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'''Deval Patrick''', a Democrat, is the current governor of the state of [[Massachusetts]], the first African American to hold that post.
'''Deval Patrick''', a Democrat, is the current governor of the state of [[Massachusetts]], the first African American to hold that post.
==Governor==
Patrick faces a difficult reelection in 2010--Massachusetts votes for Democrats for most offices except governor--the previous four governors were Republicans. Polls in August 2009 show Patrick trailing potential Republican challenger Christy Mihos 40% to 35%. Eleven percent (11%) like some other candidate, and 15% are not sure. Patrick now holds a mere 56% of the Democratic vote--a fatal weakness. Independents give a 30-point lead to the Republican challenger.
His problem is a weak performance as governor, dashing the expectations of the fervent supporters who saw Patrick as the charismatic breakthrough after so many GOP governors. Just 39% approve of Patrick’s performance as governor, with 7% who strongly approve. Sixty percent (60%) disapprove of the job he is doing, including 34% who strongly disapprove. Patrick was unable to convince the legislature to adopt his main recommendations. Most voters believe he has failed to bring the changes he promised--though he did bring higher taxes--and are going back to the policy of having a Republican governor as a counterweight to the Democratic state legislature.
==Career==
He attended [[Harvard College]] and graduated in 1978. For a year after his graduation he worked with a [[United Nations]] program in [[Darfur]], [[Sudan]]. He returned to [[Boston]] in 1980 to attend [[Harvard Law School]]. In 1994, he was appointed to the position of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights by then president, [[Bill Clinton]]. While working for the [[Justice Department]], he was part of one of the largest, pre September 11th, criminal investigation of church burnings in the South. In 1997 he returned to life as a private citizen and worked for company's such as [[Coca-Cola]] (Executive Vice President and General Counsel), [[Texaco]] (chairperson for the Equality and Fairness Task Force) and a law firm (Day, Berry & Howard)<ref>http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_Deval_Patrick_welcome_msg</ref>.
He attended [[Harvard College]] and graduated in 1978. For a year after his graduation he worked with a [[United Nations]] program in [[Darfur]], [[Sudan]]. He returned to [[Boston]] in 1980 to attend [[Harvard Law School]]. In 1994, he was appointed to the position of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights by then president, [[Bill Clinton]]. While working for the [[Justice Department]], he was part of one of the largest, pre September 11th, criminal investigation of church burnings in the South. In 1997 he returned to life as a private citizen and worked for company's such as [[Coca-Cola]] (Executive Vice President and General Counsel), [[Texaco]] (chairperson for the Equality and Fairness Task Force) and a law firm (Day, Berry & Howard)<ref>http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_Deval_Patrick_welcome_msg</ref>.