The 2018 governor’s race has its first official entrant. Jay Gonzalez, a Needham Democrat who served as Governor Deval Patrick’s Secretary of Administration and Finance and later ran CeltiCare Health Plan, jumped into the race Monday — calling Republican Governor Charlie Baker the wrong leader for Massachusetts during the presidency of Donald Trump.
“His own words were something to the effect of, he wants to wait and see what Donald Trump does,” Gonzalez said, citing comments Baker made after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton.
“We had, last week, over 100,000 people marching in the women’s march [in Washington,DC],” Gonzalez continued. “We had people yesterday in Copley Square, thousands of people, standing up to protest Donald Trump’s immigration order. On this score, I think it’s clear we’ve seen enough. I’ve seen enough.”
Baker did push back at the president’s travel ban on seven largely Muslim countries over the weekend, through a spokesman and then with a statement. He also criticized Trump during the presidential campaign, and has said he didn’t cast a vote for Trump on election day.
But Gonzalez argues that Baker’s objections hasn’t been forceful enough.
“It’s been pretty clear from Donald Trump all along that he is divisive,” Gonzalez said. “It’s harmful rhetoric, and it’s really important that we have a governor that makes it clear that hate and discrimination are not going to be tolerated, and that the governor is there for every single person in this state. Everyone’s included, everyone’s welcome, the governor’s going to fight for everyone. And we don’t have that right now with Charlie Baker.”
Gonzaelz also accused Baker of taking similar policy positions to Trump on immigration enforcement and refugee resettlement.
“He ordered the State Police to work with federal officials and detain people on behalf of federal immigration authorities. He said that he opposed Syrian refugees resettling in Massachusetts. That sounds a lot like Donald Trump, and it’s not okay.”
During an appearance on WGBH’s Boston Public Radio Monday, Baker — whose own resume includes a tour as secretary of administration and finance under Governors William Weld and Paul Cellucci — said he’s proud of his accomplishments after two years in office.
Baker also called Gonzalez a “good guy,” but said he didn’t think Gonzalez would be a better governor than he’s been.
In that same interview, Baker, whose poll numbers remain strong, declined to say if he’ll seek re-election in 2018.
In addition to targeting Baker’s approach to the Trump Administration, Gonzalez also accused the governor of a lack of vision, arguing that the state should be showing more ambition on issues like early-childhood and higher-ed affordability.
“Right now, we have a governor who isn’t trying to do very much, and that’s what I’m concerned about,” Gonzalez said.
