Re-election Speech

Four years ago, I decided to run for lieutenant governor, because I believed that Massachusetts needed new leadership.

I'd been mayor of Worcester for almost five years, and I saw first-hand how the previous administrations had failed us.

How their lack of real leadership had dragged this state down in so many ways.

Four years ago, some people thought my candidacy was a long shot, because there hadn't been anyone from Worcester County elected to statewide office in 50 years.

But many knew that times were changing, that technology was making the world smaller, we were competing in a global economy, and that Massachusetts needed leaders who could harness the full potential of the entire state.

All across the Commonwealth, we spread the word that cities and towns needed a seat at the table, and a stronger voice at the highest levels of state government.

We said greater Boston must thrive for our state to grow, but we also need to focus our attention on Western Massachusetts, the South Coast, Worcester County and the Merrimack Valley, because this Commonwealth is a collective sum of all its parts.

And we believed that Massachusetts needed a leadership team in the corner office not afraid to make the tough decisions, willing to tackle the tough problems that had been put off by our predecessors.

You wanted leaders to stop pretending that there were always easy answers to tough problems, which really meant doing nothing.
 
You wanted a team that would be honest with people and start to address the record levels of unconscionable debt and neglected infrastructure that we saw every day:

Crumbling roads, and bridges,
 
Deteriorating public schools and state parks

Underutilized rail lines and sea ports.

Four years ago, you helped spread the message to your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers that we needed real change.

And after a hard-fought campaign, the people of Massachusetts came together in a historic moment and voted overwhelmingly to reclaim the promise of this Commonwealth.

It was a great honor for me to be elected to serve as your lieutenant governor, to serve with Deval Patrick, and to begin the work we said we would do to get Massachusetts moving in the right direction again.

Now, four years later, we gather to say, we've made great progress, but our job is not done.

So today, empowered by experience and inspired by the goodwill of the people of this state, I am formally launching my campaign for re-election as your lieutenant governor, and to stand shoulder to shoulder with our great Governor Deval Patrick.

I am energized for this campaign, and I look forward to talking about our record.

We've worked hard to invest in our communities and in our people, to create good jobs and lay the foundation for long term growth and prosperity.

I've had the great opportunity to lead our administration's efforts to fight homelessness, substance abuse, and the terrible scourge of domestic violence.

We launched a new program to improve public education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math, because that's where the future of our economy lies.

In all these areas, we haven't been content to do things the same old ways and hope for better outcomes. We've worked hard to implement real change and reform, and it's working.

And when it comes to standing up to do the right thing in tough times, there's no better example for us to follow then our veterans.

One of Governor Patrick's early initiatives was to establish a special council on veterans' services, and it's been an honor for me to lead that effort.

We've stood by our veterans, adapting programs and services for the new generation of service men and women who sacrifice so much on our behalf.

Yes, I look forward to this campaign.

I look forward to talking about how far we've come, and what's at stake if we turn around and go back to the failed policies of the past.

Because I know the people of Massachusetts are too smart to be fooled.

Voters will hold all the candidates accountable for what they said and what they did.

And when that happens, I am confident that people will see that our Commonwealth today is stronger and better positioned for a brighter future because of Governor Patrick's leadership and the actions we've taken over the past four years.

Through Governor Patrick's leadership, we've cushioned the blow of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

We've directed billions of state and federal recovery funds to keep people in housing, to retrain those who lost their jobs, and to prevent school districts and municipalities across the state from making devastating cuts.

We've kept teaches in the classrooms, police on the beat, firefighters on the job, and in doing so we've held the fabric of our communities together.

And that's what at stake in this election-- the very fabric of our communities and the future for our children.

I've worked side by side with Deval Patrick for more than 3 years now, and I know he is the leader we need to keep the Commonwealth moving forward.  

Now, after four years in the limelight, you've heard a lot about Deval Patrick, and you may think you know everything you need to know about him.

So I want to close with a story about the governor that you probably haven't heard.

Many of you have been to the State House and you know it's not just another government building. It's a museum of the history of this Commonwealth and the ideals of freedom and democracy.

Tourists from all over the world, and school children from all over Massachusetts, visit the State House every day to learn about our shared history. So it's important that the building is always clean and safe, and welcoming for the public.

And that takes a lot of hard work. So last December, Governor Patrick hosted a holiday reception for the cleaning and maintenance staff, just to say thanks for all the good work they do.

I watched the governor closely at that reception, and he didn't want to leave.

Anyone would have understood if the governor had made some brief remarks, shook a few hands, and the left.

But not Deval Patrick--he stayed.
He listened to people.
He posed for photographs.
He answered questions and asked for advice.
He talked with everyone who wanted his ear, and he connected with people, one-on-one.

I tell you this story, because I think it shows who Deval Patrick really is.

He is a man who believes in his heart that every individual is a vital part of our Commonwealth.

He believes that Massachusetts is a place that can transform lives, because that's what this state did for him.

And he believes state government should help build up our society, not tear it down.  

Towards the end of that holiday reception, my wife Tammy and I asked the governor to take a picture with our daughters, Roowie and Katie.

A few weeks later, the photo came back to us, signed by the governor, with this inscription: "To Roowie and Katie, with high hopes for the future."

High Hopes.

To me, that said it all, because while I knew the Governor's wishes for my children are sincere; I also know his high hopes extend to every child in Massachusetts.

And what's more important--Governor Patrick doesn't just hope that good things will happen--he works for them.

He fights for them.

And he doesn't quit on the people of Massachusetts.

When times got tough on Beacon Hill because the entrenched special interests wanted to block real progress, Deval Patrick didn't quit.

When the economic crisis hit this state hard, Deval Patrick didn't quit.

And now he's ready to finish the job.

So ladies and gentlemen,

Boys and girls,

Friends and neighbors alike,

It's my great pleasure to introduce to you,

Our great governor, Deval Patrick!