Steven Pierce

For other people named Steven Pierce, see Steven Pierce (disambiguation).
Steven Pierce
Pierce c. 1983
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 4th Hampden district
In office
1979–1991
Preceded byJohn F. Coffey
Succeeded byMichael Knapik
Personal details
Born (1949-10-10) October 10, 1949 (age 75) [1]
Johnstown, New York[2]
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
Alma materUnion College (BA)
Duke University (JD)[3]
ProfessionAttorney

Steven D. Pierce (born October 10, 1949) is a retired Massachusetts jurist and politician who most recently served as chief justice of the Massachusetts Housing Court. He retired from the Housing Court September 2015.[4]

A graduate of Union College and the Duke University School of Law, Pierce worked as an attorney before being elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1978. He was the House Minority Whip (1983–1987) and the House Minority Leader (1987-1991).[5]

Pierce sought the Republican nomination for Governor in 1990. Pierce was considered the favorite to win the nomination. He won the vote at the State Convention and led his opponent William Weld in opinion polls by as much as 25%. However, on September 18, he lost the Republican Primary to Weld 61%-39%.[6] Weld later appointed Pierce to the position of Secretary of Communities and Development.[7]

In 1991, Pierce ran in a special election for the Massachusetts's 1st congressional seat. He won the Republican nomination, but lost in the general election to Democrat John Olver.[8]

Pierce rejoined the Weld administration in 1993 as a senior adviser to the governor.[9] In 1994, he was appointed Executive Director of the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (later known as MassHousing).[10] He left MassHousing in 2001 to serve as chief legal counsel to acting governor Jane M. Swift.[11]

Shortly before her term expired, Swift nominated Pierce to be the chief justice of the Massachusetts Housing Court. He was confirmed by the Massachusetts Governor's Council 6-2.[12]

  1. ^ Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1989-90.
  2. ^ Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1989-90.
  3. ^ Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1989-90.
  4. ^ "Housing Court Chief Justice Steven Pierce to Retire". Archived from the original on 2015-07-13.
  5. ^ Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1989-90.
  6. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA Governor - R Primary Race - Sep 18, 1990".
  7. ^ Frank Phillips and Scot Lehigh (January 17, 1993). "Weld out among people so it must be mid-term". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  8. ^ "Our Campaigns - MA District 1 - Special Election Race - Jun 04, 1991".
  9. ^ Frank Phillips and Scot Lehigh (January 17, 1993). "Weld out among people so it must be mid-term". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  10. ^ "Pierce to replace housing director". Boston Globe. December 14, 1994. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  11. ^ Thomas Grillo (August 18, 2001). "Mass. Home Sales Down In 2D Quarter". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  12. ^ Elisabeth J. Beardsley (December 19, 2002). "Swift crony made judge amid furor on Gov's Council". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved 2010-07-21.