PEABODY - A quest by former state Rep. Marie Parente of Milford to increase her pension is hitting close to home thanks to her association with Rep. Joyce Spiliotis, D-Peabody.

Parente, 78, served for 26 years until she was defeated in last year's primary election. She's now working as a volunteer mentor for Spiliotis.

Now, piggybacking on a Supreme Judicial Court decision to increase the pension of former Senate President William Bulger, Parente thinks she needs a boost, too.

Her Statehouse parking space and commuting expenses ought to be counted as income, she believes, because she was required to pay federal taxes as if it were income. She hopes to increase her $50,000 annual pension by $4,000 to $5,000.

To make her case, Parente cited the sacrifices of government workers on Sept. 11, 2001, she asked, "If only we would pay our public servants what they're worth when they come to save our lives."

On Thursday, Parente made her case before the state retirement board. Board member and state Treasurer Tim Cahill spoke out against the request.

"The vast majority of state employees don't get parking spaces, and they don't get cars," Cahill said. "They don't get those allowances so there would be some unfairness to other people in the system."

Parente added that she hadn't conferred with Spiliotis on the plea to increase her pension, and Spiliotis could not be reached for comment yesterday. Two other former state representatives, Susan Pope and Thomas George, have joined the effort, and the change could have an impact on all state employees.

"Anyone who tries to make it political," Parente said. "it is not political."

When Spiliotis first came to the Legislature, Parente said yesterday, the veteran lawmaker was her mentor. It was a program established by the woman's caucus.

Now, both hope to continue the arrangement, Parente said. "(Joyce) said, 'I'd like you to continue as my mentor. Let my city have the value of the knowledge you have.'"

Ted Speliotis, who represents West Peabody and Danvers, praises his colleague's choice of Parente as a nonpaid mentor. "I know Marie extremely well. She is phenomenal. To be 78 years old and to outwork every one of us. We don't agree on anything. ... But you can't work with this woman and not have respect for her."

On the other hand, Speliotis is critical of the effort to increase state pension benefits.

"I don't believe Billy Bulger should get credit for a housing allowance. ... To benefit from that for the rest of you life - it doesn't seem right."

At the same time, he added, "I don't fault (Marie) for trying." If the precedent is established, he asked, "Will I take it? I've always taken the position if something is legal ... then I would do it. I'd be foolish not to."

State Rep. Doug Petersen, D-Marblehead, feels the same way about the parking allowance. But he would decline to take an increased pension based on the funds the state provides for commuting.

"In general I think the whole trend is wrong," Petersen said. "If you got things for free, you shouldn't be able to turn around and say that because of that I want more money for the rest of my life."

Anti-tax activist Barbara Anderson, who has worked closely with legislators over the years, also praised Spiliotis for enlisting Parente's assistance. "Certainly Rep. Spiliotis will be well served." Parente is one of the best informed people on Beacon Hill, she said.

As far as the pension goes, Anderson hopes the Legislature will realize that the state's pension system needs reform. She doesn't blame anyone for doing what well-paid former office holders have done.

"If Billy Bulger can get it, if he can get his benefits counted. ... It should apply to everyone."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.