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| − | [[Image:DevalPatrick.jpg |thumb|240px|]] | + | {{Officeholder |
| − | '''Deval Patrick''' is the current [[governor]] of the state of [[Massachusetts]]. He attended [[Harvard University]] 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>. | + | |name=Deval Patrick |
| | + | |image=Deval-patrick1.jpg |
| | + | |party=[[Democrat]] |
| | + | |spouse=[[Diane Patrick]] |
| | + | |religion=Presbyterian |
| | + | |offices= |
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| | + | {{Officeholder/governor |
| | + | |state=Massachusetts |
| | + | |terms=January 4, 2007 – Present |
| | + | |preceded=[[Mitt Romney]] |
| | + | |former=n |
| | + | |succeeded= |
| | + | }} |
| | + | }} |
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| | + | '''Deval Patrick''', a Democrat, is the current governor of the Commonwealth 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. |
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| | + | 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. |
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| | + | ==Career== |
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| | + | 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>. |
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| | In 2006 he was elected governor of [[Massachusetts]]. He was the first [[Democrat]] to be elected governor in sixteen years<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/MA/MA.htm?csp=34</ref>. | | In 2006 he was elected governor of [[Massachusetts]]. He was the first [[Democrat]] to be elected governor in sixteen years<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/MA/MA.htm?csp=34</ref>. |
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| | + | ==Quotes== |
| | + | Deval Patrick, responding to a discussion about [[Glenn Beck|Glenn Beck's]] [[Restoring Honor]] rally, said the following about the [[United States of America]]: "It's a free country. I wish it weren't."<ref>Ed Morrissey. [http://hotair.com/archives/2010/09/01/deval-patrick-on-beck-rally-its-a-free-country-i-wish-it-werent/ Deval Patrick on Beck rally: “It’s a free country. I wish it weren’t.”], ''[[Hot Air]]'', September 1, 2010.</ref> |
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| | ==References== | | ==References== |
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| | [[Category:Massachusetts Governors]] | | [[Category:Massachusetts Governors]] |
| − | [[Category:Democrat Governors]] | + | [[Category:Democratic Governors]] |
| | + | [[Category:Black History]] |