Matthew J. Amorello

Age: 48.

Education: 1980 BA in history from Assumption College in Worcester, 1983 master's degree in public administration from the American University in Washington, D.C., 1990 JD from Suffolk University.

1990-98: Massachusetts state senator, ranking minority member of the Joint Committee on Transportation.

1998: Commissioner of the Massachusetts Highway Department, oversees 2,000 employees.

2002: Appointed chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. Oversees more than 1,400 employees at the 138-mile turnpike and the $14.625 billion Big Dig. Current pay: $223,000 a year.

Yesterday: Emergency legislation filed by Governor Mitt Romney would give the governor control over inspections in the tunnels and the ultimate say on when they reopen, instead of Amorello.

SOURCE : Turnpike Authority,

AP Candidate Biographies