The election of Ronald Mariano as Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives provides a welcome dose of stability to employers at a time of unprecedented uncertainty.

The Quincy Democrat, elected Wednesday after former speaker Robert DeLeo took a job at Northeastern University, brings a moderate and diligent approach to one of the three top positions in state government. It’s an approach that will be essential as Massachusetts and the state economy continue to struggle with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaker Mariano has worked with AIM and the business community for many years on issues such as financial services and health-care reform. He served from 2001 to 2009 as the House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Financial Services, where he was a key architect of the commonwealth’s landmark health care reform of 2006 and principal proponent of transitioning the state’s auto insurance market to managed competition in 2008.

Throughout these and other debates, Speaker Mariano has always been methodical, well-prepared and willing to consider different points of view. AIM looks forward to working with the new speaker to create an environment that supports the many Massachusetts businesses still struggling to survive and rehire some of the hundreds of thousands of people who remain unemployed as we enter 2021.

Speaker Mariano was first elected to the House in December 1991 to represent the Third Norfolk District, which includes portions of Quincy, Weymouth and Holbrook. He was appointed assistant majority leader in February 2009 and majority leader in January 2011.

He was born and raised in Quincy, where he attended public school. He received his B.S. from  Northeastern University in Boston and his M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts Boston. He became a teacher and was elected to the Quincy School Committee, where he served from 1989 to 2009. He also served on the Ward 2 Democratic Committee, the Norfolk County Advisory Board, and the Quincy College Board of Governors.

The new speaker has had little time to savor his election as the Legislature rushes to wrap up a protracted and unusual two-year session. Employers should appreciate the fact that there is an experienced hand at the controls.