BOSTON -- In the 2010 Massachusetts midterm election and governor's race, I need to decide who is the least likely to promote his own interests as governor. Republican candidate Charles Baker and his never-ending ties to the Big Dig are back in the limelight today.
Reports show Baker wrote a three-page memo about the cost of the Big Dig and the unparalleled cuts other infrastructure in the state would face. The kicker... he wanted this information contained until then governor, Paul Cellucci, his boss, was re-elected in 1998. This is tough news for voters to digest one week before elections.
What is a voter to do?
I will vote in the Massachusetts election next week. Unfortunately, I do not trust the performance of any of the candidates for governor - therefore I feel forced to resort to the unsatisfying process of elimination. Will it be current Democratic Governor Deval Patrick, Republican Charlie Baker, or independent Tim Cahill?
I do not consider Green-Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein a political evil in any way. I appreciate and value her rational viewpoint. I believe she would be a refreshing addition to Beacon Hill. The closer it gets to the election, the more I wish she could be the governor of Massachusetts. However, I have to be realistic. I do not believe she can compete (voter wise) with the political big guns in this race.
High Hopes Shot Down
Deval Patrick - Four years ago, when I cast my vote for Deval Patrick, I did so with great enthusiasm. Am I still enthusiastic? Not so much. If anything, I would use the word disenchanted to describe my feelings about the governor. I know... all those campaign promises spewed forth in the heat of the moment generally never manifest. That is the way it is in politics. Getting a little tired of hearing that worn-out statement.
Throughout this heated race to midterms, I hear and read about the massive amount of jobs Deval Patrick created. Yet - there are 312,576 people out of work in Massachusetts at this moment. As well, 767,705 Massachusetts residents are receiving help with food stamps.
I realize the number of people receiving food stamps in not all jobless related. The number, though, is crazy high.
These figures speak to me of things not going so well these days. Although Governor Patrick signed into law some pertinent bills - especially the anti-bullying law - I feel he has not lived up to the expectations I had for him. However, I have not officially crossed Deval Patrick off the list quite yet.
Timothy P. Cahill - My biggest interest in the 2010 governor's race rests with independent Tim Cahill. He is currently the Massachusetts Treasurer. Cahill took a dramatic hit in the polls a few weeks ago, after his lieutenant governor running mate, Paul Loscocco, shockingly absconded to Charles Baker's Republican campaign.
Loscocco claimed Cahill did not stand a chance so he slipped to the opponent's side. That was a nasty move on Loscocco's end. Not sure that a voter could ever trust that person. However, Tim Cahill stood his ground and forges ahead with his campaign.
Recent polls show, the week before elections, that his rating is on the rise again. I would not count Tim Cahill out. He may have a decent following because of his interest in looking out for senior citizens rights and their health care. I like his gumption to stay the course.
Charles Baker - Part of my initial interest in Charlie Baker ignited because I felt he would not hesitate to tackle political corruption. I am also OK with some of his views on immigration and tax reductions.
However, today's ghastly news about the Big Dig memo hardly aligns with Baker's promise to stop corruption. You cannot solve the problem if you are part of the problem. How do I get past this a week before I have to vote?
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