sun]], Harrington described how she came to change her position from opposition to support of [[Transgender rights in the United States|transgender rights]].<ref name="Lowell Sun">{{cite web |date=10 July 2017 |title=My Journey from Opposing to Backing Transgender Rights |url=https://www.lowellsun.com/2017/07/10/rep-sheila-harrington-my-journey-from-opposing-to-backing-transgender-rights/ |work=Lowell Sun}}</ref>
Saying, "As a member of the Legislature, and a member of the Judiciary Committee, it has been my job to attend hearings and to listen, understand, look at the facts, and refuse to give in to fear or vague speculation as to what could happen. I examined this debate with a more open and honest heart and mind during the hearings that followed my speech six years ago. I listened to law enforcement who offered their professional advice that transgender protections lead to virtually no increase in public safety incidents. I listened to parents who told heartbreaking stories of the hardships their transgender children had faced. I listened to transgender men and women who have faced harassment simply for being who they are. I tried to put myself in their shoes.

I also listened to opponents. However, they did not testify from personal experience or data. Their opposition was overwhelmingly based upon speculation as to the issues we might encounter if this bill passes. Their opposition was rooted in what could happen, not what has happened. Their opposition stemmed from myths, stereotypes, and misconceptions about who transgender people are and what this law would do. Now, we have seen in the past year that their speculation was wrong. This law has only made Massachusetts a stronger, more welcoming place for all.

I have been well aware of the arguments made against transgender rights, because I once made them myself. But I also know now that they are wrong.

Many people have said that they could not support the transgender bill because of their faith. I have been raised as in the [[Roman Catholic]] faith all my life. I went to 16 years of [[Catholic school]], including four years at Providence College. I do not purport to be a religious scholar or an expert on the Bible, but there are a few things that I have certainly taken from my faith. I believe God told us to “Love one another as I have loved you!” and he didn’t add, 'unless they are transgender.' Nor did he say, 'Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me … unless they are transgender.' I now support transgender protections fully because of my faith, not in spite of it!"<ref name="Lowell Sun">{{cite web|title= My Journey from Opposing to Backing Transgender Rights|url=https://www.lowellsun.com/2017/07/10/rep-sheila-harrington-my-journey-from-opposing-to-backing-transgender-rights/|work= Lowell Sun|date=10 July 2017}}</ref>

"Transgender equality is not about a new or special privilege. It is about preventing discrimination, plain and simple. We must have the courage to do what we believe is right. I was wrong six years ago. I’m proud to have done my part last year to make Massachusetts a better, more equal, fairer state for everyone, and I will vote in 2018 to continue treating transgender people fairly and equally."<ref name="Lowell Sun"/>


==Electoral history==
==Electoral history==
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|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|! colspan="4" |2020 Massachusetts House of Representatives General Election, 1st Middlesex District<ref name="ballotpedia.org"/>
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|Republican
|'''Sheila Harrington'''
|13,203
|51.5
|-
|Democrat
|Deborah Busser
|12,407
|48.4
|}
|}


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[[Category:Republican Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Women state legislators in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Women state legislators in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:21st-century American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:Politicians from Salem, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Politicians from Salem, Massachusetts]]
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[[Category:Bishop Fenwick High School (Peabody, Massachusetts) alumni]]
[[Category:Bishop Fenwick High School (Peabody, Massachusetts) alumni]]
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Massachusetts General Court]]

Latest revision as of 23:22, 30 November 2024

Sheila Harrington
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 1st Middlesex district
In office
January 5, 2011 – February 16, 2022
Preceded byRobert Hargraves
Succeeded byMargaret Scarsdale
Personal details
Born (1960-09-08) September 8, 1960 (age 64)
Salem, Massachusetts
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSteve Harrington
Children3
Education
ProfessionAttorney
Website

Sheila Curran Harrington (born September 8, 1960) is an American politician and attorney. She represented the 1st Middlesex district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2011 until February 2022, when she resigned to take up the position of Clerk Magistrate of the Gardner District Court.[1][2] She is a member of the Republican party.[3]

Her district included the towns of Groton, Dunstable, Pepperell, Townsend, Ashby and a precinct in Ayer and Devens. She served as Ranking Member on the Judiciary Committee and as a member of both the Committee on Rules and the House Committee on Personnel and Administration. She had previously served as the Ranking Member on the House Post Audit and Oversight Committee and as a Member of the Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee.

Early life and education

[edit]

Sheila Harrington was born in Salem, Massachusetts and grew up in Danvers, Massachusetts. She attended high school in Peabody at Bishop Fenwick High School[3] She then attended Providence College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in 1982. Following college, she attended the New England School of Law and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1986.[3][4]

Career

[edit]

Sheila has been a practicing attorney in Massachusetts for over 30 years. She continues to have a law practice in Groton, Massachusetts along with two other attorneys.

One of Harrington's most notable positions is her stance on Transgender rights. In an op-ed from the Lowell Sun she documented how she came to change her position from opposition to support of transgender rights., how after "passionately protesting a bill on the Massachusetts House Floor", she came to realize, that was wrong in her own mind.

In an op-ed from the Lowell Sun, Harrington described how she came to change her position from opposition to support of transgender rights.[5]

Electoral history

[edit]
2010 Massachusetts House of Representatives General Election, 1st Middlesex District[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sheila Harrington 10,378 62.5
Democrat Jesse Reich 6,222 38.5
2012 Massachusetts House of Representatives General Election, 1st Middlesex District[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sheila Harrington 17,592 100
Unopposed N/A N/A N/A
2014 Massachusetts House of Representatives General Election, 1st Middlesex District[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sheila Harrington 9,958 64.3
Democrat Gene Rauhala 5,530 35.7
2016 Massachusetts House of Representatives General Election, 1st Middlesex District[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sheila Harrington 14,984 65.2
Democrat Matthew T. Meneghini 8,003 34.8
2018 Massachusetts House of Representatives General Election, 1st Middlesex District[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sheila Harrington 15,340 100
Unopposed N/A N/A N/A
2020 Massachusetts House of Representatives General Election, 1st Middlesex District[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sheila Harrington 13,203 51.5
Democrat Deborah Busser 12,407 48.4

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Baker taps GOP Rep. Shelia Harrington for court post". Sentinel and Enterprise. 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  2. ^ "Mass. Governor's Council unanimously approve 2 first-degree murder commutations". Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  3. ^ a b c "About Sheila". Sheila Harrington for Massachusetts State Representative. The Committee to Elect Sheila Harrington. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Sheila C. Harrington". malegislature.gov. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  5. ^ "My Journey from Opposing to Backing Transgender Rights". Lowell Sun. 10 July 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Sheila Harrington".
[edit]
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