First order of business: Healey introduces cabinet, including first-in-nation climate chief

BOSTON — At her first public press conference Friday as governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey highlighted her creation of a cabinet-level climate chief to oversee the new office of climate innovation and resilience.

The media scrum came after the governor led a first cabinet meeting.

“I’m excited at the team we have assembled. It’s a hardworking, dedicated team,” Healey said of the appointments that have been announced, in dribs and drabs, since her election in November.

Only state with cabinet-level climate chief

Healey's new climate chief, Melissa Hoffer, most recently worked as principal deputy general counsel with the federal Environmental Protection Agency. She previously worked for Healey within the state attorney general's office, as chief of the energy and environmental bureau from 2015 to 2021.

“The establishment of climate chief and the Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience is critical to Massachusetts’ future,” Hoffer said. “Climate change impacts all aspects of our lives, and it’s essential that we are coordinating our response across the entire government and the entire state. The action Governor Healey is taking today is putting Massachusetts on the path to a better, healthier, more equitable future.”

The new climate chief will be the principal policy adviser to the governor on all matters relating to climate in the state. Healey has directed an assessment of every department over the next 180 days to weigh its function through the lens of climate change mitigation.

The salary for the new position is $160,000.

Hoffer will have authority to ensure that climate issues are fully considered in policymaking, legislation, budgeting, federal funding and capital investment decisions, according to the release from the governor’s office.

Specifics about climate and transportation initiatives for Worcester and points west were not provided.

Healey promises Central, Western Mass. on agenda

However, Healey indicated that serving the entire state on her agenda, promising strategic investments in climate mitigation and transportation initiatives for Western and Central Massachusetts.

“Western and Central Massachusetts will see opportunities ahead,” Healey said, promising that her administration will be attentive and supportive of all regions of the state.

The governor also promised to “get to” the question of the West/East Rail and said she expects to appoint someone to oversee the project.

Show of support during inauguration

In discussing her inauguration events the previous day, Healey called it a “once in a lifetime experience,” and said she was touched by the support shown from the people of Massachusetts: those lined up on the street as she was driven up to the Statehouse entrance, and the people lining the stairs and the halls as she walked into the House Chamber.

“It was pretty cool,” Healey said.

She noted that the smooth transfer of the power from Charlie Baker's administration was “as it should be,” and said Massachusetts could serve as an example for the nation.

“The reason it’s important is because it is the business of government to ensure the people that it will continue,” she said.

Flanked by her cabinet members and her lieutenant governor, Healey said her team reflects the diversity of the state. In determining who to pick, Healey said she was looking for members who had demonstrated their ability to work as a team, as well as those who reflect that diversity.

“We have some firsts in the cabinet,” Healey noted, referring to Yvonne Hao, named to lead the executive office of economic development. “The commonwealth is better served because of its diversity.”

Also sworn in were Yvonne Hao to lead the Executive Office of Economic Development; Matt Gorzkowicz as the secretary of administration and finance; Patrick Tutwiler, secretary of education; Gina Fiandaca, secretary of transportation; Rebecca Tepper, secretary of energy and environmental affairs; Mary Beckman, acting secretary of health and human services; and Jason Snyder, executive office of technical services and security.

Terrence Reidy, appointed by Baker, will continue as secretary of the executive office of public safety and security. Mike Doheny will serve as acting labor and workforce secretary.

Healey appointed Kate Cook as her chief of staff, Gabrielle Viator as her senior adviser and Jillian Fennimore as her communications director.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Climate change one of top concerns of Massachusetts new governor