DANVERS — Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker came to a rainy Danvers Square yesterday to talk with business owners and their patrons about the state's economy. The somber weather made a fitting backdrop to some of the conversations.
Jeanne Hennessey, owner of Lorraine Roy, a bridal boutique that specializes in mother-of-the-bride dresses, told Baker she had previously run a management consultant firm for small businesses and "specialized in unemployment compensation," which she felt was too liberal in Massachusetts. Now that she's running a small business of her own, Hennessey said unemployment insurance costs too much.
"There are a lot of holes in the Massachusetts system," Baker said, pointing out that even people who had been fired for stealing qualified for benefits.
Baker is running against Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick and independent Tim Cahill, the state treasurer, in the November election. He spent about two hours during a campaign stop in downtown Danvers yesterday talking about everything from taxes to high school football.
At Goodies Ice Cream Parlor, where Carol Hess and Kristen Evans had brought six children, four of their own and two belonging to a neighbor, Baker high-fived the kids eating treats at the counter.
Then he high-fived owner John Palmisano when he told Baker he had been to the campaign website and liked Baker's proposal to "roll back the $456 minimum tax" on corporations.
Palmisano told Baker business was flat, and he was considering cutting prices 5 cents on some items. He has seen that people are willing to "drive around looking for 5 cent savings on gas," and is hoping for the same effect.
Baker noticed that one of the ladies was wearing a Gloucester T-shirt and asked if anyone in her family worked in the fishing industry.
They didn't, but Baker explained he was concerned about an industry "under siege" from federal regulations. He felt fishing regulations were based on "old and inaccurate" information, and proposed the state use studies and data from Brian Rothschild at UMass Dartmouth.
"He's an authority on these fishing grounds," Baker said.
"I'm still stuck, between you and Tim Cahill" said a customer at Cigars R Us, after shaking hands with Baker. The man described himself as "a centrist Democrat" who voted for Chris Gabrielli in the primary to the last election.
Phil Krumph of West Peabody, who was eating lunch at New Brothers Restaurant and Deli, was decisive in his opinion of Baker.
"I'm for you. You'll be another Scott Brown," Krumph said.
One lady at New Brothers was less than pleased at having to steer a blueberry muffin past the candidate and a small crowd.
She was even less pleased — after Baker went to her table and told her he was running for governor — with the "hiring of Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff for the Big Dig." She declined to be interviewed.
Restaurant co-owner Ted Kougianos, after telling Baker business was pretty good, showed the candidate one of two "walls of fame" that frame the main dining room of his restaurant.
Together they looked at pictures of celebrities, politicians and athletes, from Vice President Al Gore to former Danvers High School and NFL football star Mark Bavaro. They talked about other, more local figures they both knew.
Baker posed with Kougianos long enough for his own picture to be taken for the wall, then broke away to speak with members of the crowd coming in for lunch.
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