Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey hit the gubernatorial campaign trail with one clear message — she may support Gov. Mitt Romney’s administration, but she is not Romney.
“I am a part of the Romney administration, and as lieutenant governor or any member of the administration would, I needed to promote the administration’s policy,” Healey said during a March 1 meeting of gubernatorial candidates. “Now, as a candidate for governor, I can speak my own mind and I think the people are getting to know me better.”
In the past few months, Healey — who was elected lieutenant governor in 2002 — has taken a conscious effort to highlight her progressive platform on important social issues, distinguishing herself from Romney’s hard-line conservative administration. For example, Healey called herself “extremely pro-choice,” while the Romney administration opposes abortion.
In March, Healey also opposed Romney’s plan that granted a religious exemption to the Catholic Church, allowing its state adoption organizations to prohibit gay and lesbian couples from adopting children.
Continuing to separate herself from typical Republican positions, Healey voiced her support of embryonic stem cell research.
“Kerry Healey has been consistent as a candidate. She’s been taking the opportunity lately to talk about issues and establish herself on her own, without Romney,” said Healey spokesman Tim O’Brien. “That’s who she is. That’s who she’s always been.”
“Republicans that take conservative social positions don’t do well in Massachusetts,” he added. “It’s a great campaign to show her views like this.”
But not everyone is convinced Healey’s political about-face is enough.
Democratic candidate Chris Gabrieli’s press spokesman, Dan Cence, said it is time for a major change in the corner office.
“Republican governors haven’t gotten the job done,” he said. “It’s time for results, instead of just promises. Massachusetts is 46th in the nation in job creation. That’s not acceptable.”
“Republican candidates always say we need balanced government, that balanced government is the most important thing,” he added. “What’s the point if all we get is stagnation?”
Two local blogs, HealeyIsAFraud.blogspot.com and KerryHealeyOutOfTouch.blogspot.com, have come out against Healey, saying her recent platform announcements fail to prove she is socially moderate.
“Healey is a Fraud” says the “Lame Duck, Light Weight Lieutenant Governor” has shown a lack of compassion for the state’s poorest residents. They cite her call to move elderly people unable to afford their taxes into the city and “free up those properties to get back on the tax rolls of the community” as proof that Healey is as conservative as Romney.
“Kerry Healey out of touch” discusses the candidate’s wealth as a reason she cannot relate to Massachusetts voters. According to the site, in 2002, she contributed $1.8 million of her own money to her campaign for Lieutenant Governor.
During her March 2 speech to announce her candidacy, Healey turned the tables and cautioned that Massachusetts needs to demonstrate fiscal responsibility, criticizing Democrat spending in the Legislature.
“This fall, the House approved more than a billion dollars in random spending — all in a single day,” Healey said. “And that’s with a fiscal conservative watching from the corner office. Just imagine what they’d be up to if the Democrats controlled the Governor’s office as well.”
Healey said, upon entering the Governor’s Office, she would immediately push to have income tax lowered to 5 percent, saying that it has been six years since the last income tax reduction.
“We show our respect for taxpayers by leaving them with more of what they earn,” she said.
Healey also emphasized the difference between government assistance and government handouts.
“There will always be those who cannot help themselves, but for most, the goal of government assistance should be to help those in need to use their own gifts to build their own lives of security, dignity, and independence,” she said during her announcement speech. “Government policies that lead to dependency help no one.”
Healey named Rep. Reed Hillman (R-Hampden) as her running mate, appealing more to her conservative supporters. Before becoming a state representative, Hillman had a 25-year career with the Massachusetts State Police. In 1996, he became the first captain in state history to be named superintendent of State Police.
Hillman retired from the State Police in 1999 and was then elected state legislature on a platform of public safety and economic issues. As representative, Hillman earned a reputation as one of Beacon Hill’s most conservative.
“Leading the State Police was a tremendous honor and a great challenge,” Hillman said during the announcement. “I’ve demonstrated my ability to bring needed change to a large organization with an entrenched way of doing business. That’s a background made for Beacon Hill.”
Hillman stressed his strong connections to the state of Massachusetts.
“I’m from the central part of the state and know first hand the unique economic and employment challenges that are facing our cities and towns located beyond Route 128,” Hillman said.