Baker to speak at Lynn Chamber breakfast

LYNN – Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles D. Baker of Swampscott will be the keynote speaker May 28 when the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce holds a breakfast gathering at the Porthole restaurant.Baker, who since last year has been preparing his campaign against Gov. Deval Patrick and Tim Cahill, will take questions from the audience following his speech. The chamber is encouraging its members to submit questions beforehand so that as many as possible can be answered.”We’re very excited he has accepted our invitation,” said Chamber Executive Director Leslie Gould. “We’re hoping to get the other candidates in as well – the governor and Tim Cahill. Our intention is to have a breakfast series of speakers over the next few months.”In 2006, Baker weighed a run for governor but backed out. At the time, he explained, “It was a difficult decision. There were a lot of reasons it made sense to run, but at the end of the day I couldn’t get over the hump of disruption it would create for my family.”Baker said his political aspirations would remain dormant, adding, “The kids will get old and I’ll get wiser.”Baker meanwhile held on to his $1 million a year job as president of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, choosing to spend free time with his wife, Lauren, and their three children. The couple moved to Swampscott in the early 1990s and Baker topped the ballot in the town’s selectmen race in 2004.The candidate has repeatedly criticized the governor for his handling of the state’s health care crisis.Tickets are $35 and include breakfast at the 98 Lynnway restaurant. The event begins at 7:30 a.m. Tables of 6, 8 and 10 are available but seating is limited.For more information, call the chamber at 781-592-2900.