Massachusetts voters will, in fourteen days, express their satisfaction, or lack thereof, with the state’s leadership over the past four years. In a state where Democrats have learned no elections can be taken for granted, especially during the current tumultuous political climate, incumbent governor Deval Patrick ’78 has conducted a skillful ground game in the final weeks. This past weekend saw President Obama rally for Patrick in Boston, and the Patrick-Murray team has courted hundreds of volunteers in anticipation of a massive get-out-the-vote effort.
It is my greatest hope that these efforts prove to be successful. In a race where both the unenrolled (Tim Cahill) and Republican (Charlie Baker ’79) candidates have seen their campaigns mired in scandal, Governor Patrick’s campaign has maintained a laudable level of decorum. Furthermore, Governor Patrick has demonstrated his commitment to the people of the Commonwealth throughout his tenure by implementing policies, and advocating for changes, that have had positive effects on the states of education, the economy, and social justice in Massachusetts.
But the other candidates, who each bring unique backgrounds to the table, cannot simply be dismissed without due process. Cahill, the current state treasurer, touts his leadership role in the Massachusetts School Building Authority on his website, stressing its return to a fiscally responsible system under his leadership. He strikes a similar cord when discussing his work on the State Retirement Board, saying that administrative efforts have cut down on pension abuse. Despite his passion for a fiscally responsible government and his efforts as treasurer, Cahill’s experience has been of limited scope and I have difficulty envisioning him assuming as high a role as governor. Further, if the deterioration of Cahill’s campaign in recent days is at all an indicator of his management abilities, Massachusetts voters have reason to be wary.
Charlie Baker, the Republican candidate, is your prototypical, well-rounded conservative; except perhaps with a little added zest, as he’s one of the seemingly few Republican office seekers with prior political experience. Baker is known for his architecture of the “Big Dig” project, a controversial undertaking at best, while serving in state government. In the private sector, Baker successfully led the insurance-provider Harvard Pilgrim to twenty-four consecutive profitable quarters and drastically increased his personal compensation. Detect sarcasm? That’s because in the process he raised premiums, outsourced technology jobs, and laid off Massachusetts employees. Although his experience may look good on paper, Baker’s fiscal track record is as splotchy as his campaign’s ethics.
But, why Deval? Why put faith in someone who is alleged by opponents to have only worsened the job climate in Massachusetts? Because Patrick has done no such thing. Jobs are hard won, especially during the worst recession since the Great Depression. Patrick has consistently worked to create jobs in both the public and private sectors, and Massachusetts has benefited from nationwide media attention for his success in doing so. Oh, and the unemployment rate is falling.
If I learned one thing from my work in helping to craft the budget for my school department in 2008-09, it was that when the federal government loses money, everyone feels the effects. Since making the jump from Maine to Massachusetts in August, I’ve been impressed by Governor Patrick’s ability to temper the effects of the recession on the state of Massachusetts- we could certainly benefit from a peek at his playbook in Maine.
Voters have an important decision to make on November 2. I implore all residents of Massachusetts to cast their ballots for Governor Deval Patrick for the sake of the workforce, the children and seniors, the educators. For the sake of the state.
Photo credit: Steven Senne, Associated Press