Travaglini names leadership team

ewly installed Senate President Robert E. Travaglini (D-East Boston) named his leadership team Jan. 8, tapping Frederick Berry as majority leader and Therese Murray of Plymouth as chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

     Berry replaces Linda Melconian of Springfield, while Murray is taking over the post held by Mark Montigny of New Bedford. Montigny, who was named to his post in 1999 by then-Senate President Thomas Birmingham, will chair a new Senate Committee on Long Term Debt.

     Travaglini also named Stan Rosenberg of Amherst to a new post, president pro tempore. Other than presiding in the president's absence, Rosenberg will be assigned ceremonial responsibilities and "coordinate policy development," according to a statement released by Travaglini's office.

     Other appointments included Marian Walsh of Boston as assistant majority leader, Joan Menard of Somerset as majority whip, Robert Havern as assistant majority whip, Steven Panagiotakos of Lowell as vice-chairman of Ways and Means, and Marc Pacheco of Taunton as chief of the Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee.

     The Committee on Education, Arts and Humanities is being chaired by Robert Antonioni of Leominster.