I’m thrilled to announce that The Boston Globe endorsed my candidacy for Lieutenant Governor a few days ago, declaring me “the strongest candidate… [with] an entirely different and more ambitious vision for the job, a keener understanding of why it’s fallen into disrepute, and a promising record in elected office.” It’s a real honor and we’re already seeing the impact of the Globe‘s endorsement in the excitement of our volunteers during GOTV.
If you have the time to read the full endorsement, though, you’ll see that part of the motivation for their choice was a dissatisfaction with the role that LGs have in our public life right now. To put it bluntly, the office is seen as ineffectual, and the Globe wants the job to be rebooted into a more relevant position with a greater impact on the lives of Massachusetts residents.
I agree with them.
The job of Lieutenant Governor doesn’t have to be a do-nothing bullpen for Governors-in-waiting. The office comes with a bully pulpit and an inside track to the dozens of divisions within our state government, putting the LG in a great position to inspect and improve the way agencies deal with citizens and businesses. I want the LG to serve as the “Chief Operating Officer” for the Commonwealth. The smaller profile of the LG also means he or she can drill down and really focus on narrower issues that the Governor may not be able to fully attend to; the Globe referenced this in my pledge to serve as a liaison to the innovation economy. Most of all, an LG with a good relationship with the Corner Office can serve as an additional set of eyes and ears- and perhaps even occasionally as a voice- for the Governor, who will always have more demands on his or her time and attention than they can possibly meet.
The Globe‘s endorsement wasn’t just about me but about this vision for the Lieutenant Governorship that I am advocating for. I’m not satisfied with the status quo for this office, and I don’t think you should be either. I ask for your vote – and a chance to shake up the status quo – tomorrow.
Our former Lt. Governor Tim Murray transformed that office (which you are either unaware of or choose to ignore because it weakens your schtick) Gov. Patrick gave him a more than significant portfolio of work and he accomplished more in his 6 years in that office than any Lt. Gov. in memory. Murray was the Adm. liaison and advocate for Cities and Towns and their issues. (Don’t think his absence is not sorely missed by them!) He negotiated the CSX transportation deal and carried the flag for STEM education funding. He led the charge for Gateway Cities and Seaport initiatives to spur economic development. And he was a relentless friend of veterans and their families to get the benefits to them. And those are just the things I can remember…I’m sure the Central Mass folks who truly benefited from his hard work could add more. Mr. Cheung, if you could do even 20% of what Murray did, you would be a success…but, trying to pretend that you are the “new coming” by denigrating Murray is such a turn off to me. You will definitely not have my vote. Do your homework next time.
Correction: Don’t think Murray is not sorely missed by them (cities and towns)!
At least this season, it’s either been to endorse others or to thank the community after they’d received an endorsement from BMG. This may be the first (and only) one I’ve seen where a politician posted here just to do a pitch for himself.
I believe it is encouraged.
I can’t vote for a “Democrat” for LG who ran as a Republican for the Virginia House of Delegates in 2005. Your biography carefully and totally omits your political activity and your business dealings in Virginia.
In 2004, Tim Murray was at my side, working against the horrible policies of the Romney administration. Leland Cheung was on the George W. Bush team.
We can do better.
I can personally vouch that Leland is as progressive as they come having worked with him in the contexts of Young Dems and the State Committee. He has addressed his GOP past on numerous occasions, but I can’t exactly fault him for not advertising it in the context of a Democratic primary.
It’s apparently all Dad’s fault.
He lives here for one can only guess tech and school reasons and continued to want to run for office. I’m sure he can get a lot of progressive initiatives put in place, but folks have their reasons for having reservations.
I find his answers unconvincing. Is his belief system so malleable that in a few years he’ll be able to blame someone else for today’s beliefs?
His approach might attract other votes, just not mine.