PROVINCETOWN — Sarah Peake is one week away from turning 67, but it turns out she’s not retiring after all. After announcing in January that her current, ninth term representing the 4th Barnstable district in the Mass. House would be her last, she wound up resigning her seat on Sept. 22, three months before her term ends, to take a position as senior adviser for intergovernmental affairs in Gov. Maura Healey’s office.
“In this role, Peake will serve as a liaison to state and local officials, with a focus on the Cape and Islands communities and regional issues, such as seasonal communities, housing, and economic development,” said a Sept. 20 announcement from the governor’s office. “She will also advise the Governor on legislative and local matters.”
The position was created specifically for Peake, according to reporting by the State House News Service.
A spokesperson for House Speaker Ron Mariano told the Independent that Peake’s office, which serves the four Outer Cape towns plus Harwich, Orleans, and Chatham, “will continue to be staffed and provide constituent services to the district” in her absence. Three staffers currently work in her office; Sarah Ferrara is the chief of staff.
The state election is on Nov. 5, and newly elected legislators will be sworn in on Jan. 1, 2025. The legislature’s “formal session” ended on July 31, and during “informal session,” legislation can pass only with the unanimous consent of all legislators on the floor.
Vacancies in the legislature are not that uncommon, according to the State House News Service; Peake is the fourth Democrat to resign for a job in Gov. Healey’s administration since January 2023. It is routine for staff to continue providing constituent services when seats are vacant, state Sen. Julian Cyr told the Independent.
Peake did not respond directly to questions from the Independent about her new job. A spokesperson from the governor’s office offered to answer questions for her.
Peake’s salary in the House, where she was the second assistant majority leader, came to $148,500 last year, including travel and leadership stipends. Her job in Healey’s office will pay $150,000, the spokesperson said.
Peake’s new job “will position a voice for Cape Cod in the senior reaches of state government,” said Cyr.
“No one has done more for Cape Cod on Beacon Hill than Sarah Peake,” he said. “I’ve been mindful about what her departure from the House would mean for the Cape and Islands’ clout on Beacon Hill, and having her serve in this new capacity means we can maintain some of that influence to advocate for the unique needs and interests of Cape Codders.
“Sarah Peake clearly has strong relationships in the House, and she’s well liked in the Senate,” Cyr said. “I think she’ll be an extraordinary advocate for the governor.”
