/Portals/2/logos/__TFMF_okawp2b3tpndrgn3txjim1zr_0de1b88e-2ab9-4275-9b77-8e31843b4ba4_0___Selected.jpg en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:06:52 GMT 15 By Chris Curtis
Massachusetts residents went to the polls recently to elect a new Governor. The results are in, and, as most are by now aware, Deval Patrick carried the day by a heavy margin against Republican opponent Kerry Healey. A Democrat, Deval has spent time as both trial and corporate lawyer, as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights during the Clinton administration, and as a Coca-Cola company executive. However, Patrick has had no prior experience in elected office. Consequently there is little but his campaign platform on which to base expectations of his future performance. Deval defined his stances on a variety of issues early on in his campaign. As Governor, Patrick has promised to support the disabled by improving special education in schools and strictly enforcing the Americans With Disabilities Act. He has also pledged to expand home-based care, promote work opportunities, and cut prescription drug costs and property taxes for the elderly. On the issue of the economy Deval has little to say but the usual, declaring that he hopes to bring about an “economic renaissance” in the Bay State, but providing few details. The environment Patrick is generally in favor of, promising to “support renewable energy projects whenever the benefits for all of us outweigh the disadvantages.” When it comes to education, Patrick says that he will support teachers and administrators to ensure that they have the necessary tools to carry out their duties apropos the shaping of young minds. He has also gone on record promising to boost funding for higher education in the state. Fiscal responsibility is the watchword when it comes to discussion of government spending as he proposes to cut wasteful spending and to eliminate or streamline inefficient government programs where necessary. In the area of law enforcement, Deval has frequently stated that he hopes to limit crime by focusing on prevention over punishment, a view that has led to the Healey campaign assertion that he is “soft on crime.” Patrick is not slated to take office until January of 2007. ]]> Mon, 20 Nov 2006 01:54:00 GMT