Students divided over Mass gov. race

Will Gov. Deval Patrick get another four years in office? Will Republican Charlie Baker’s turn as a health care CEO hurt him? And what’s up with all the drama in Independent Tim Cahill’s campaign?

For many Boston University students, these are essential questions for the Nov. 2 gubernatorial election.

With fewer than three weeks remaining until Election Day, some BU students, especially those in on-campus groups such as the BU Democrats and the BU College Republicans, have become especially involved in the individual campaigns. But still others have been hesitant to support either candidate.

“I am torn, because Deval Patrick has done some great work in education. Also, the substantial increase of Massachusetts citizens who now have health care is fantastic,” said Samantha Craig, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. “However, Charlie Baker seems to understand the importance of fiscal responsibility better, and it looks like he has a more cohesive plan to stimulate the economy.”

CAS junior Diego Huezo-Rosales agreed.

“I really haven’t been getting into the governor’s race that much. I backed Deval four years ago, but he didn’t really end up doing what he said he would. That being said, I don’t really support Cahill or Baker either,” Huezo-Rosales said.

John Burke, a senior in the College of Engineering, also expressed disappointment in Patrick’s performance over the last four years.

“I have not been closely watching this race, but I do not support Deval. He has done some things that were just very deceptive and sneaky over the past few years,” Burke said.

Many students, though, have not been drawn into the race because they are registered voters in other states and are therefore unable to vote in the Massachusetts election.

“I am a resident of California and so I will be voting at home by absentee ballot. I also feel that since I am not educated on either candidate, I would not be able to make an educated vote,” said Alexandra Beck, a junior in CAS.

BU College Democrats and Republicans say they are working hard to get their respective candidates elected.

“I know that at least the BU Democrats are doing as much as we can to get him reelected,” said Chris Towner, member of BUCD and a freshman in CAS. “We have a trip planned to campaign in Plymouth this weekend for the governor and the congressman there, and we have been registering students to vote all over campus.”

“The Charlie Baker campaign has a very active, strong student coalition. We have really been able to mobilize the base of young conservatives for this election and this momentum was continued from the Scott Brown victory in January,” said Matthew Stern, a junior in CAS and the State co-chair of Students for Baker in an email.

“The path of fiscal irresponsibility that our Commonwealth has taken since Governor Patrick took office in 2006 is not sustainable for the long-term.”