Sen. Barrios to resign, accept Blue Cross Foundation position

Steve LeBlanc

State Sen. Jarrett Barrios, an ambitious lawmaker who’s championed public safety issues and vigorously defended the high court ruling that allowed him and other gays to marry, said Tuesday he’s resigning to lead a foundation that promotes health coverage statewide.

The Cambridge Democrat, who plans to resign in early July, said that he accepted an offer Tuesday to become president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation.

“My goal in the House and Senate has always been to improve the life opportunities of the commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens. This job’s goal is no different,” Barrios said.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, whose 3 million members make it the state’s largest health insurance company, started the separately run foundation in 2001.

Barrios, who has sat on the foundation’s board since its inception, would succeed Nancy Turnbull, who resigned to return to Harvard University’s School of Public Health. Barrios would not comment on his salary, which he said is still being negotiated.

“Jarrett’s a person of exceptional leadership ability and we believe that he will be able to continue to take our foundation to the next level of excellence,” said Philip W. Johnston, the board chairman at the foundation and the former head of the state’s Democratic Party.

“I hope the fact that we have selected a person of Latino descent will send a strong message to the Latino community that they are valued in our society,” Johnston said.

The son of Cuban immigrants, Barrios served in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002 before winning a seat in the Senate.

During his time in office, Barrios focused on public safety issues, including anti-gang and anti-bullying legislation.

But Barrios, 39, found his personal and political lives colliding when the Supreme Judicial Court ruled in 2003 that the state could no longer ban same-sex couples from marrying in Massachusetts.

Barrios, who would later marry his partner, Democratic campaign strategist and former Al Gore spokesman Doug Hattaway, forcefully defended the decision.

During one debate, Barrios pointed to his wedding ring and warned his colleagues against putting a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on the ballot.

“We are only asking you today to end the debate so that we can sleep easily knowing that while you may not live next to us, or even like us, that we will at least have the right to enjoy the same rights the rest of you enjoy,” Barrios said.

Last year, Barrios jumped into the race for Middlesex district attorney, then abruptly withdrew, saying he had much more to accomplish in the Senate seat he had held since 2003. He won re-election easily.

His departure from the 40-member chamber is not expected to change efforts to repeal gay marriage through the constitutional amendment, since his district is one of the state’s most liberal. A vote on the amendment could come as early as June 14, before Barrios leaves.

His departure is the Senate’s second in 2007. Former Senate President Robert Travaglini, D-Boston, resigned earlier this year.

Cambridge City Councilor Marjorie Decker, who along with fellow Democrat and Councilor Anthony Galluccio are potential candidates for Barrios’s seat, said she has been disappointed by Barrios.

“He decided he was no longer interested in being a senator and wanted to run for district attorney,” she said. “Now he’s going to step down midterm. His ambitions have been the principle.”

Since its creation in 2001, the foundation has issued grants totaling $21.6 million to 199 organizations. It was also a key player in developing Massachusetts’ universal health care law.

Although it operates separately from Blue Cross Blue Shield, the corporation contributed an initial endowment of $55 million to the foundation.

(Associated Press)