Finneran: The Varsity

Friday, October 30, 2015

Tom Finneran, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER™

Charlie Baker

In baseball terms he had a multi-homerun game. In football terms he controlled the line of scrimmage and scored three touchdowns. In basketball terms he had a triple-double. And in hockey terms he scored a hat trick.

His name is Charley Baker and he’s the Governor. We’re lucky to have him.

Full disclosure: I’ve known, liked, and admired Charley Baker for more than twenty years. We first met in 1991 and I’ve never failed to be impressed in his presence. He’s smart, thoughtful, gracious, and funny (although his 2010 campaign for Governor somehow managed to hide almost all that from us).

The most recent affirmation of my high regard for our Governor came last Saturday night at a 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Mass. Charter School Association. The room was jammed with about 800 people, students, teachers, principals, administrators, and some ancient pols (which was why I was there) and the joint was jumping with energy and enthusiasm.

My eyes told me that the audience was more than forty percent minority and my brain tells me that minority parents have rarely had reason to hold such over-the-top enthusiasm and excitement about their children’s education. Our nation’s history on that score is quite shabby to say the least and thus the palpable energy and support of a huge minority contingent from all corners of the Commonwealth was quite reassuring.

Back to Governor Baker. He’s white. And he’s a Republican. And he’s achieved private sector success. Therefore, in our utterly inane politically caricatured world, he must be cold, calculating, and utterly indifferent to the education and opportunities of minorities. Right?? Isn’t that what our idiotic politics tells us?

Such caricatures, such glib assumptions are blasphemously wrong. Along with the big brain, Baker’s got the heart and soul of a preacher. And he put that those gifts on display last Saturday night. Wow did he preach.

Without a note he gave a history lesson worthy of Lincoln. Without a note he gave a moral lesson worthy of Dr. King. Without a note he teared up like the best of Irish poets, causing many in the audience to tear up with him.

His wife Lauren, a saint, was with him. He used her presence to speak about their children’s education and his frustration in knowing that a lot of families out there are limited in the choices and opportunities they can access for their children. He noted that nothing---absolutely nothing---means more to parents than a chance, “a fair shot”, for their children to succeed.

He talked about “worldly” kids who knew nothing of the world. They had never had “a shot” to go to the theater or to a basketball game or to much of anything else. He shared a story of taking some of these kids to a Harvard-Princeton basketball game for the Ivy League title---a full house, demented fans, college bands, the whole fun and crazy experience of college sports. And then he talked about their wide and appreciative eyes………………opened up to a dimension they never knew existed.

I think that’s when he teared up and lost it. Truth be told the room blurred for me too.

He’ll make mistakes along the way. Everyone does. I certainly did. God does not hold public office. He would dismiss with the laugh of an honest and humble man the idea of putting him on a pedestal. But he’s darn smart, a hard worker, a great listener, a curious man who wants to make Massachusetts the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

His name is Baker and he’s Massachusetts’ varsity.

Tom Finneran is the former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, served as the head the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, and was a longstanding radio voice in Boston radio.

Related Slideshow: Central MA: 10 Possible Power Changes Under Governor Baker

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WHA and Ray Mariano Get Boost

Dr. David Schaefer, Political Science Professor at Holy Cross-

"I am particularly impressed that he (Baker) has taken an interest in the program that Ray Mariano has introduced into Worcester Housing Authority projects, aimed at getting residents off of welfare and housing subsidies and on to self-supporting work. Baker has expressed a desire to extend this worthy program to all state-owned public housing. And he has thereby signified his interest in ideas emanating from Central MA - as well as in policies designed to benefit the area."

Prev Next

Cities Will Lose Out to Suburbs

Dr. Mark Miller, Political Science Professor at Clark University-

"My only thought is that since the Republicans get most of their support from the suburbs, the central cities may suffer under a Republican administration. I am sure it helps that the Lt. Governor is from Central Massachusetts, and I assume she knows all the players in Worcester. But I would expect that the suburban communities will get more attention than Worcester will be able to obtain. Since most of the key figures in Worcester are Democrats, they may find that they will have to work harder to get the attention of the new administration."

