A quick glance at the 2020 state election tells you Gov. Charlie Baker will seek a third term with Attorney General Maura Healey as his Democratic opponent. But factor in upheavals in the political landscape caused by the 2020 presidential election — and a relatively-unknown Democrat named Ben Downing — and the picture looks different.
Downing, 39, represented parts of western Massachusetts in the state Senate from 2007-2016. Now an East Boston resident, he talks passionately and bluntly about his vision for Massachusetts and his assessment of Baker’s leadership.
Downing said Baker is ” …too satisfied with the status quo” and has adopted a “passive” approach to governing.
If he survives a Democratic primary next year and can get elected governor, Downing said he will appoint a state “anti-poverty” secretary to head up certain initiatives, including a pilot project to provide guaranteed incomes to the poorest residents in 20 Massachusetts communities with high poverty rates.
In an Essex Media Group editorial board interview, Downing said the “rosy picture” of Massachusetts’ economy — notwithstanding COVID-19’s global impact — hides stark economic inequalities, including income inequality.
Downing isn’t shy in talking about taxing and spending to help the more than 600,000 state residents living in poverty. He supports increasing taxes on top Massachusetts earners to provide school meals and to tie emergency food relief to state efforts which support Massachusetts farms.
His climate and transportation reform ideas are also tied to economic equality; clean electricity must be the state’s primary energy source by 2030, especially shifting home heating away from fossil fuel to electricity sources.
Environmental- and economy-driven ideas like extending the Blue Line to Lynn must be invested in: “We haven’t made investment in transit specifically for environmental and equity reasons,” Downing said.
Baker has embraced the “efficient government” mantra while Healey is the “just government” proponent. Downing sums up his public policy perspective by referencing “empathetic government,” and we think his real-change-to-help-people proposals are worth examining as Massachusetts moves into the 2022 election year.
