State Representative Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) has represented the 19th Suffolk District, including the Town of the Winthrop and a portion of the City of Revere, in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 1991. A graduate of the Boston Latin School, Representative DeLeo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern University and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School.

Having been nominated by House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, Representative DeLeo's appointment to chair the House Committee on Ways and Means was ratified on February 7, 2005. Prior to assuming his current chairmanship, DeLeo chaired the House Committee on Bills in the Third Reading; served as the House chair for the Joint Committee on Local Affairs; and chaired the House Committee on Ethics. He also formally served as chairman as was a founding member of M.W.R.A. Legislative Caucus; Legislative Caucus on Air Transportation; and was a founding member of the Legislative Caucus on Older Citizens' Concerns. Prior to his tenure on Beacon Hill, Representative DeLeo served on the Town of Winthrop's Board of Selectmen-during which time he served as Board Chairman for a total of nine years. He has also served as a Winthrop Town Meeting Member since 1977.

Since 2001, Representative DeLeo has served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Boston Association for Retarded Citizens (GBArc). He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Epilepsy Association of America, Inc; a member of the Revere League for Special Needs; the Winthrop Elks; and is President of the Winthrop Friends of the Council on Aging. Moreover, Representative DeLeo is proud to sponsor the State Legislators and Veterans Agents Annual Luncheon at the State House and to sponsor a team of walkers for the American Cancer Society's "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" pledge drive.

Representative DeLeo is a past recipient of the Massachusetts Bar Association Legislator of the Year Award; the AMVETS' Legislative Pilgrim Award; the Massachusetts Municipal Association Legislator of the Year Award; the Health and Home Care Association of Massachusetts Legislator of the Year Award; the Veterans Agents Legislator of the Year Award; the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council and Arc Massachusetts Legislator of the Year Award; the Massachusetts Boating & Yacht Clubs Association Legislator of the Year Award and the Winthrop Council on Aging Award of Appreciation.

Finally, but most importantly, Representative DeLeo is the proud father of Rob, who is completing his junior year at Framingham State College, and Rachele, who will begin her freshman year at the University of New Hampshire in the Fall.