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Gubernatorial hopeful heads to Springfield

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Deval Patrick will appear in Springfield for a "meet and greet" on Jan. 11.

The attorney and businessman who is facing Attorney General Thomas Reilly for the nomination will be at St. John's Congregational Church, 643 Union St. at 7:30 p.m.

Patrick is a native of Chicago who attended high school and college in Massachusetts. A graduate of both Harvard University and Harvard law School, Patrick has served in private practice and in the position of assistant attorney general for civil rights during the Clinton Administration.

After leaving government in 1997, Deval worked at Texaco Oil as vice president and general counsel in 1999 and then for Coca Cola as executive vice president and general counsel. He resigned from that job in 2005.

His run for the Statehouse is his first political campaign.

Patrick has received attention lately for fund-raising through his website and his grassroots organization.

Speaking to Reminder Publications from the campaign trail, Patrick said he has "out-raised the competition" since last summer and has more individual contributors than Reilly.

The election is "not just about money. It's a contest of ideas," he said.

Although Patrick is a political neophyte coming from the private sector like Governor Mitt Romney, he said there are several important differences between them.

Patrick charged that Romney was "only interested in having the job not interested in doing the job." Patrick said he wants to do the job of governor.

He also said that, because Romney was not interested in doing the job, he didn't build up the relationships in the Legislature that he needed. Patrick said he has built those kinds of relationships in the past and can in the future.

He said he also understands the concerns of people who fear the outcome of having a democrat as governor and a Democratic-controlled Legislature.

"Frankly the Republicans made a compelling argument in the last few [election] cycles," he said. He added that the argument was easier but not fairer with the former leadership of the Legislature.

He said that he has met with the current leadership and came away believing that they are "looking for a partner, not a rubber stamp."

Patrick said that he respects and likes Reilly and the two lawyers have many friends in common.

However, Reilly and his campaign have "avoided or rejected the idea [of a debate] for the time being," Patrick said.

The candidate said his support is coming from Democrats, Republicans and Independents who "see a willingness [in him] to give prominence and then address" issues such as jobs, public education and healthcare.