Massachusetts has the reputation of being one of the bluest states in the United States, and with not a single Republican above the level of state senator, that reputation still holds true. But from time to time, Republican candidates have found a way to win in Massachusetts, and when they do win, have found ways to successfully govern.
On Tuesday, Election Day in Massachusetts, voters were given a clear choice. People could vote for more of the same by voting in another Democrat, Martha Coakley, or they could vote for a fresh face, with fresh ideas in Charlie Baker. The choice could not have been clearer. And for Massachusetts’ voters who wished to see more growth and more prosperity in these upcoming years, Baker should have received their vote.
Baker, unlike his opponent, has not only been successful in the public sector, but has also had significant success in the private sector as well. Baker served under Massachusetts Govs. William Weld and Paul Cellucci. Serving as the Commonwealth’s Secretary of Administration and Finance, he helped to turn a billion-dollar deficit into a surplus, created half a billion jobs and overhauled the Massachusetts education system. His success was so great in fact that he was awarded the distinguished service award from the National Governors Association in 1998.
But his success has not just been confined to the public sector. After serving in the Weld and Cellucci administrations, he went on to serve as the CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. When Baker took over as CEO, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care was an absolute mess, but under his leadership, the company accomplished a huge turnaround. The company would go on to win the highest ranked health plan in the country (based on member satisfaction and other factors) for 10 years.
While his success alone qualified him for the job, his stance on key issues surely made him the more preferable candidate. Charlie pledged multiple times in debates not to raise taxes or fees, while his opponent failed to do so. He also opposed the automatic gas tax, something his opponent could not even remember the value of. Only under the Baker administration will the people of Massachusetts see growth in jobs and business. The policies offered by Coakley would’ve continued to add additional burdens to the middle class and stomp out economic growth. By electing a Republican governor, the people of Massachusetts are able to hold their government more accountable.
Currently, Massachusetts has a Democratic governor, which has led to one party rule his entire time in office. When one party rule is in place, there is little that can be done to stop the majority from passing whatever it wants, resulting in poor pieces of legislation such as the Automatic Gas Tax, or the Tech Tax, which was repealed shortly after it was passed. With a Republican governor in the State House, such controversial laws may never be passed due to the threat of a veto.
Furthermore, a Republican governor cannot simply veto every bill due to the threat of some of them being overridden, or in a worse case scenario, nothing getting done. Having a Republican governor in power will foster a sense of bipartisanship and cooperation that will force both bodies in the Legislature to accomplish what is best for Massachusetts, not what is best for their individual party.
Baker looks to be the first Republican governor elected in Massachusetts since Mitt Romney in 2003, and throughout the course of his campaign, he has shown the residents of Massachusetts why that needs to happen.
He has been endorsed by The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, The Eagle Tribune, MassLive/The Republican, The Standard-Times and The Lowell Sun, just to name a few. His economic plan will bring more jobs and less taxes to the Commonwealth, something his opponent cannot claim. Baker has a vision of a better, if not greater Massachusetts, and with him in office, that vision could become a reality.
