Lowell Sun Endorses Charlie Baker For Re-Election In Massachusetts

The Lowell Sun has endorsed Governor Charlie Baker for re-election, writing that “Massachusetts and its 6.6 million residents are better off today than they were four years ago” under his leadership.

In their endorsement, The Lowell Sun praises Governor Baker’s policies for “breathing new economic development life into Massachusetts communities” while also applauding his efforts to improve infrastructure, fight the opioid epidemic, and work across the aisle to get things done.

Governor Baker continues to prove that he is the bipartisan, results-driven leader that Massachusetts needs.

The Lowell Sun writes:

“Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera says it best in a campaign ad now appearing on television for the Charlie Baker-Karyn Polito Republican gubernatorial team.

It didn’t take a tragedy (Merrimack Valley gas pipeline explosions) to get Gov. Baker to come to Lawrence, says Rivera, he’s always been here for us.

Rivera is one of many Democrat mayors – and non-partisan municipal leaders – supporting Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito for a second four-term term in office.

Rivera knows what another Democrat appearing in the same political ad – Lowell state Rep. Dave Nangle – makes clear: ‘They get it.’

‘They’ is the Baker administration.

Rivera and Nangle are spot on.

The Sun of Lowell and The Sentinel & Enterprise of Fitchburg have recognized the state’s progress under the Baker-Polito team and support its re-election on Nov. 6.

There’s a good feeling of balance emanating from the Executive Office and on Beacon Hill these days, a far cry from what is transpiring in Washington.

People’s concerns are getting a fair hearing, no matter what side of the political aisle they are aligned.

It’s a tribute to the collaborative spirit fostered by Baker’s team with Democrat leaders controlling both branches of the state Legislature. While nothing is perfect – and differences of opinion crop up all the time – there is an attitude of respect and collegiality among lawmakers that says adults are at work and we’ll get this done.

The end result is that Massachusetts and its 6.6 million residents are better off today than they were four years ago.

Under the Baker administration, 215,000 people have found jobs who didn’t have them two years ago. New businesses are moving into the state and some existing ones are expanding. Our state public colleges are winning accolades for quality and value by national rating services and magazines, and lawmakers are pumping record dollars into the K-12 school system.

We can list dozens of Baker-Polito achievements which, to be fair, are inextricably tied to working with Democrats. But here’s the difference. Baker’s a policy “wonk.” He gets deep into the weeds of complex things. From transforming the MBTA, enacting reforms at the Department of Children and Families, fighting rising healthcare costs, and implementing anti-opioid epidemic strategies, Baker’s relentless style is the difference between good, sound policies and hasty, flawed ones.

Harkening back to Rivera’s words, there is one area where the Baker team has excelled like none other: the Mass Works Infrastructure Program which, from 2015 to 2017, has invested $275 million in 138 public projects in 106 cities and towns, while making available another $250 million in grant money in 2018 and going forward.

This program is breathing new economic development life into Massachusetts communities by allowing them to undertake projects they couldn’t afford if local taxpayers had to pay for them. The money isn’t a giveaway; communities compete for it by filing improvement plans that must be accepted by the state. It’s led to better local government strategies and greater accountability.

In 2016, MassWorks awarded Leominster $2.5 million to upgrade downtown water and sewer infrastructure and make road and sidewalk improvements that support private investments.

In 2017, Lowell received $5 million to install utility and road infrastructure to the Hamilton Canal District, which will generate $100 million in new private building construction.

In 2018, Leominster, Gardner, Shirley and Groton shared in $8.4 million for commercial redevelopment and new housing projects.

These are a few examples of the Baker team’s vision to improve the commonwealth from end to end. It’s working and it must continue.

This newspaper endorses the re-election of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito on Nov. 6.”