In giving it another go for governor, Baker (and Polito) say thanks but no thanks

Family. A polarized political environment. A pandemic on the resurgence.

Gov. Charlie Baker this week offered up a host of reasons, and observations, that all led him, and perhaps more shockingly Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, to the same decision: They will not be on the ballot in 2022.

Baker and Polito answered the biggest question in Massachusetts politics last week, and in doing so threw the doors open on the 2022 contest for governor, inviting Democrats and Republicans alike to take a fresh look at the race knowing that the popular incumbents won't be part of the field.

Baker said that after weighing all the pros and cons of trying to become the first governor to serve three consecutive four-year terms, the scale tipped toward bowing out of a race so he could spend the next year focused squarely on the work of helping Massachusetts recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

And he and Polito, they both said, are all about the work.

Baker said a political campaign risked becoming a "distraction," especially in an environment where he said civic discourse too often devolves into "grudge matches."

"We've always loved the work. We love the people. And we love the experience that comes with this and the opportunity to help communities and help people build bigger and stronger possibilities and opportunity is a big part of why we got into this in the first place," Baker said at a State House press conference.

So who is running?

We'll wait on the dissection of Baker's legacy. Even he said he would give himself an "incomplete" with a year to go. But in the void left by Baker and Polito on the campaign trail, there was no shortage of people wondering if they could fill it.

Frankly, if you haven't been asked if you're interested in running for governor yet, maybe you should be insulted.

For now, former state Rep. Geoff Diehl has a clear path to the Republican nomination, but his former House colleague and Taunton Mayor Shaunna O'Connell is taking a look at her chances, and former U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling, according to the Boston Herald, may fancy himself to fill the moderate lane left open by Baker.

On the Democratic side, Attorney General Maura Healey is now under the microscope. If she runs, she would enter as the prohibitive favorite, even in a field that already counts three candidates. Baker's decision undoubtedly makes hers easier if she truly is interested in being governor, but Healey would only say "soon" last week on her own decision as she preferred to let Baker have his turn through the news cycle.

If Healey doesn't run — and maybe even if she does — former Boston mayor and current U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is said to be sizing up his chances to return to the State House in the top job. Sprinkle in other potential candidates like Boston City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George and the field could get large quickly.

Walsh deflects

Walsh, in fact, was asked about the gubernatorial race Friday morning during a national radio appearance.

After discussing the latest national jobs report on Bloomberg Radio, Walsh was asked if he personally had more work to do in his current role.

"No question about it," Walsh, a Democrat, told Bloomberg's Jonathan Ferro before ticking off a number of his priorities as secretary.

When Ferro told Walsh that he asked the question because of the speculation that Walsh might want to return to Massachusetts to run for governor, Walsh responded, "You put that right over my head, I wasn't even paying attention. As I said, I have a lot of work to do here at the Department of Labor."

Walsh did not answer directly when Ferro asked whether it was true or false that he is interested in the race, instead talking about how closely he worked with Baker. Ferro then asked if people should read into his refusal to answer the direct question.

"There's no signal," Walsh said. "I love my job here."

'Draw your own conclusions'

And then there's Secretary of State William Galvin, never one to shy from media attention.

No, he's not running for governor. But he continues to play coy about his own electoral future while strongly hinting at another re-election campaign in 2022.

"I've been very complete in my statements on it," Galvin told the State House News Service on Tuesday night, pointing to his recent appearance on a WCVB-TV news program. "I was just 'On The Record' a week ago Sunday and I said I enjoy what I do, I work very hard at it, and people should draw their own conclusions. So you can do that, too."

As secretary, the Brighton Democrat has spent more than 26 years as the state's chief record-keeper, elections overseer and investment industry watchdog. If he does seek and win an eighth term in office next year, Galvin could surpass former Secretary Frederic Cook's record 28-year tenure.

"I'm acting in a certain way, and you can draw your own conclusions. OK? Is that enough for you? ... It's what the governor and the other — let my superiors in the constitutional office announce their things. I don't want to get in their way," Galvin said, a day before Baker's announcement.

Yes, it's enough for us. Enough to draw this conclusion: Galvin will run for reelection.

Back in the trenches

Baker's undivided attention on COVID-19 recovery may be exactly what is needed for Massachusetts right now, as infections are on the rise, hospitalizations are straining capacity and the new Omicron variant has made landfall in the United States.

Four billion dollars could also help.

While it may have taken a backseat to "The Decision," the Legislature's breakthrough with a deal for how to spend $4 billion in American Rescue Plan Act and fiscal year 2021 surplus funds arrived at the same time Tuesday night that word leaked out that Baker had made up his mind.

Two weeks after House and Senate Democrats failed to reach an accord before the start of their seven-week recess, Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and Sen. Michael Rodrigues — the two lead negotiators — announced they had found common ground on a package that will pour money into health care, environmental infrastructure, unemployment insurance and a $500 million bonus-pay program for essential, low-income workers.

House Speaker Ron Mariano pointed to the hundreds of earmarks for local projects sprinkled throughout the bill as reason enough to keep lawmakers in line and allow the compromise bill to pass during an informal session. And he was right.

The House on Thursday and the Senate on Friday enacted the bill without objection, sending it to Gov. Baker for his signature, and while he must still review the final compromise he said he was excited to start putting that money to use.

They said it...

“To avoid a challenge in the future, we need to make changes so that the ambiguities are removed and the provisions of the bylaws are unambiguous.” — Milford Town Counsel Charles Boddy, who as a Town Meeting member submitted one of two requests to amend the language of Article 32 of Milford's bylaws, which calls for the creation of a Police Chief Selection Review Committee within 30 days of a vacancy. The request will be taken up during next spring's Town Meeting.

"I assume soon thereafter we're going to get to an argument and what you all think I should do with what I'm observing." — Associate Judge Christopher Barry-Smith, commenting on what will happen after he determines whether either or both of two contested ballots in the District 3 City Council race in Framingham should be recorded as votes for challenger Mary Kate Feeney or blanks that would give the race to incumbent Adam Steiner.

Contributors to the Poltical Notebook this week include Deputy Director of Multimedia Dan O'Brien and the State House News Service.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Massachusetts Gov. Baker concludes third time is no charm