The state agency that investigates claims of discrimination has a new commissioner, replacing Charlotte Golar Richie, according to a House lawmaker who attended a swearing-in ceremony in Gov. Charlie Baker’s office.

Sheila Hubbard is now on the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
William “Mo” Cowan, the former interim U.S. senator who now heads up ML Strategies, attended the ceremony and said Hubbard worked for former Gov. Bill Weld as deputy legal counsel.

“Sheila’s fantastic. A distinguished lawyer with both private-sector and public-sector experience. She’s not unfamiliar to government. I’m glad to see that the governor and his team have appointed her to this position. MCAD is an important agency and it needs people now like Sheila Hubbard,” Cowan said.
Cowan said Richie is a “dynamic, wonderful public servant.” Richie ran for mayor of Boston in 2013.

“It was an honor to serve this agency at a time when civil rights, discrimination and bigotry were on the minds of many. I am pleased to have a special and important opportunity to address these issues during my tenure at the MCAD,” Richie said in a statement announcing she would leave the post when her appointment ends in February.

Rushing said Hubbard is a Mattapan resident.

“Sheila Hubbard’s extensive legal experience protecting citizens’ rights and her willingness to fight for equality and justice make her an outstanding addition to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination,” Baker said in a statement announcing the appointment on Thursday morning.