Over the years, the chairmen and staff of the Public Service Committee have played a central role in the advancement of legislation that affects public retirees. The current chairmen of the Committee are Representative Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington) and Senator Stephen Buoniconti (D-West Springfield).

Under legislative rules, each chairman is granted staff people to assist them with the day-to-day work of the committee. It is these staff people, upon whom the Association relies heavily for their expertise in public retirement policy.

Traditionally, when it comes to joint committees, the House provides the official committee offices and staffs who work directly for the committee itself, rather than the respective chairman. The continuity and expertise of the committee staff are essential.

Patrick Charles is the newest addition to the Public Service Committee. Charles, a native of Allentown, PA, replaces Evan Dube as the Committee's legal counsel. Dube left the Public Service Committee to work as counsel to Representative Brian Dempsey (D-Haverhill), who chairs the Committee on Government Regulation. Charles came to Boston four years ago to attend law school and now makes Brighton his home.

Ted Miller of Weymouth serves as the Committee's research director. Owen Murphy, a Needham native, serves as researcher for Senator Buoniconti.