Friday, September 25, 2009 – Governor Deval Patrick today announced the departure of Administration and Finance Secretary Leslie Kirwan, praising her for an outstanding record of fiscal management and discipline during an unprecedented economic downturn. Secretary Kirwan has accepted the position of Dean for Administration and Finance for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University.
Undersecretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez, a key architect of the administration’s budget policies and capital plan, will assume the role of secretary on October 12, the Governor said.
“Leslie is a stand-out in her field and a dear friend. Thanks to her exceptional leadership, our Commonwealth is set to emerge from the worst fiscal crisis in generations stronger than before,” said Governor Patrick. “With the help of her intelligence, diligence and creativity, we have made tough but necessary budget choices, protected core services for the most vulnerable, and invested wisely in our economic future. I thank Leslie for a job exceptionally well done and wish her every success and happiness in the future.”
“Jay has been with us since day one and is intimately familiar with the state’s finances,” Governor Patrick continued. “He is a tremendous talent with a deep understanding of our capital spending plan, landmark transportation reform law and our strategies for federal stimulus investment. Jay will keep Massachusetts’ economic foundations strong and ensure we stay on course toward economic recovery.”
Under the leadership of Secretary Kirwan, Administration and Finance has helped the Governor deliver a series of fiscal accomplishments in the face of historic budget constraints. Chief among them are passing three timely, balanced and honest budgets; aggressively and pro-actively managing FY09 revenue shortfalls; securing and investing millions in stimulus funds; and closing long-standing and egregious pension law and tax law loopholes. As chair of the Board of the Connector, Kirwan steered the authority responsible for implementing Massachusetts’ landmark health care reform initiative through its formative stages and achieved unanimous votes on every big decision. She also co-chaired the Payment Reform Commission, which made important cost containment recommendations to ensure health care reform’s sustainability.
“Looking back over close to three years as Administration and Finance Secretary, I am very proud of our record of fiscal responsibility in the midst of unprecedented economic challenges,” said Secretary Kirwan. “It has been an honor to witness this Governor every day make the tough choices required of real leaders while also understanding the human impact behind each budget decision. Thanks to my exceptional team, we have been able to realize his vision of maintaining the fiscal health and sustainability of the budget while investing in key programs that lift people up.”
“I am honored by Governor Patrick’s confidence in me and look forward to maintaining the Commonwealth’s solid financial footing as we meet the challenges that lie ahead responsibly and compassionately,” said Undersecretary Gonzalez. “I could not have had a better role model for the job than Secretary Kirwan. She has demonstrated strong and capable fiscal leadership during the most severe downturn since the Great Depression, and she did so with grace and integrity. It has been a privilege to work with Leslie, and I wish her well in her new role at Harvard.”
In his role as Undersecretary of Administration and Finance, Gonzalez’s primary responsibilities included overseeing the development of the state’s capital budget and the financing of the state’s capital investments; working with the Executive Office of Transportation in the development and implementation of the Governor’s transportation reform initiative; and overseeing certain aspects of the state’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Prior to serving as Undersecretary, Gonzalez was a Partner at the law firm Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, where his practice focused on public finance. He served as counsel to cities, towns, school districts and governmental entities throughout New England in connection with the financing and development of major capital projects and other governmental programs. He assisted with a wide array of projects, including the construction of schools and other public buildings, land conservation and various other municipal infrastructure improvements.
Undersecretary Gonzalez graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College, where he received his B.A. in Government, and later graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. He is married to Jenny Richlin and has two daughters, Isabel and Abby. The family resides in Brookline.
Please shut off the lights if you are the last one to leave.
Of course, if Secretary Kirwan did want to spend more time with her family too, who could blame her!
Leslie Kirwan is one of the best public officials I have ever had the privilege to work with, and the Commonwealth will miss her expertise, character, and leadership. We are fortunate that she has built a wonderful team at Administration and Finance, and that Governor Patrick has someone as talented and dedicated as Jay Gonzalez to turn to at this important time.
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p>During my tenure as the Governor’s Chief of Staff, I witnessed first-hand Leslie’s steady leadership and guidance during one of the most difficult budget period’s in our Commonwealth’s history. She is a great example of the Governor’s ability to attract talented people to his administration. While I understand that the difficult cuts that were made put a strain on a lot of important programs and that, understandably so, some who were negatively impacted did not agree with the budget decisions that were made, I can personally attest to the fact that Leslie always made decisions on what she felt were in the best interests of the Commonwealth as a whole.
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p>Harvard is lucky to get her!
It will not be known by most of the public, but this is a huge blow for the Governor and the State. I have known and occasionally worked with Leslie over the years and she is one of the best, most knowledgeable and honorable professionals I have had the pleasure to meet. Her deep knowledge of the state budget will be missed, particularly as the next fiscal year will likely be worse than the current one.
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p>The polictal apparatchiks come and go (in some cases, thankfully), but this will be a big loss.
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p>Good job, Leslie…..
Doug Rubin said: “I can personally attest to the fact that Leslie always made decisions on what she felt were in the best interests of the Commonwealth as a whole.”
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p>I can agree on that, Leslie Kirwin is a class act…don’t we wish we could say the same for all those advisors and consultants Gov. Patrick relies on to give advice putting what’s good for the Commonwealth first, before personal financial gain or cross-pollenating lucrative political clients?
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Look, I understand that by choosing to serve as the Governor’s Chief of Staff, and being fortunate to work with him (and yes, other people looking to serve in elected office) on political campaigns, I will be subject to cheap shots like the one above. My only point in my post was to let people know what a talented, dedicated professional Leslie Kirwan is, and to thank her for the great work she did for the Governor on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Leslie Kirwin is a talented, dedicated professional and we all thank her for the great work she did for the Governor on behalf of the Commonwealth.
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p>As for shots…as you point out, it comes with the cash and goes with the territory….nothing is cheap anymore in politics.
what Charlie Baker is really like?
I worked there 1997-1999. So yes, I know.
Like RRRRAAAATTTTSSSSS!
Bonus points if you know who said that.
Nice try, but that is not even close to the truth. Leslie served the Governor well, and left after an appropriate amount of time for a wonderful opportunity with Harvard University. Thankfully, she has a great team that is staying in place and the perfect replacement in Jay Gonzalez.
Leslie is a very fine person who did an excellent job. As citizens, we should feel fortunate that took on the A&F job.
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p>Here next one might be harder! There are only 200 legislators compared to how many FAS professors?
As important a job as the Harvard gig likely is, it seems something of a step down from the state job. Of course, I could also understand not loving the spotlight associated with being the Gov’s main finance person.