My wife and I continue to strongly support Gov Deval Patrick's bid for re-election. The Governor has carefully balanced the sometimes mis- aligned wants and desires of the various constituencies represented within the Commonwealth, which has not been an easy task, by any measure. Governor Patrick is strongly aligned with Progressives re: the major issues of our time. However, we must remember, the Governor must represent ALL of the Commonwealth's constituencies. As we say, in the world of contract negotiations, "You know you've agreed to a reasonable contract when neither party is happy with the result." Or, with the arrival of Spring, "That's baseball!"

-- Dave & Catherine Dubinsky No. Chelmsford, MA

 

We are strong supporters of Governor Patrick and feel that Massachusetts needs his continuing steady leadership. In these particularly turbulent and trying times our State is moving in the right direction and Governor Patricks achievements by far outweigh his less successful actions highlighted by his critics. He has proven to be a Governor who cares more for the people of Massachusetts than for his personal agrandisement.

-- Barbara and Martin Winters

 

I am responding to an email message from PDM requesting my opinon on the endorsement of Gov. Deval Patrick for re-election.

 

I wish to express my view in support of an endorsement for Deval Patrick.

 

His 2006 victory was a hard won campaign and I was among the thousands of volunteers to help promote his candidacy to victory.

 

Patrick become governor following 16 years of Republican Administrations that left the state's government in disarray.

 

(Similarly President Obama took office faced with the daunting challenge of cleaning up the mess left behind by 8 years of Bush/Cheney.)

 

And so the challenge or correcting the problems left behind by others was the starting point for Deval Patrick.

 

Through these difficult times Patrick has achieved reforms in just four years that previous governing administrations only talked about but never actually ventured to tackle.

 

Pension reform. Education reform. Transportation reform, to name a few.

 

A year ago the nation was on the verge of seeing its banking system collapse. (Thanks to the bailouts that Obama pushed for this never happened.) But even in these difficult financial times Massachusetts under the Patrick Administration has earned a AA bond rating from Moodys.

 

Jobs is a nation-wide problem, but Massachusetts' unemployment remains lower than the rest of the country.

 

Among the candidates running for governor of Massachusetts, Patrick would be the most progressive. (With due respect to Grace Ross, she is not going to win. She registered as a Democratic just within the deadline - so really, is she a Democrat in heart or just an opportunist trying to leverage Patrick's low popularity?)

 

Given the likely general election field of Patrick/Cahill/Baker, the most progressive is clearly Deval Patrick.

 

The Patrick/Murray Administration has not been afraid to make the tough choices.

 

And given the difficult times we live in, it will take tough choices to improve our living conditions. The others, if elected, will simply move the problem a few years out and then let someone else deal with it.

 

Lets get it fixed now.

 

Give the Patrick/Murray Administration another term to build on the work they have done.

 

The best argument against them is not that they have done anything wrong, so much as they have not done enough of what is correct.

 

When Patrick campaigned in 2006 he asked voters not to be taking a chance on him, but to take a chance on their hopes.

 

I continue to believe that for progressive causes Deval Patrick is the best hope into the next four years.

 

Thanks for your attention.

-- Parwez Wahid, Framingham, MA

 

I agree with all the positive comments so far, so I won't bother you with a rehash of them. I saw Deval about 3 weeks in Concord and was, once again, inspired to work hard on his reelection campaign.

-- Bob Wallhagen, Carlisle