Keiko Orrall
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 12th Bristol district
In office
September 22, 2011 – January 5, 2019
Preceded byStephen Canessa
Succeeded byNorman Orrall
Personal details
Born
Keiko Matsudo
Political partyRepublican
SpouseNorman Orrall
Children2
EducationSmith College (BA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Keiko Matsudo Orrall is an American Republican politician, formerly a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 12th Bristol district, which includes Berkley, Ward 3 – Precinct B and Ward 4 in Taunton, Lakeville, and Precincts 2, 4 and 5 of Middleborough. On February 13, 2018, she announced that she would not seek reelection and instead run for Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In doing so, she became the first Asian-American woman to seek constitutional office in Massachusetts.

She is a former member of the Republican National Committee, serving as the National Committeewoman of the Massachusetts Republican Party.

Early life

Orrall is Japanese American and was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father is from Hawaii and her mother is from Indiana. She went to Walnut Hills High School. She graduated from Smith College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While attending Smith, she met her husband, Norman, who was studying at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. They have two grown children and currently reside in Lakeville, Massachusetts.

Before being elected to the Massachusetts legislature, Orrall worked as a public school teacher and had served on a School Needs Study Committee and was elected to the Lakeville Finance Committee.[1]

Orrall is a strong supporter of the military and talks about the influence of many family members who served in the military. Two of her uncles served in the all Japanese American 442nd Infantry Regiment of the United States Army during World War II and were awarded Purple Hearts.[2]

Political career

State representative

In June 2011, Stephen Canessa announced that he was resigning his position as representative in the 12th Bristol district. A special election was scheduled to fill his seat for the remainder of the term.[3] Orrall ran against Lakeville selectman Derek Maksy in the Republican primary, defeating him with 59% of the vote.[4][5] Orrall faced Middleborough Democrat Roger Brunelle in the special general election, and defeated him with 54% of the vote.[6] Orrall was subsequently re-elected in November 2012, 2014, and 2016, running unopposed the latter two times.

Orrall served on the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technology, and the Joint Committee on Export Development. Orrall was vocal against a proposal for a tribal casino plan for a location in East Taunton, Massachusetts. She consistently called for more compensation to surrounding communities to mitigate the impact of the casino, especially on those towns she represented.[7] Orrall also played a role in the issues surrounding the water levels in Lakeville's Assawompset Pond Complex.[8]

2018 bid for State Treasurer

On February 13, 2018, Orrall announced her candidacy for Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts. In November, Orrall lost to incumbent Democrat Deb Goldberg in the 2018 Massachusetts general election.[9]

Electoral history

2011

Orrall defeated Democrat Roger Brunelle in a special election held in September 2011 for the Massachusetts General Court 12th Bristol District seat.

2012

Massachusetts General Court 12th Bristol District, 2012[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Keiko Orrall 10,251 57.50
Democratic Roger Brunelle 7,532 42.20

2014

Orrall was unopposed in both the primary election and the general election, and was re-elected to the Massachusetts General Court.

2016

Orrall again ran unopposed, and was re-elected to the Massachusetts General Court.

2018

Orrall was unsuccessful in her bid for the position of Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Treasurer and Receiver-General election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Deb Goldberg (incumbent) 1,761,282 67.6
Republican Keiko Orrall 749,596 28.8
Green-Rainbow Jamie Guerin 92,090 3.5
n/a Write-ins 1,590 0.1
Total votes 2,604,558 100.0
Democratic hold

References

  1. ↑ "Meet the Candidate: Keiko Orrall". Fall River Herald News. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "About – Keiko Orrall for State Treasurer". votekeiko.com. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  3. ↑ Elwell, Alice (June 23, 2011). "State Rep. Stephen Canessa resigns to work for health group". The Enterprise. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Clark, Anika (August 9, 2011). "2 Lakeville Republicans square off in 12th Bristol primary". The Standard Times. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  5. ↑ Tuoti, Gerry (August 23, 2011). "Brunelle, Orrall emerge winners in primary election for Rep. Canessa's seat". Fall River Herald News. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  6. ↑ Cheney, Kyle (September 22, 2011). "Orrall, Lakeville Republican, wins House seat". Boston Globe. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  7. ↑ Brennan, George (March 1, 2013). "Politicians push for casino padding". Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  8. ↑ Wagner, Jeffrey (March 3, 2013). "State Reps. Schmid, Orrall discuss management of Assawompset Pond Complex water levels". Fall River Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  9. ↑ "GOP's Keiko Orrall launches run for state treasurer". Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  10. ↑ "2012 State Representative General Election 12th Bristol District". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
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