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Patrick names 3 more to cabinet

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WPRI, CH 12 Providence is reporting an AP story that says Deval Patrick has named 3 more to cabinet:

Governor-elect appoints three more to his cabinet

BOSTON Governor-elect Deval Patrick has named three more people to his cabinet.

He named 50-year-old Suzanne Bump as Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development. Bump is a former state representative and was Patrick’s political director during his campaign.

Patrick named 60-year-old Kevin Burke as the Secretary of Public Safety. The former Beverly state representative also served as Essex County District Attorney for 2 decades.

Fifty-nine-year-old Dana Mohler-Faria, President of Bridgewater State University will serve as Patrick’s Public Safety and Education Advisor.  He thinks Massachusetts can be a national model for education.

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  1. Patrick also named Dana Mohler-Faria, president of Bridgewater State College, as the Special Adviser to the Gov. for Education.
    Mohler-Faria, 59, is the president of Bridgewater State College. The Air Force veteran served as the executive dean of administrative services and student services at Mount Wachusett Community College, assistant dean of administrative services at Bristol Community College and director of financial aid at Cape Cod Community College.
    “I’ve always believed that Massachusetts has the potential to be a national model for preschool through college education,” he said.

    Seems like an impressive guy.  However, given the lack of teachers and school committee members on the K-12 transition working group, we have another appointee from outside the domain of K-12 practitioners.
    I am still waiting for something out of the new administration that will acknowledge the damage ot K-12 during the Romney years, and a sense that people in leadership have a sound plan for fixing things.

  2. I am absolutely delighted to learn of the appointment of Suzanne Bump to a cabinet post. She was a tireless worker during the campaign, and was key to reaching out to the labor unions and other constituencies. She is perfect for this job!

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    As many BMG readers know, I served on the Economic Development working group for the transition. One thing that became abundantly clear in our deliberations was that workforce development is almost synonymous with economic development. Suzanne will play a critical role in the administration going forward, and I think this is an exciting omen of good things to come.

  3. Kevin Burke is a great choice for a number of reasons:

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    (1) He’s a respected public saftey professional, interested in policies that work.

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    (2) At 60, I doubt he has ambition for elected office again, so he’ll be focused on pushing the Governor’s agenda.

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    (3) He can be a mediator with and an olive branch to any number of the public saftey officials (DAs, Sheriffs, Chiefs) who Patrick needs to implement his agenda in this area, but might feel they don’t have anyone’s ear in the administration.

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    (4) Ask any victims right’s organization about his work drafting the Mass. Victim Bill of Rights in 1983. It was landmark legislation, and he shepherded it every step of the way.

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    (5) On a personal level, he’s a tremendous man. My father worked with him as a fellow DA for 12 years, and held him in the highest regard. He’s everything you’d want in a cabinet official: compassionate, level-headed, intelligent and dedicated.

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    He knows the MA political landscape, has the policy expertise, and has the respect necessary in the public safety community to get the job done.

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    Well done by the Gov. in my estimation.

  4. The political crap will work itself out, probably.
    But Deval seems to be putting a good team together. Regardless of what these transition teams think.

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    Who will be assigned the keep the evangelical base in-line?

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