PEABODY — Tim Cahill's gospel of low taxes and fiscal restraint seemed to find believers when he spoke yesterday in the chapel at Brooksby Village.
About 100 residents attended, a fraction of the 1,700 registered voters at the bustling retirement community and less than half the number that turned out recently for his opponent, Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat.
Cahill, running for governor as an independent, made a single attack, this on Republicans and their candidate, Charlie Baker of Swampscott.
"One of my opponents said he isn't responsible for the Big Dig because he was in college when it started," Cahill scoffed, noting Baker's work on the project for former Gov. Bill Weld. "It would be like me saying I'm not responsible for the Lottery because I was in school when it started." The treasurer oversees the Lottery, which Cahill called one of the best run in the nation.
"The Republicans want power," he said. "They want it back. And they'll do anything. So they attack me. And after they're done with me, they'll go after (Patrick)."
Cahill stressed his command of fiscal matters. Even the question-and-answer session seemed to revolve around money and the need for discipline.
"We cannot live on borrowed money, and we cannot live beyond our means," he said. "We spend too much. We ask for too much in taxes."
A former Democrat, he cited jobs as the key issue of the campaign and urged, "Think about who is the best person for this job. Not the best party. ... I don't believe the parties have the solutions anymore."
Mostly, Cahill offered a middle-class ré©sumé©.
"I'm not going to get John Kerry's boat and sail off to Newport," Cahill said.
A former small businessman, one of nine children, he rose from his sandwich shop to the Quincy City Council to mayor to Norfolk County treasurer to state treasurer.
"Some of you may remember me as 'Tim for Treasurer,' which was my calling card back in 2002," he said. That advertising campaign boosted Cahill from 8 percent in the polls, past three other candidates, including another Cahill, Beverly's Mike, to an improbable victory. He cited that comeback in declaring that bad polls won't chase him from the contest for governor, either.
Recent polls have Cahill badly trailing Patrick and Baker by double digits.
"I have no intention of leaving the race," he said. "I expect to win. ... If Charlie's in third place, maybe he'll consider dropping out."
Early on, Cahill was asked by resident John Jacobus about reports of patronage in the treasurer's office, where two close relatives of the probation commissioner were hired.
Pointing out that he's never employed one of his own "blood" relatives (he confessed to hiring a brother-in-law), Cahill avoided the point of the question, never addressing the probation issue. He later shrugged when asked if he'd "ducked" that one.
Resident Marie Cocca asked what might have been the most interesting question — what was he most proud of and least proud of in his career. On the plus side, Cahill cited his work as Norfolk County treasurer, saving jobs and staving off, at least for a decade, the demise of Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital. In addition, he mentioned his work reforming the School Building Authority, preventing future boondoggles like the $200 million Newton North High School.
On becoming treasurer at 43, moving from success to success, he decided he wanted his own executive director of the retirement board — the treasurer's office is responsible for public pensions. Yet, Cahill handled the removal of the then-serving director clumsily.
"I wasn't thinking of the person who was in office," he said, Thus, he ignored the toll his decision took on the director as well as on the individual's family.
"I thought I was a big shot," Cahill said. His actions resulted in a shower of bad publicity. "It taught me an important lesson of how to deal with people. ... I could have treated that person much better if I'd been more patient, less aggressive."
"His presentation made you believe him," Marie Gomalley said as she left the chapel.
"I thought he was very informative and pleasant," Florence Gravine agreed. "I wish him all the luck in the world. I will vote for him."
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