MARBLEHEAD — Take that, Beverly.
He didn't bring any money, but Gov. Deval Patrick may have given something even more lasting on his visit to Marblehead last week. Not that he intended to.
Invited to sit at the head table, Selectman Bill Woodfin managed to wrench a significant concession from the state's chief executive. "You know," he said, "you're in the town of Marblehead, and the town of Marblehead is the birthplace of the American Navy."
Then, Woodfin paused, as if to allow Patrick to acknowledge this.
To his credit, the governor looked a bit wary, as if he sensed danger. Only slowly he offered a nod.
"I'm glad you admit that," Woodfin said cheerfully.
On closing loopholes
Woodfin encouraged Patrick's quest to reform state government — even pointing to a target. "I've been a selectman for 15 years," he began during the governor's visit to Marblehead. "I've made $1,000 (a stipend) for 15 years."
But, Woodfin continued, if he could find a high-paying government job to fill for three years he could buy into the pension system then retire with a payoff reflecting his three highest years of pay.
It's wrong, Woodfin told Patrick, asking him to close this loophole.
The governor expressed a willingness to institute reforms, but he has been at odds with the Legislature over what constitutes reform.
Friends
Anti-tax activist Barbara Anderson got two surprises out of Patrick's visit.
First, Patrick asked her a question without ever knowing who she was.
"He looks at everybody as if he's known them all his life," she notes. "That's part of his charm. ... He just looked like he knew me."
Anderson offered a succinct critique of the graduated income tax (which Patrick supports), holding that it merely makes it easier for the state to steal from the taxpayers and explaining how separating people into brackets allows the government to divide and tax.
"I'm scared of you," a smiling Patrick replied when she finished.
Answering questions later, Patrick also expressed surprise when he learned that he'd been talking to Anderson.
In fact, he gave his staff a stern look as if they should have warned him about potential trouble.
Yet, Anderson says, she wasn't there to cause trouble. "I was there to take notes for my (Salem News) column."
More than that, she counts herself a Patrick supporter when it comes to his battle to force the Legislature to institute some reform. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," she says.
Rooking the pawns
State Rep. Lori Ehrlich sat with the governor. He praised her expertise on the issue of tolls and other transportation costs. She was impressed with his ability to charm the audience. "He's very gracious," she said later. "I enjoy working with him."
They don't agree on everything, however. It didn't come up at the Thursday forum, but she hotly opposes the governor's threats to solve some of his money problems by vastly increasing tolls that fall disproportionately on the North Shore and Metrowest regions
"The poor beleaguered North Shore communities are pawns," she says.
On the other foot
Olympian Shalane Flanagan has offered Runners World a list of her favorite tunes — including songs that remind her of home. Brace yourself. "Marblehead Forever" is not on the list. Massachusetts native James Taylor is — but he's singing "Carolina On My Mind."
Flanagan now lives in North Carolina.
Another favorite is "Come Home" by One Republic, no doubt sent to her by a Marbleheader.
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