SALEM — About 25 people gathered in downtown Salem yesterday morning to hear Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker's call for lower taxes and an end to "one-party rule on Beacon Hill."
Baker, who lives in Swampscott, spoke outside Old Town Hall along with his running mate for lieutenant governor, Sen. Richard Tisei, R-Wakefield.
Baker called for a positive climate for businesses "to grow and expand in Massachusetts."
"We need to get people back to work," he said.
Baker criticized his opponents in the governor's race — incumbent Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, and State Treasurer Timothy Cahill, who is running as an independent. Every year, he said, Patrick has funded the state budget with tax increases.
"And where was Tim Cahill?" Baker posed. "Nowhere. He said nothing."
"Once the economy crashed, did the state implement a wage-and-hiring freeze like so many private businesses did? No," said Baker, who stood at a lectern in Derby Square beside Tisei and fellow Republican Frank Cousins, who is up for re-election as Essex County sheriff.
Baker drew applause at one point during his speech when he said, "Income tax and sales tax needs to get back to 5 percent."
He also advocated the proposal dubbed "plan design" that would empower municipal executives to change certain features of employee health plans — such as co-pays and deductibles — without union approval. The idea has wide support among North Shore municipal leaders.
Baker breezed into Derby Square around 10:45 a.m., smiling and shaking hands with the line of people who had assembled. Attendees included Salem City Councilor Joe O'Keefe and Republican state representative candidate Brett Schetzsle of Beverly.
"We believe that state government should push the restructure and reform button over and over and over again," Baker said to the group.
Tisei, who spoke first, said the top complaint he hears from citizens is that "taxes in the state have gone up so much."
"I've met with a lot of property owners who are having a hard time," Tisei said. "... Massachusetts is becoming too unaffordable."
He criticized the Democratic Legislature for trying to "pull the rug out" from under Proposition 21/2, which limits property tax hikes, and he went on to criticize Cahill.
"The state treasurer hasn't been involved in or suggested any reforms at all," Tisei said. "Charlie Baker has been a change agent his whole career."
Baker, 53, was president and CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care for 10 years, following stints in the administrations of Govs. Paul Cellucci and William Weld.
He also served as a selectman in Swampscott, where he lives with his wife, Lauren. They have three children, Charlie, AJ and Caroline, and he told the crowd about his connections to Salem.
"My daughter is 13 years old today," Baker said. "I can remember when her and her two brothers (and I) would walk from the Edgewater Cafe to get chocolate and ice cream for dessert," he said as he gestured to Maria's Sweet Somethings, which abuts Derby Square.
"It's fun to be in a place that's a little familiar."
Q&A with Charlie Baker
After his speech yesterday, The Salem News briefly interviewed the Republican gubernatorial candidate. Here are some excerpts from that conversation.
What do you think of the gambling bill that passed the House recently and the prospect of a casino at Suffolk Downs?
"We ought to give any community that might host a casino the right to vote on it. ... Let's face it, it's a big change." Casino revenues should go to local aid and "not the state government, given the number of times the state has cut local aid over the years."
Thoughts on plan design?
It has bipartisan support and "would save not just lots of money but jobs, and (communities could) continue to deliver a high level of services without going back to the taxpayer."
What do you think of the attack ads against Timothy Cahill?
"I would have preferred to see ads about what I want to do: Cut spending, cut taxes and get people back to work. But it's against the law in any way to coordinate with (organizations like the Republican Governors Association, which is running an attack ad on Cahill). ... They're part of the game."
Why did you switch campaign managers midrace, from Lenny Alcivar to former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey's campaign manager, Tim O'Brien?
O'Brien has experience since he's been through this race before. Tisei added, "It's totally normal for a campaign to retool itself given the next phase of the campaign."
What are your thoughts on the tea party, and why didn't you attend the large rally in Boston a few weeks ago?
"I've been to a bunch of tea party meetings I've been invited to. ... It was really just a calendar thing.
"I know a bunch of tea party folks. They're interested in what I'm interested in: It's all about the pocketbook ... And I like the civic engagement of it."
We reported a story this week about a transgender Salem State College student who accused the college of housing discrimination. What is your position on transgender rights, and your differing opinion from your running mate?
(Tisei supports a bill, which Baker opposes, that would add transgender people to the state's anti-discrimination laws. Critics have nicknamed it the "bathroom bill.")
"I believe everybody should be treated equally and fairly, but I believe there are significant issues with that particular legislation." It only has 105 sponsors and never made it out of committee, which indicates others have concerns with the bill, too.
Tisei added that he and Baker have "a healthy debate" about the matter, saying: "The good thing about Charlie is that he's very interested in listening to the issues."
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