Baker is a sound choice

Date: 3/27/2014

The Opinion column in last week’s Reminder questions whether Charlie Baker is highly regarded as a candidate for governor. In reality, Charlie Baker’s qualities and experience and his proven record answer that question with a resounding, “yes.”

Our EBT and Food Stamp programs are out of control; our child welfare system can’t do its job; state aid to cities and towns is static while spending rises endlessly; our taxes go up year after year. The state cries out for good management and accountability.

Here is Charlie Baker’s history. He served as Gov. Bill Weld’s secretary of Health and Human Services and secretary of Administration and Finance. In the first job he brought reforms to the state’s human services; in the second he oversaw the budget of the whole state. He knows state government.

After leaving state government, he took on the job of CEO at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, then a struggling HMO that was arguably near bankruptcy. Under his leadership, it became the top health plan in the country (as voted by a major accrediting company). He knows how to run a large organization.

Even as he worked at Harvard Pilgrim, Charlie served on the Board of Selectmen in his hometown of Swampscott, doing his trademark good job. He understands local government.

Charlie Baker was enthusiastically endorsed as the Republican candidate for governor at last weekend’s convention and will be welcomed by the voters in November.

Mary Rogeness

Longmeadow