The phone rings and rings. When finally it clicks to leave a voice recording, the introduction is simply one word, “Joe.”

That name, already familiar to those who know the State House, promises to become even better known in the weeks and months ahead.

On Thursday at a caucus of House Democrats, Warwick Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi was elected the House Majority Leader. Picked by House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, the job gives Shekarchi new power in influencing the course of legislation and the budget.

“I’m excited. I look forward to it,” Shekarchi said when reached Friday afternoon. “I enjoy this kind of work.”

Shekarchi is the consummate political junkie.

“So what’s new?” is his frequent question and often the opener to a conversation covering the latest round of political rumors with Shekarchi, more likely than not, with a fresh bit of information. His connections have served him well.

He was recommended for the job of campaign manager for Gina Raimondo’s first run for elective office. After a morning of talks, the future state general treasurer liked what she heard and Shekarchi was ready to take on the campaign of a political newcomer who became a rising star. He remains close to the governor.

Shekarchi is adept at the background role. He knows the players and tells them what he thinks whether it is what they want to hear or not.

An attorney, Shekarchi has used his skill on numerous occasions to reach consensus on some of the more controversial zone changes in the city. He is counsel for Carpionato Properties that owns the Crowne Plaza and gained City Council approval to building three medical buildings and a 100-room addition to the hotel within the last year. Also, in recent months Shekarchi represented CPA Ralph Palumbo and the president of Southern Ski Renewable Energy won council approval of two Warwick solar parks. He also represented Southern Ski on a solar park approved for Johnston.

He understands how change can be threatening and is tuned to how local representatives need to answer to their constituents. He is an advocate of neighborhood informational meetings prior to formal sessions before the planning board or council where the developer outlines the proposal and listens to concerns raised by neighbors and locally elected officials. While open to the media, these meetings aren’t advertised. No vote is taken. The meetings are strictly informational and an opportunity for dialogue. Often concerns raised result in plan modifications and it is not unusual for skeptics of a plan to become among its strongest advocates when it comes to the formal hearing.

Shekarchi said his new role in the House will mean giving up his seat as chair of the House Labor Committee and spending a lot of time managing what’s on the House floor. He said he looks forward to working on Mattiello’s goal to eliminate the car tax over the next five years. It’s an issue Shekarchi has addressed in legislation aimed at using a more fair mechanism of assessing car values.

Although Mattiello was picked by his colleagues as speaker in the caucus, his election to the leadership post requires House approval and won’t happen until after the General Assembly reconvenes in January. That’s not the case for Shekarchi since his is a party designated position. He’s got the job as long as Mattiello’s reelection is certified by the Board of Elections. At this point, after counting the mail ballots, Mattiello leads Republican Steve Frias by 65 votes. Frias is asking for a recount as well as challenging the validity of mail ballots collected by Mattiello workers.

In a statement released Tuesday, Mattiello said, “Joe Shekarchi has the respect of everyone in the Democratic Caucus.  As Labor Committee chairman, he did a terrific job of consensus building and I believe he will carry out his new duties as Majority Leader in the same fashion.  He will be a tremendous asset to the House as we move the people’s agenda forward.”

Shekarchi successfully ran for the District 23 House seat held for 22 years by Robert Flaherty, brother of former Warwick mayor and now Supreme Court Justice Francis X. Flaherty in 2012. This year he ran unopposed for reelection. He has long been suggested as a likely candidate for mayor, a post that he expresses interest in and would seem within his reach given his strong local support and his campaign fund of $536,148.

So, does his new appointment put him on a different path, is he now thinking of higher profile state elective offices?

“I’ve made a commitment to stay in the House for the next two years,” he answered.

As for a race for mayor, he said, “I have learned you never say never.”

“Scott [Avedisian] could be mayor for life. He could stay another ten years,” he said.

Somehow, one gets the feeling that Joe will be going places long before then.