Needham's Glen Shor Sworn In as Secretary of Finance

A Needham resident replacing the Secretary of Finance and Administration was sworn in yesterday. 

Needham resident Glen Shor replaces the outgoing Secretary of Finance Jay Gonzalez, and is among four new secretaries appointed by the Governor, announced mid-December.

“I am honored by my appointment as Secretary of Administration and Finance,” Shor said in a press release. “This is a critical period for the Commonwealth, and I look forward to helping the Governor manage the Commonwealth’s finances responsibly and effectively.”

As Secretary, Shor's responsibilities include preparation of the governor’s budget recommendation, development of the Commonwealth’s capital budget, and managing state government's budgetary activities. Shor will also serve as Chair of the Board of the Health Connector, and as part of the Board of the newly-created Health Policy Commission.

Shor is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School and currently serves as the executive director of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, the state's official public health insurance exchange. He lives in town with his wife and daughter. 

It is the season to be sworn in following elections in November, as Joe Kennedy III was sworn in to Congress,  and William O'Donnell Sworn In as Register of Deeds. 

Below is the full press release from the Governor's Office: 

“I am delighted to welcome Secretary Shor to this key role within our administration,” said Governor Patrick. “Glen brings policy depth and leadership skill to our ambitious agenda to make government work better and invest in a better tomorrow.”

Prior to his appointment, Shor served as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Health Insurance Connector Authority.  While at the Health Connector, Shor oversaw the programs, policies, operations and staff of the Commonwealth's official public health insurance Exchange – a cornerstone of the state's historic health care reform law of 2006 and the model for health insurance Exchanges nationwide under the landmark federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Prior to his work at the Health Connector, Shor served as Assistant Secretary for Health Care Policy and Deputy General Counsel at the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, where he was a lead policy person for implementing health care reform in Massachusetts.

“I am honored by my appointment as Secretary of Administration and Finance,” said Secretary Shor. “This is a critical period for the Commonwealth, and I look forward to helping the Governor manage the Commonwealth’s finances responsibly and effectively.”

“Glen has done a terrific job as Executive Director of the Health Connector,” said outgoing Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez. “He has been instrumental in helping the Commonwealth achieve nation-leading access to care through landmark measures that have lowered costs while maintaining quality, affordable health care for residents. I am confident that his vision and leadership will help the Patrick-Murray Administration continue to change the way government does business by identifying and implementing innovative ways to make government work better.”

As Secretary, Shor will be responsible for managing state finances, including preparation of the governor’s budget recommendation, development of the Commonwealth’s capital budget, and managing budgetary activities across state government. He will also oversee the state agencies that provide core administrative services in the Commonwealth, including the collection of state taxes, the administration of IT services and the management of human resources in state government.  Shor will serve as Chair of the Board of the Health Connector and as a member of the Board of the newly created Health Policy Commission and a number of other public authorities.

Before serving in the Patrick-Murray Administration, Shor was a senior policy director and Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts, a senior policy aide and counsel to former US Representative Martin T. Meehan and US Senator Charles E. Schumer, and a public interest attorney defending the constitutionality of campaign finance laws in US Supreme Court litigation.

Shor holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in History. He lives in Needham with his wife and daughter.