Thread: MA Governor's Race 2010 - All Related Posts

I figured we could start learning and teaching each other a little bit on the candidates for Governor in the upcoming election....

We know some of the people running at this point:
Democratic Party:
Deval Patrick

Website: http://devalpatrick.com

No info on what Deval's about because we already know.

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Independent Party:
Timothy Chaill (actually a Democrat)

Website: http://www.timforgovernor.com

From the website:
Dear Friend:

Welcome to my website – thank you for visiting.

I’m proud to be running for Governor of Massachusetts. As State Treasurer, and before that as Norfolk County Treasurer, a Quincy City Councilor and a small business owner, I’ve proven myself to be an independent, fiscally responsible problem solver.

Like you, I understand the problems and pressures facing the middle class today, and believe that with smart fiscal strategies, we can make Massachusetts a place people want to live, work and raise families. I believe taxpayers should come before taxes. I believe elected officials – and individual citizens – should take responsibility for their actions and budget to stay within their means.

That’s why I’m running for Governor. Please join my campaign.

I look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,
Tim
Tim Cahill

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Republican Party:
Christy Mihos

Website: http://www.christy2010.com

From the website:
Meet Christy Mihos

Christy Mihos is a devoted husband and father, a successful business owner, a long-time political activist, and a dear friend of those paying Massachusetts taxes and tolls.

A lifelong resident of the Bay State, Christy was born and raised in the City of Champions. After graduating from Brockton High School, he headed down the road to study management at Stonehill College in Easton. At his cousin's wedding in Peabody, Christy met Andrea Argeros, who became his wife four years later. Today, Christy and Andrea have been married for over 32 years, have two beautiful children, and reside on Cape Cod in West Yarmouth.

Christy's grandfather, an immigrant from Greece, was the founder of a small market in Brockton. Christy began working in the store as soon as he was big enough to bag groceries, and later, Christy and his brother took over the stores from their father and uncle in the late1970s. Together, they quadrupled the number of stores. Christy's Markets became New England's second largest convenience store chain, operating in all six states. In 1998, Christy and his brother sold all of the stores to 7-Eleven. Christy wanted to stay close to a business he loved, so he bought back ten Cape Cod stores. He has since developed new stores on the Cape and he continues to nurture the growing company.

Christy first became a candidate for political office in 1990, when he ran for the South Shore Massachusetts Senate seat. During this race for the Plymouth and Norfolk district seat, Christy gained tremendous support from both heavily Democratic towns and Republican Party strongholds. The race was widely regarded as one of the closest in the state, with Christy losing the recounted Republican primary by merely three votes.

In 1998, Christy was appointed to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, where he served as Vice Chairman and thereafter Director. At the Turnpike, Christy fought for the citizens of the Commonwealth against unnecessary toll increases, fraud, waste and abuse. Despite opposition from state-contracted special interests and the Acting Governor, Christy refused to back down. A landmark decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court vindicated Christy's efforts to protect the citizenry.

Christy was known for his innovative business ideas at the Turnpike. He proposed restructuring management at the Big Dig to promote accountability and efficiency. He also proposed selling the eleven service area plazas to pay off the Western Turnpike Bonds, which would allow the state to take down the tolls from Weston to New York. Christy intends to remove these tolls as Governor of Massachusetts.

Christy's civic life extends beyond his time on the Turnpike Authority. Christy has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the University of Massachusetts, the Boys and Girls Club of Brockton, a South Shore Greek Orthodox Church, and the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. Christy has also served as a board member of The Genesis Fund, an organization dedicated to the treatment and prevention of birth defects.

Christy is proud to live in the Bay State, but knows the voice of the people is no longer being heard on Beacon Hill. For Massachusetts to succeed, everyone must have a say. The Bay State needs to serve all families and communities. Christy answers directly to the voters and residents of Massachusetts. Only Christy has the ideas, the integrity, and the independence to be the Governor of Massachusetts who gets the state working again.

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Republican Party:
Charlie Baker

Website: http://www.charliebaker2010.com

Charlie Baker has spent his career bringing success and strong management to both the private and public sectors in Massachusetts. Raised in Needham, Massachusetts as the oldest of three sons, Charlie graduated from Needham High School in 1975 as an All-League basketball player. He attended Harvard College, lettering in varsity basketball and graduating with a degree in English in 1979. Over the following five years, Charlie worked as Media Relations Director for the New England Council, and then as Corporate Communications Director for the Massachusetts High Technology Council. He decided to return to school in 1984 and earned an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in 1986.

In 1988, Baker helped start the Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research, an independent, nonpartisan state think tank. Baker left Pioneer in January, 1991 to join the newly elected Weld/Cellucci Administration as Undersecretary for Health in the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. As Undersecretary, Charlie played pivotal roles in Medicaid reform, facility consolidation, and the expansion of a number of key public health programs. He became Secretary of Health and Human Services in the fall of 1992, and led the Administration’s efforts to enact welfare reform.

Baker became Secretary of Administration and Finance in the fall of 1994, and served in that position until September of 1998. He re-structured and simplified the state’s purchasing system, led a major effort to improve the state’s capacity to collect third party revenue, and oversaw the largest effort ever to modernize the state’s code of regulation. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Governor’s Association in 1998.

Baker became CEO of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (HVMA) in the fall of 1998, and was soon recruited by Harvard Vanguard’s parent – Harvard Pilgrim Health Care – to serve as its CEO in May, 1999. Baker led a major turnaround at HPHC, which included a $220 million year-to-year improvement in financial performance from 1999 to 2000, and the amicable separation of HPHC and HVMA. Under Baker's tenure, HPHC went on to become the highest ranked health plan in the country for member satisfaction and clinical effectiveness for five years running, and was named a Boston Business Journal “Best Places To Work” for seven straight years.

Over the years, Baker and his wife, Lauren, have been heavily involved in numerous civic and charitable endeavors. Charlie served for 3 years as a member of the Board of Selectmen in Swampscott, and served on the town’s School Building Committee. Lauren was the registrar for Swampscott soccer for ten years, is active with the Red Cross, and serves as the Chair of the Board of Marian Court College. Charlie and his wife live in Swampscott, and have three children – Charlie, AJ, and Caroline.