William M. Straus is an American Democrat who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 10th Bristol District from 1993 to 2024, representing towns including Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, and parts of New Bedford. He chose not to seek re-election in 2024 after 32 years in office. Notable achievements include chairing the Joint Committee on Transportation for 14 years, sponsoring legislation to add the Port of New Bedford to the Steamship Authority system, and securing funding for the SouthCoast Rail project, which restored passenger rail service to New Bedford and Fall River in 2025. Prior to politics, he worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Bristol County and served on the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and a periodic guest on WGBH Radio's Boston Public Radio.

Education and Political Experience

Education:

- B.A. from Middlebury College

- J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center

- M.P.A. from Harvard Kennedy School of Government

Political Experience:

- Mattapoisett Conservation Commission

- Founding board member, Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford

- Massachusetts House of Representatives, 10th Bristol District , Democrat

- House Chairman, Joint Committee on Transportation

- Involved in key legislation: Steamship Authority expansion , SouthCoast Rail funding, public disclosure of MBTA pension finances, and voted for 2011 casino gambling authorization

- Voted against 1997 death penalty reinstatement measure