By John Lynds
Governor Charlie Baker’s Chief Secretary and former East Boston State Representative Carlo Basile announced he will leave the Baker Administration in January to work in the private sector.
“I have accomplished what I wanted to accomplish in the two years in the Governor Baker’s Administration and now it is time for a career change so I can begin spending more time with my two boys, Carlo and Christian,” said Basile. “The Governor has been a wonderful friend and mentor and has been really supportive and respectful of my decision.”
Basile, who acted as conduit between the Governor’s Office and the state legislature, accepted the Chief Secretary post in December 2014 after winning his last election as Eastie’s state representative that November by margin of 77 percent to 23 percent. Basile also helped oversee intergovernmental affairs and assisted the Governor in selecting applicants for boards and commissions.
“Carlo (Basile) has been a big part of our administration’s success when it comes to crossing party lines and working with the legislature to achieve our agenda and I hate to see him go, but family comes first,” said Baker in a statement.
Basile will team up with his former colleague in the House, Michael Costello, join Costello’s downtown lobbying firm Smith, Costello & Crawford.
Basile was first elected to the House during a special election in 2007 after former Senator Anthony Petruccelli vacated his state representative seat to become state senator. Basile topped the ticket in a four-way race that summer.
While in office Basile served as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Financial Services with Petruccelli before being appointed Chair of Veterans Affairs by Speaker Robert DeLeo.
As Veterans Affairs Chair, Basile co-authored the Valor Act, which was signed into law be Governor Deval Patrick. The law calls for state money to be granted to wounded veterans returning home from overseas conflicts that require home modifications to accommodate handicaps.
Basile also co-founded the annual Wounded Vet Ride in the area along with former U.S. Marine Andrew Biggio that raises money for wounded veterans.
Basile was born and raised in Eastie and has spent his life giving back to his community. Basile attended East Boston public schools and later St. Dominic Savio High School. He then took his studies to Suffolk University where he pursued a degree in criminal justice.
After attending Suffolk University, Basile sought opportunities to improve the quality of life in his community. While on the Governor’s Warrant Task Force in 2001, he worked closely with local law enforcement officers to locate and arraign individuals that were issued warrants. In 2002, he became Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, where he addressed the agency’s personnel, labor and employment issues and served as liaison to the Governor’s office and other state agencies.
Throughout his life Basile has been active in many community and athletic activities throughout his life, whether it was basketball at the Salesian Boys Club or street hockey with the local teams.
Recently, he turned to coaching basketball and soccer so the community’s children could have the experiences that he was lucky enough to have as a youth. He has also been active in the local Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the local Kiwanis Club, and sits on the board of the Salesian Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA of East Boston.