Maria Duaime Robinsonis an American politician who served as a member of theMassachusetts House of Representativesfor the 6th Middlesex district from 2019 to 2022. In September 2021, she was nominated by PresidentJoe Bidento serve asassistant secretary of energy for electricity delivery and energy reliability,but the White House withdrew her nomination on June 8, 2022.
Maria Robinson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Director of theGrid Deployment Office | |
| Assumed office July 19, 2022 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Patricia A. Hoffman |
| Member of theMassachusetts House of Representatives from the6th Middlesexdistrict | |
| In office January 2, 2019 – July 19, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Walsh |
| Succeeded by | Priscila Sousa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 25, 1987 South Korea |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Matthew Robinson |
| Residence(s) | Framingham, Massachusetts,U.S. |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology(SB) University of Tulsa(MJEL) |
Early life and education
editBorn inSouth Korea,Robinson was adopted by American parents of Irish-German Catholic descent fromPennsylvania.She attendedBishop Hoban High SchoolinWilkes-Barre,before attendingMassachusetts Institute of Technologywhere she graduated with aBachelor of Science.She later attended theUniversity of Tulsa,where earned aMaster of Studies in Law.[1]
Career
editRobinson became a member of theFraminghamDemocratic Committee and was a member of the Framingham Town Meeting. She became the first Korean-American elected to theMassachusetts General Court.Previously, she led Advanced Energy Economy’s program on wholesale markets, including engagement atFederal Energy Regulatory Commissionand the regional transmission organizations. Prior to that, she focused on regulatory issues relating to energy and air, including leading the organization’s state Clean Power Plan campaign, which covered over two dozen states across the country. She managed report development and data-driven analysis at the state and national level. Robinson was employed by Navigant Consulting in the renewable energy and energy efficiency practices, supporting the state of Massachusetts in analyzing and procuring contractors for statewide renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. She interned with theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency’s office of Water and in the office of CongressmanJay Inslee.[2]
Robinson was the first Korean-American elected to the Massachusetts State Legislature. In 2018, she overwhelmingly defeated the competing write-in candidates with nearly 78% of the votes. Her district lies solely within the city of Framingham, covering eleven of its eighteen precincts. Robinson serves on the House Committee on Technology and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy, the Joint Committee on Export Development, and the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.[3][4][5][6]
She ran for a second term in2020,and was endorsed by the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus.[7]She was reelected, receiving 98.0% of votes cast.[8]
In June 2021, Robinson was reportedly among the candidates vetted by the White House to succeedNeil Chatterjeeas a member of theFederal Energy Regulatory Commission.[9]Willie L. Phillips Jr., chair of theDistrict of Columbia Public Service Commission,was ultimately selected.[10]
In September 2021, President Biden announced that he would nominate Robinson to serve asAssistant Secretary of Energy for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.[11][12]On February 8, 2022, she appeared for a hearing before theUnited States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.On May 3, 2022, the committee was deadlocked on whether to advance her nomination to the full Senate.[13]Her nomination was withdrawn by President Biden on June 8, 2022.[14]Robinson was named director of the Grid Deployment Office in the Department of Energy and resigned from the House in July 2022. The position does not require Senate confirmation.[15]
Personal life
editRobinson and her husband Matthew live in Framingham with their daughter. She is also an award-winning music director in the Greater Boston region and enjoys playing piano for shows.[16]
"Being Korean American is really tough. Especially as an adoptee. Because I'm not embraced as being fully Korean by a lot of people. I don't speak the same language. And then, at the same time, I'm not fully American either," State Representative Robinson said in a documentary about her life.[17]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Razzaq, Zane."In 6th Middlesex, Maria Robinson becomes first Korean-American in Mass. House".MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA.RetrievedMay 4,2019.
- ^Petroni, Framingham Source Editor Susan (September 5, 2018)."Robinson Easily Wins Seat Held By Late Chris Walsh".Framingham Source.RetrievedMay 4,2019.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^"Maria Robinson. Experienced. Efficient. Energetic".Maria for Framingham. 2018.RetrievedMay 3,2019.
- ^"Maria Duaime Robinson: Committees".The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2019.RetrievedMay 3,2019.
- ^"Maria Duaime Robinson: District".The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2019.RetrievedMay 3,2019.
- ^Razzaq, Zane (November 7, 2018)."In 6th Middlesex, Maria Robinson becomes first Korean-American in Mass. House".Wicked Local.RetrievedMay 3,2019.
- ^"Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus Political Action Committee Endorsed Candidates",Mwpc.org,retrievedAugust 5,2020
- ^"Maria Robinson",ballotpedia.org,retrievedFebruary 18,2021
- ^Morehouse, Catherine (June 28, 2021)."Massachusetts state rep, favored by renewables industry, emerges among the frontrunners to fill FERC seat".Utility Dive.RetrievedNovember 13,2021.
- ^Morehouse, Catherine (September 9, 2021)."Biden taps D.C. utility regulator Phillips for FERC".POLITICO.RetrievedNovember 13,2021.
- ^"President Biden Announces Key Nominations".The White House.September 22, 2021.RetrievedNovember 13,2021.
- ^Razzaq, Zane (September 22, 2021)."Framingham's Maria Robinson to be nominated to join Biden administration".MetroWest Daily News.RetrievedNovember 13,2021.
- ^"PN1549 — Maria Duaime Robinson — Department of Energy — 117th Congress (2021-2022)".U.S. Congress.RetrievedJune 9,2022.
- ^"Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate"(Press release). The White House. June 8, 2022.RetrievedJune 9,2022.
- ^"Framingham State Rep Appointed To Federal Department Of Energy Role".Framingham, MA Patch.July 20, 2022.RetrievedJuly 21,2022.
- ^Korean American Elected Officials & Candidates: State & City
- ^A Mom's Personal Mission | 52 Documentary,retrievedSeptember 6,2022