jobs, jobs, jobs is the mantra on Beacon Hill, but it’s not what you think. State officials are talking more about their own jobs than about the moribund economy. They’re gossiping about the governor’s efforts to shake up his administration and what that means for them.
Most politicians go through a transition process when they come into office, but Gov. Deval Patrick is conducting one as he prepares to start his second four-year term.
The first phase of that transition process revolved around cabinet secretaries and top staff. The governor asked for their resignations immediately after his election victory and then sat down with them to discuss their commitment to his administration and their priorities for the next four years. That phase ended Dec. 1 when it was announced that Ian Bowles would be leaving as secretary of energy and environmental affairs along with several top aides to the governor, including chief of staff Arthur Bernard.
The second phase of the transition began last weekend at an unusual two-day meeting at state Democratic Party headquarters. A large group of the governor’s advisors from inside and outside of government met with each of the cabinet secretaries one at a time to discuss priorities and personnel issues. Details on what personnel issues were discussed are sketchy, but it appears the governor wants to bring in some new people, which means some people currently on the state payroll need to go.
The Globe, in a story on Monday by Frank Phillips, quoted members of the governor’s inner circle as saying he is exhibiting a new, aggressive style and flexing his political muscle. These personnel actions may be part of that new style, but they are raising some eyebrows at a time when the other big jobs discussion on Beacon Hill – the scandal over patronage at probation – is drawing attention to the way people land state jobs through their connections rather than on merit.
The advisory group that huddled over the weekend was large. Administration officials declined to say who was there, but sources say the group included former chief of staff Doug Rubin, exiting chief of staff Arthur Bernard, and current chief of staff Mo Cowan. Also there were deputy chief of staff Sydney Asbury, state Democratic Party chief John Walsh, businessman Ron Homer, and Barbara Capuano, wife of US Rep. Michael Capuano.
Walsh said the meeting was focused on developing plans and priorities for the governor’s second term. He said the meeting was held at state party headquarters because the group wanted to hold their discussions away from the daily grind of the State House. He said his office was a perfect meeting place because it has free parking. He referred all other questions to the governor’s office.
Kyle Sullivan, a spokesman for the governor who is about to leave his position as part of a transition makeover, had little to say when I first talked to him. “It was about the transition to the next term as well as the policies and priorities we’ll be focused on,” he said.
Asked whether the group discussed staff positions and who should fill them, Sullivan repeated his earlier statement. He even repeated the statement again when I asked him the staffing question a different way. He promised to call back with additional information but never responded to my subsequent phone calls.