November 19, 2014
Massachusetts

Charlie Baker to raise private funds for inauguration

By Matt Stout | Boston Herald | November 18, 2014 | www.bostonherald.com

Gov.-elect Charlie Baker has opened an inaugural committee that will raise private funds to bankroll his still-in-the-works inaugural bash, yet another step in building his fledgling administration that yesterday added a new chief of staff and energy secretary.

Steven Kadish, chief operating officer at Northeastern University and a registered Democrat, will serve as the Republican’s top aide in the Corner Office after serving with Baker in state government in the 1990s and later when Baker headed Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.

Baker also named Republican state Rep. Matt Beaton, an environmental engineer who lives in the state’s first-ever “passive” house, as Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, a pick environmental activists welcomed warmly.

While building his Cabinet, Baker’s also created a committee to spearhead his inauguration, a usually multi-day affair Baker has promised will be “low-key.” His transition team said the inauguration will reflect some of the themes of his campaign, including involving areas that are not traditional “Republican strongholds,” though details haven’t been finalized.

The committee will include campaign staff, as Kadish, Beaton and Chelsea city manager Jay Ash – tapped last week to be Baker’s housing and economic development secretary – become more involved.

Kadish’s resume comes steeped in health care and higher education, including stints as director of Global Health Equity at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and as undersecretary of the state’s office of Health and Human Services. Baker has informally told his staff he considers him the best “fixer” he’s worked with.

Beaton, whose company Beaton Kane Construction specializes in green building and energy efficiency, said he intends to study the state’s “portfolio” on energy, though he signaled support of bringing in Canadian hydropower and noted, “I don’t think we’re taking wind (energy projects) off the table.”

Officials from the Environmental League of Massachusetts and the Conservation Law Foundation largely applauded Beaton’s background, though they noted there is still much about the 36-year-old, two-term lawmaker they hope to learn. Beaton said he plans to resign his House seat.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/11/19/charlie-baker-to-raise-private-funds-for-inauguration/