Governor’s Office Remains Mum On King’s Successor
Clement A. Riley of Norwood, former State Civil Service Commissioner and twice the Democratic nominee for State Treasurer, is expected to be Governor Furcolo’s choice for appointment as Registrar of Motor Vehicles on the retirement of Rudolph F. King October 31.
Successor?
Authoritative sources confirmed yesterday that Riley is in Une for the $12,500 a year post, although there has been no official announcement as yet.
Ordinarily news of such an appointment would not be released officially on Beacon Hill until the day before the Governor’s Council meets, which is every Thursday.
Riley conferred with the Governor last Thursday but the results of that meeting were not made known.
Riley said yesterday that he would prefer to withhold comment on the situation at this time.
If the appointment materializes, it would mean that one of the biggest plums in the state government available this year would year would go to a Norwood man.
Just before last Thursday’s meeting with Riley, Governor Furcolo is reported to have stated that he would “certainly consider him if he is interested in the position.”
Riley, a former member of the Board of Selectmen, has long been the No. 1 Norwood Democrat. He is a close friend of the Governor, having supported him for the U.S. Senate in 1954, and for Governor in the successful 1956 campaign. He formerly served for six years on the State Civil Service Commission, retiring from that post last July. One of the most active and popular Democrats of the State, he secured the party’s nomination for State Treasurer in 1954 and 1956, but lost out in the primary both years to State Treasurer John F Kennedy of Canton. He conducts a real estate and insurance business in Norwood. For the past year and a half has been Chief Highway Traffic Investigator for Highway Traffic Engineers, Inc., and in this capacity has gained considerable experience which should prove valuable should he receive the appointment as Registrar.
King, a resident of Millis, is scheduled to retire as Registrar the 31st of this month, having reached the age of 70 by then. He could be continued in his present position with the approval of Governor Furcolo, but this is considered extremely unlikely A former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives,
King is being mentioned as a possible Republican candidate for Governor. The Sentinal, a weekly newspaper published in western Norfolk County by Congressman Joseph W. Martin, Jr., devoted the lead story of its October 3 issue to the possibility of King’s candidacy, stating that “The Republicans might well find in King the answer to their prayer for a winning candidate.”
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)