BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — President-elect Joe Biden formally nominated Boston Mayor Mary Walsh on Friday to be the next U.S. Secretary of Labor.
If confirmed to the position with the incoming Biden Administration, Marty Walsh would be the first U.S. Labor Secretary in 50 years to also be a union member.
"He's now in his second term as a successful mayor of the iconic American city of Boston, who always puts working people first," Biden said Friday in Delaware. "Marty understands, like I do, that the middle class built this country, and that unions built the middle class. He sees how union workers have been holding this country together during this crisis."
Walsh, a 53-year-old Dorchester native who has served as Mayor of Boston for seven years, commented Thursday night on his nomination to a top cabinet position.
"Working people, labor unions, and those fighting every day for their shot at the middle class are the backbone of our economy and of this country," Walsh tweeted. "As Secretary of Labor, I’ll work just as hard for you as you do for your families and livelihoods. You have my word."
After officially naming Walsh as his nominee, President-elect Biden admitted that he had also considered someone else for the role of Labor Secretary.
"I also want to say, I did give serious consideration to nominating my friend Bernie Sanders for this position," Biden said. "I'm confident he could've done a fantastic job. I can't think of more passionate, devoted ally to working people in this country. But after Tuesday's results in Georgia, giving Democratic control to the United States Senate... Bernie and I agreed, as a matter of fact Bernie said 'We can't put control of the Senate at risk on the outcome of a special election in Vermont.' He agreed we couldn't take that chance."
Biden said he and Senator Sanders also discussed how they will work closely together and travel the country to help Walsh meet with working people as Secretary of Labor, and that Sanders plans to help Walsh work on a "shared agenda of increasing worker power."
"I want to thank Bernie for his continued friendship and leadership, and I look forward to us working together along with Marty," Biden said. "And, he thinks I made a good choice."
Until a new mayor is elected, Walsh will be temporarily replaced in office by Boston City Councilor Kim Janey, who will be the first Black person and the first woman to hold the office.
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo was also nominated for the position of Commerce Secretary in the Biden Administration on Friday. Biden called her "one of the most effective, forward-thinking governors in the United States."
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Written by Brit Smith
(Photo: Getty Images)