Governor Deval Patrick yesterday named James A. Aloisi Jr., a politically connected lawyer with a long history of involvement in state transportation issues, to the Massachusetts Port Authority board.
It was Patrick's first appointment to the board, which hires Massport's executive director and formulates policy for the quasi-independent agency that runs Logan Airport, the Port of Boston, and the Tobin Bridge.
With the addition of Aloisi, the board will be made up entirely of white males.
Aloisi, a director in the law firm Goulston & Storrs, is replacing the board's only woman, Lois J. Catanzaro, whose term expires in June. Aloisi will complete her term and serve an additional seven years, officials said.
Aloisi, who works as an outside lawyer for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and was under consideration to become the state transportation secretary last year, has parlayed his education and political ties, including his longtime friendship with former Senate president Robert E. Travaglini, into a successful law practice concentrating on transportation law and public policy.
He frequently hosts political fund-raisers at the firm, including an event for Senate President Therese Murray scheduled for March 6.
The client list for Aloisi's firm includes a host of state authorities and agencies including the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, and the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
Goulston & Storrs provided office space for Patrick during his transition period. Last spring Aloisi served on an informal committee that helped Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen set priorities for funding projects.
But his work on state transportation policy dates to the 1980s, when he was an assistant transportation secretary in the Dukakis administration. He drafted the legislation authorizing the Big Dig and directing how it would be operated, maintained, and financed, according to his firm's website.
Patrick praised Aloisi yesterday in a written statement, saying: "James brings a tremendous amount of energy and talent to the Massport board. His presence will add an invaluable perspective to board deliberations."
Massport's board members do not receive salary or benefits, but they are reimbursed for expenses.
Administration officials defended their decision to go with an insider instead of a diversity appointment yesterday. They cited the governor's record of appointing minorities to a number of full-time positions, as well as commissions and boards.
"This governor's commitment to diversity in Massachusetts state government is unprecedented," said press secretary Kyle Sullivan. "It is grossly misleading to view any one appointment in a vacuum without considering the full record."
By December, Sullivan said, approximately 25 percent of 431 people appointed to commissions and boards were minorities, and approximately 27 percent of appointees to the governor's staff were members of minority groups.
Richard A. Dimino, executive director of the transportation watchdog group A Better City, called Aloisi a perfect candidate for the position.
"He knows what it's like to shape transportation policy and help govern a large transportation agency with his former experience with the executive office of transportation and the Mass. Turnpike Authority," Dimino said.
Aloisi said yesterday he was "delighted to be chosen and to have the governor's confidence."
Frank Phillips of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
