Patrick Shows His Sincerity

Governor Elect Deval Patrick yesterday named his 23 member-transition team. What a surprise, only two of them are from Western Massachusetts.

Many folks rightfully voiced their concern over the matter, including ardent supporters of Patrick's candidacy. Clovado Concepcion, President of the Sixteen Acres Civic Association in Springfield and a longtime supporter of Patrick's, that the Governor-Elect should have named at least a couple more people from Western Massachusetts to the transition committee.

"He's got to practice what he preached," Concepcion said. "We're always forgotten in this part of the state - always. The state ends in Worcester".

Though Patrick didn't release the home communities of all his transition committee members, at least 15 appointees work for organizations or businesses close to or inside Boston. Two from Worcester, one from Leominster, two from New Bedford area, and one from the North Shore.

And should we be surprised that most of the members of the team happen to be big donors to his campaign. Wouldn't ya know? According to the Boston Herald, together, 18 members of the committee, some from organized labor and business interests, gave a total of $10,725. Their spouses and relatives kicked in another $6,850.

It is no surprise that Patrick's staff, both transitional and permanent, are beginning to look more and more like a who's who of Massachusetts Democratic Special interest. Joan Wallace-Benjamin, his recently named Chief of Staff, is currently a chief executive of the Home for Little Wanderers, the largest child welfare agency in New England. She was also a long-time President of the Urban League of Massachusetts.

Also according to the Herald, he team also is filled with representatives of special interest groups and organized labor, including the president of the Service Employees International Union, which ran advertisements attacking the campaign of Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey. There also is one member - North Shore Community College president Wayne Burton - who lives in New Hampshire. Would have been nice if they gave that slot to maybe, say, one more member from Western Massachusetts instead of, well, someone who doesn't live here.

Well, let to good old time-honored Massachusetts tradition of mass consumption from the Government trough commence.