Tom Reilly: Biography

Tom Reilly was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, and learned the values of hard work and responsibility from his parents, who immigrated to this country from Ireland. His mother worked as a maid. His father was a laborer for the city of Springfield who worked his way up to foreman and helped lay many of the city's streets and sidewalks that remain in place today. As a boy working alongside his father on summer road crews, Tom gained an early appreciation for what it means to be a part of a team and what it takes to get a job done right.

Tom's parents knew that education was the only path to real opportunity in America. A product of both Springfield public schools and Cathedral High School, Tom became the first person in his family to attend college. After one year at Saint Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, he returned to Springfield to attend American International College where he graduated in 1964. 

Tom's early career included brief stints as an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency in Virginia and then in labor relations with Ford Motor Company in Detroit before he returned to Massachusetts to pursue a career as a lawyer. He earned his law degree in 1970 from Boston College Law School.

As a young law student working at South Boston Legal Services, as a prosecutor fighting on behalf of victims of crime and abuse, and as an Attorney General dedicated to protecting the public and standing up for what he believes, Tom has spent his career fighting against injustice, speaking for those without a voice, and working to make things better for the people and families of Massachusetts.

He served as a prosecutor for the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and a civil rights lawyer for the Attorney General's Office before going into private practice. In 1983, Tom returned to public service as the First Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County . When the position of Middlesex DA opened up in 1990, Tom ran for the job and won.

As District Attorney, Tom brought a fresh approach to fighting crime and protecting people and communities. His Community Based Justice program brought together mayors, school officials, prosecutors, police and others to identify young people headed for a life of crime, prison or worse. The program became a national model for preventing youth violence. After two terms as DA, Tom ran for Attorney General in 1998 and won again.

As Attorney General, Tom quickly established himself as a leader on issues that matter to the people of Massachusetts: protecting children and elders; preserving access to quality, affordable health care; ensuring a competitive economy for businesses and safety and fairness for workers; making our schools better; keeping up the fight against tobacco companies; and standing up to national efforts to weaken environmental laws.

When reports surfaced about the widespread sexual abuse of children by clergy in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, Tom stood up to the church hierarchy and its lawyers and forced them to release all records related to abusive priests. His office investigated the actions of church management and issued a landmark report that detailed their complete failure to protect children from abuse and presented the steps necessary to make sure this terrible tragedy was never repeated.

When Harvard Pilgrim was on the brink of financial ruin, Tom stepped in and took prompt action to protect coverage for the plan's one million members and make sure doctors and health care providers were paid. Today, Harvard Pilgrim has returned to financial health and is consistently rated among the top health plans nationally.

And when cost recovery efforts on the Big Dig had reached a standstill, Tom stood up again and assumed responsibility for the job.

Tom is currently serving his second term as Attorney General. He ran unopposed for re-election in 2002.

The Boston Herald said, “Good leaders have the capacity to bring people together … Tom Reilly has been that kind of leader.” On Tom's actions to protect immigrants in the workplace, the Boston Globe's Brian McGrory wrote, “Reilly is the rare politician who is making Massachusetts proud.” In a profile, the New York Times said, “To supporters and even former detractors, Mr. Reilly's record reflects sheer tenacity rather than political ambition.”

The Wall Street Journal included Tom in their profile of top state AG's citing his “advocacy for victims, particularly children.” And Boston Magazine said, “Since taking office he has boldly and repeatedly inserted himself into controversial situations in which other politicians have sat on their hands.”

Tom and his wife, Ruth, whom he met when both were college students in Western Massachusetts , were married in 1966. They have three daughters, five granddaughters and a grandson. 

Reilly Campaign Issues

• Creating jobs by making innovation the centerpiece of our state's economic agenda;

• Investing in our children's education – turning around our failing schools; closing the shameful achievement gap between the rich and the poor; and reaching new heights in math and science, so our kids can compete in a global economy;

• Prioritizing public higher education, including making the University of Massachusetts one of the top ten public universities in the country (right now it's ranked 50th);

• Making health care more affordable for all of our families and expanding access to insurance and the highest quality care;

• Making our streets and neighborhoods safe again by cracking down on violent criminals and repeat offenders and giving our young people hope that there's a better life for them than anything that gangs and drugs have to offer; and

• Developing new energy sources that are cheaper, cleaner and more efficient.

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