Bill Straus proudly represented the 10th Bristol District in the Massachusetts Legislature for 32 years.  First elected in 1992 he did not seek re-election in 2024. 

Prior to his election as State Representative, Bill served as an Assistant District Attorney in Bristol County.   He also was a member of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission and was a founding board member of the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford.

In the House he served for fourteen years as House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation. He was involved extensively in transportation issues as a legislator. He was the original sponsor of legislation that added the Port of New Bedford to the Steamship Authority system now connecting New Bedford with Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. As Transportation Chair he was instrumental in securing the funding for SouthCoast Rail— which restored passenger rail service from Boston to New Bedford and Fall River in March, 2025.

Bill currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne.

Bill is a periodic guest on WGBH Radio’s daytime show Boston Public Radio hosted by Jim Braude and Margery Eagan where he participates in conversations on transportation policy and other issues of the day. His next scheduled appearance on WGBH is in May 2025.”