Lawrence F. Bretta

Lawrence Francis Bretta
Mayor of Somerville
In office January 1, 1962 – July 17, 1967[1]
Preceded by	Harold W. Wells
Succeeded by	John R. Havican (acting)
Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office 1959[2] – 1962[3]
Preceded by	Harold A. Palmer[4]
Succeeded by	Joseph Thomas Travalini[3]
Constituency	24th Middlesex district
Chairman of the Somerville School Committee
In office 1958 – 1958[2]
Member of the Somerville School Committee
In office 1956 – 1962[2]
Personal details
Born	January 12, 1928 Somerville, Massachusetts
Died	September 2, 2006[5] Medford, Massachusetts[6]
Resting place	Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford, Massachusetts[6]
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic[2]
Spouse	Joan E. Benway[5]
Conviction(s)	Solicitation bribery
Criminal penalty	Four years (federal)

Lawrence Francis Bretta (January 12, 1928 – September 2, 2006) was a Massachusetts businessman and politician who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and as the Mayor of Somerville, Massachusetts. He was regional director of the General Service Administration until his resignation in February 1984 while under investigation on corruption charges. He pleaded guilty to a federal indictment alleging solicitation and acceptance of bribes on connection with the location of a federal Social Security office in the Mystic Mall in Chelsea, Massachusetts[7] and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was released in 1988.

References

1. "Havican Takes Over As Somerville Mayor". The Boston Globe. July 17, 1967.
2. Hayden, Irving N. (1961), Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1961–1962, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, p. 105
3. Chadwick, Thomas A. (1963), Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1963–1964, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, p. 297
4. Hayden, Irving N. (1957), Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1957–1958, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, p. 251
5. "BRETTA, Honorable Lawrence F.", The Boston Globe, September 5, 2006
6. "OBITUARY; At 78, former Somerville Mayor Lawrence F. Bretta", Boston Herald, p. 31, September 5, 2006
7. "EX-NEW ENGLAND OFFICIAL INDICTED ON COUNT OF ATTEMPTED EXTORTION". New York Times. August 15, 1984. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-10-17.

Political offices
Preceded by Harold W. Wells	Mayor of Somerville, Massachusetts January 1, 1962 – July 17, 1967	Succeeded by James F. Brennan
Preceded by Harold A. Palmer	Massachusetts State Representative 24th Middlesex District January 1959 – January 1962	Succeeded by Joseph Thomas Travalini