Representative Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has been unanimously re-elected by his Republican colleagues to serve as Minority Leader of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
The vote to select Jones as Minority Leader took place on January 6, the first day of the 2021-2022 legislative session. He will lead a 30-member House caucus comprised of 28 returning members and two freshman legislators who were elected in November of 2020: Kelly Pease of Westfield, who claimed the seat vacated by Democrat John Velis when he ran for state Senate, and Steven Xiarhos of West Barnstable, who won the seat formerly held by Republican Randy Hunt of Sandwich, who decided not to run for re-election.
“Having the support of both the new and returning House Republican Caucus members means a lot to me,” said Jones. “I appreciate my colleagues’ vote of confidence and I thank them for giving me the opportunity to continue to lead the caucus over the next two years.”
In his inaugural remarks, Jones cited the many challenges created by the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, which necessitated swearing in most legislators remotely this year, rather than in-person in the House Chamber. He expressed a desire to work with new House Speaker Ronald Mariano (D-Quincy) to “find common ground in the year ahead to ensure that the critical needs of the residents of the Commonwealth are addressed.”
“I commend and applaud my colleagues for their leadership and strength shown during these unprecedented times,” he said. “The citizens of our districts have needed us more now than ever before to help them navigate these challenges. We have been forced to spend far less time on Beacon Hill and have had the opportunity to be available locally to lend support, encouragement and even sympathy. Sadly, we have all lost valued members of our districts and the sadness each community has had to endure is unimaginable.”
Jones struck an optimistic note in his remarks, predicting that “the House of Representatives is up to the many challenges that we face,” while adding that he is “confident that we as a Commonwealth will find the strength to continue moving forward and that a brighter future is ahead.”
A lifelong North Reading resident, Jones was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994. Jones continues to maintain a perfect voting record. He has never missed a roll call and has now cast 7,549 consecutive votes as a member of the House.
