Gov. Maura Healey, with a daring play, ought to hold the portrait of Tom Brady within the governor’s workplace.
It may be a Hail Mary, however it might work.
That means the brand new chief government in a single swift transfer might take care of the query of which portrait of a previous governor ought to, as custom has it, dangle within the governor’s workplace throughout the governor’s tenure.
Forget that. Why not Tom?
Besides, Brady, who introduced his retirement from the NFL final week, has executed extra to carry the spirits of the folks of Massachusetts throughout his years with the New England Patriots than the final half dozen governors mixed.
It received’t occur, although. Healey is simply too cautious for that. She would, within the title of fairness, have to appoint a committee to rule out any accusations of white supremacy.
Every governor leaves behind a portrait of himself. The portraits of the final six governors historically dangle within the governor’s reception room, whereas others are scattered all through the corridors of the State House.
A brand new governor will get the chance to pick out a portrait of a previous governor to hold within the ornate interior sanctum of the governor’s suite.
Former Gov. Charlie Baker, as an illustration, selected the portrait of Gov. John A. Volpe, a fellow Republican, who served as U.S. Secretary of Transportation within the Nixon Administration.
Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, who preceded Baker, selected Gov. John A. Andrews, a pacesetter of the abolitionist motion.
The query arises due to Healey’s choice to not choose a portrait, however to farm the selection out to a bunch of youngsters. She determined to make an essay contest out of it, asking public faculty college students to analysis previous governors and make suggestions.
Announced on Jan. 9, the deadline for submission was presupposed to be Jan. 27. However, the unexpectedly put-together program was so ill-conceived and so badly publicized that submissions had been few. So, the deadline was prolonged to this previous Thursday.
Upon announcement of this system, Healey stated the competition was “an exciting opportunity for Massachusetts students to learn more about our state’s history and determine for themselves what makes a great leader. We can’t wait to review the submissions.”
What will come a shock to many school-age dad and mom is Healey’s assumption that U.S. historical past is even taught in faculties anymore, not to mention the historical past of Massachusetts.
With a straight face, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, in the identical press launch stated, “Each time we see these portraits, we’ll be reminded of the lessons we learned from these student essays.” Really? Get a grip, Kim.
If Healey had been critical, she would have made the choice herself as previous governors have executed. And she might have chosen a lady.
She might have chosen the portrait of Jane Swift. Although Swift was not elected to the workplace, she was the primary girl as lieutenant governor to occupy the workplace of performing governor.
She assumed the workplace following the 1999 resignation and appointment of the late Gov. Paul Cellucci to be U.S. ambassador to Canada.
But Healey in all probability would have dominated Swift out as a result of she was a Republican.
If not Swift, Healey might have give you a portrait of Evelyn Murphy. While she by no means turned governor, Murphy, a Democrat, was the primary girl elected lieutenant governor, serving with Gov. Mike Dukakis from 1986 to 1990.
While it’s a lot too early to guage what sort of a governor Healey might be, early indications are that she is overly cautious in making choices.
When requested in regards to the unlawful Woburn faculty academics’ strike — since settled — Healey stated, “I’m not comfortable taking a position on that.”
That was a no brainer of a query Healey ought to have hit out of the ballpark, as Gov. Calvin Coolidge did throughout the well-known 1919 Boston police strike.
Coolidge stated, “There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, any time.” It vaulted him to the White House.
Hang his portrait within the governor’s workplace.
Peter Lucas is a veteran Massachusetts political reporter and columnist.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”