From Metro-West Daily News
Endorsement: A vote for Silbert
Thursday, September 14, 2006
When you consider that two out of the last three lieutenant governors have moved into the state’s top job without first being elected in their own right, it’s a shame so little attention is paid to the number two spot on the ticket. The three Democrats seeking the lieutenant governor nomination in the Sept. 19 primary were not household names to begin with, and a quiet campaign has done little to change that.
That doesn’t mean the three Democrats aren’t qualified for the job. Tim Murray has served two terms as mayor of Worcester, the state’s second-largest city. While that post is not a full-time executive position — a city manager runs the day-to-day operations — Murray has earned wide praise for helping Worcester get back on track.
Deb Goldberg has municipal experience as well, though it’s easy to exaggerate the value of her six years’ service as Brookline selectman, two of them as chairman. What stands out most about Goldberg is her pocketbook. An heir to the Stop & Shop fortune, she has sunk more than $2 million of her own money into her campaign.
Andrea Silbert’s experience is as a civic entrepreneur. As co-founder of the Center for Women and Enterprise, a nonprofit resource for small business owners, she helped create 14,000 jobs.
All three candidates are bright and articulate. All are well-versed in the key issues facing the Commonwealth, especially education, economic development, housing and transportation. Murray and Goldberg promise to be a voice on Beacon Hill for cities and towns. Murray has reached out to MetroWest officials for help in expanding commuter rail to Worcester.
But we’re most impressed by Silbert. Her grasp of the issues is sure. She speaks well, and listens well. The lieutenant governor’s office has little legal definition, so she has written her own job description. At the top is economic development, a field she has explored from Wall Street to Brazil — and in MetroWest, where her organization has helped several small businesses get started. Her goals also include lobbying Washington for more help developing New England’s railroads and working to end family homelessness in Massachusetts.
At this point, none of the three Democrats running for governor have aligned themselves with any of the three candidates for lieutenant governor. Tuesday’s winners will form a team, and ultimately it will be up to the governor to find constructive work for the lieutenant governor.
Any of the three candidates could be an asset, but we’re convinced the strongest of the three is Andrea Silbert, and we offer her our endorsement.
