Local poll answers questions on Mass. Voters’ minds
Published on January 9th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - Patrick Guerriero has climbed the Massachusetts political ladder since leaving his seat as State Representative for Melrose and half of Stoneham, and he is poised just below the top rung as a candidate for Lt. Governor.
The 33-year-old Republican left his rep’s seat in 1998 to run for Mayor of Melrose. He was elected and re-elected before leaving this post to become Governor Jane Swift’s Deputy Chief of Staff last July. Earlier this month, after several other Republicans turned her down, Swift asked Guerriero to be her running mate, and he agreed.
The candidates do not officially run as a ticket, but Swift and Guerriero are campaigning as a team. Wealthy businessman James Rappaport is also running for Lt. Governor, but Swift does not want him.
Guerriero has been thrown into the spotlight of the major Boston media, and a lot of questions have been raised and repeated. The Independent talked with Guerriero to get his answers.
Q1. What are your qualifications?
Guerriero: I am a veteran of five successful elections. I have experience as a legislator. I fought the good fight to help get state funding for things like the Town Common and the Senior Center in Stoneham... I helped keep KENO out (of Stoneham)... I was the chief executive of a corporation known as Melrose; I filed budgets and anyone driving down Melrose will tell you that that town has been revitalized... I know I’m young, but the breadth of my electoral, local and managerial experience makes me qualified.
Q2: How do you reconcile Swift’s opposition to gay marriage with the fact that you are gay?
Guerriero: Very easily. Governor Swift is in favor of health insurance for domestic partners, something the Democrats have opposed (in a 2001 bill). The only distinction is over the term marriage and how that relates to religion... Before I accepted her offer I compared her record on fairness and equality with other Massachusetts politicians, and her record met or exceeded theirs.
Q3: How do you feel about not being the first or maybe second or third, choice?
Guerriero: My ego is not so big that I think I’m the only one that could do the job, but when it was gut-check time, I looked inside and said, “Yes, I can do this.”
Q4: Why should people vote for you instead of James Rappaport?
Guerriero: James Rappaport is a good man and a good Republican. But I don’t have to be introduced to the local mayors and the representatives. I don’t have to be introduced to the legislative process. I don’t have to worry about getting along with the governor — she picked me. That’s a critical difference.
Q5: If elected, what will you do for the people?
Guerriero: The major goals for the Governor and for myself are to improve public education and prevent tax increases.
Q5a. If you improve education and prevent taxes, what suffers?
Guerriero: We’re not afraid to make difficult decisions. We may have to cut state employees. Every agency in government has to look at where it can cut.
Q6: If elected, what will you do for Stoneham and who in Stoneham, if anyone, will you look to as a resource?
Guerriero: I owe a deep debt of gratitude to the people of Stoneham who supported me in my first rep’s election. I will always remember that, and Stoneham will have the key to the corner office while I’m there...
My mentor State Senator Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield) and I have shed a lot of blood sweat and tears bringing state resources to Stoneham. I will continue to work with him... Al Conti, Jeff Nutting, Chief Passaro, John Warren and Tony Kennedy — we recently met about Chapter 70 funding — and Pat Jordan I also talk to regularly.
Q7: Why did you leave Melrose before resolving what to do with the tainted Big Dig fill that will cost the town around $2 million?
Guerriero: I almost didn’t leave, but the bottom line is that I did not leave before the independent audit was complete and all decisions guided by the audit were made. A solution was offered that could pay for it out of golf fees without any new taxes. There is just some small debate left, but the whole thing has been made more political.
Q8: Are you sorry you helped get Democrat Thomas Finneran elected Speaker of the House?
Guerriero: No. He was a fiscal conservative, and he was promising to open up the legislative process to all parties. I don’t blame Finneran as much for his power as I blame the other 159 members for letting him take control. To pass a budget you don’t get to read is outrageous.
Q9: You, former Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party Brian Cresta and two previous Republican governors left mid-term. Will you and Governor Swift commit not to?
Guerriero: When you get the opportunity to make a bigger difference in public service, you go. Democrats do it too; Kerry wants to be President... But I believe the Governor has already made that promise (to stay in office).
Rappaport and House Democrats, among others, probably do not agree with a lot Guerriero had to say, but he’s on record speaking directly to the people of Stoneham. Let the debate proceed from there...
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