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Beaton's Seat Becomes Key Player

Paul Giorgio, GoLocal Worcester MINDSETTER™-

"Matt Beaton has become a big player in the area. The election for his State Representative seat is on March 31st. I can't imagine they're not going to pour as much money as they need to keep his seat Republican."

Hannah E. Kane, a member of the Shrewsbury Finance Committee is the Republican candidate. Jason Palitsch, vice chairman of the Shrewsbury School Committee, is the Democrat candidate.

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Worcester Could Become More Accessible

Tom Finneran, former Massachusetts Speaker of the House-

"Lt. Governor Polito's first-hand knowledge and experience regarding transportation needs in Central Mass. mirrors Tim Murray's; look for the two of them working together in perfect harmony; Governor Baker will pay close attention and Central Mass. will be the beneficiary."

Within the next eighteen months, Governor Baker may have to get the Federal Railroad Administration to give a 'green light' to move forward with a project that will provide a commuter rail passage between Worcester and Providence.

The project, first reported in November, is being spearheaded by Boston Surface Railroad Co. If successful, it will be one of the few private commuter trains in the country. To date, it is an estimated $3 million dollar project.

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Influence Shifts to David Forsberg

David Forsberg, chairman of Governor Baker's campaign, is now in position to push his influence in the city. Forsberg, former President of Worcester Business Development Corporation, and Dean of School of Business at Anna Maria College, is a former Worcester city councilor and New England Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Forsberg, from Worcester, has an extensive background in state and local government and will have plenty of say in what happens in Central Mass.

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Murray and Polito Might Work Together

Dr. David Schaefer, Political Science Professor at Holy Cross-

"I am confident that given Karyn Polito's Central MA residency and Charlie Baker's several visits to this area during the campaign, Worcester will suffer no loss of influence or attention from the state under the Baker administration. In fact, Karyn, in connection with her family business, has served as a board member of the Worcester Chamber of Commerce during Tim Murray's directorship of that organization, and their relationship should facilitate continued influence for the Chamber, and Tim, under the new administration."

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Blais Could Gain Power in Central MA

Tom Finneran, former Massachusetts Speaker of the House-

"Tim Murray, Governor Baker, and Karen Polito share many concerns and ideas about the importance of economic development and job opportunities; sound budgets and sensible policies can create a certain momentum and confidence in investors and business leaders that Massachusetts is in capable hands."

Worcester Business Development Corporation President and CEO Craig Blais is now in position to garner support from Baker's administration. Former president, David Forsberg, was Baker's Campaign chairman.

Blais is in charge of the $10 million non-profit WBDC. He has a political background. Blais worked in the State House as Chief of Staff for the House of Representatives. He reported to the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Human Services and Elderly Affairs.

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DPW and WRTA May Get Early Support

David Muradian (R), State Representative - Worcester's 9th District-

"Governor Baker has made a commitment to local infrastructure, and I am excited to continue to advocate for economic development and increased local aid to come back to our communities."

On Thursday, Governor Baker, in his first act as Governor, stated that he would release $100 million dollars to cities and towns from Chapter 90 funding. This money would go to reimbursement for transportation projects.

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Sec. of Education Malone Out?

Tom Finneran, former Massachusetts Speaker of the House-

"Pay close attention to Governor Baker on education; he will be a strong an vocal leader, pushing communities to close achievement gaps and to provide meaningful and rigorous instruction to all students; Baker knows the history of education reform here in Mass. better than anyone in the state; watch him lead in this all-important area."

During his acceptance speech, Governor Baker said, "And while traditional public schools will always be the backbone of our education, we need more high performing public charter schools in underperforming school districts to complement them. As I speak, there are more than 45,000 Bay State kids and their parents on waiting lists for these schools."

Matthew Malone, who was appointed by former Governor Deval Patrick as Secretary of Education, may be out if Baker decides he wants someone that will take hold of his plans for more charter schools and see them put forth in the Bay State.

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Power Shift from Worcester to Shrewsbury

Lt. Governor Karyn Polito now holds the highest seat of anyone from Central Massachusetts in state government. Her position was formerly occupied by Tim Murray, now the director of Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Alongside Polito is Matt Beaton, also from Shrewsbury and recently appointed as Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

In a town that has already emerged as a rapidly growing community in the past few years, may not have to wait long for state funding and government support for any projects in the future.