Thursday, 4:30 PM
Patrick shakes up administration; controversial aide for first lady resigns
By Globe Staff
Governor Deval Patrick today announced a major shakeup of his new administration that includes the resignation of the $72,000-a-year aide he hired for his wife and the addition of new communications and political advisers.
Amy Gorin, whose husband led Patrick's fund-raising committee during the campaign, was hired to handle scheduling and interview requests for Diane Patrick, a law partner at Ropes & Gray. Her resignation comes just 10 weeks into a new administration that has been dogged by missteps.
To help after several weeks of negative press, Joe Landolfi will take over as a senior communications adviser to the governor. Landolfi currently works in the department of administration and finance and has done public relations for several state agencies, according to the administration.
David Morales, currently a senior aide to Senate President Robert E. Travaglini, will become a senior adviser to the governor. He will work with Joan Wallace-Benjamin, Patrick's chief of staff, and advise the governor on policy and strategic planning.
"There is a lot of work to be done to deliver on the people's expectations for change – including a government that is more responsive to their needs," Patrick said in a statement. "These individuals have the skills and experience to help us get there. I look forward to their working with our existing team to implement my ambitious agenda for Massachusetts."
When Patrick hired Gorin, he became the first governor since Michael S. Dukakis to dedicate a staff member to his spouse. Her resignation comes less than a week after the governor announced that he would be spending more time with his family because Diane Patrick was suffering from exhaustion and depression.
Patrick said on both a personal and professional level Gorin will "continue to be a valued advisor and friend to me and Diane."
In the press release issued by the administration, Gorin said: "At this time, I want to be as helpful as I can to Diane as a friend and I feel that I can best accomplish that outside of the Executive Office."
Patrick won a 20-point landslide victory in November but has endured intense criticism his first few months in office. He upgraded his state car to a Cadillac Deville, redecorated the governor's office with $12,000 drapes and expensive furniture, and made two trips in a State Police helicopter.
Earlier this month, Patrick acknowledged that he made a mistake when he called a top official at Citigroup to intercede on behalf of the owners of Ameriquest Mortgage, where he served on the board before taking office. Citigroup does extensive business with the state. At the time, Patrick told his supporters to keep their faith in him.
The addition of two political insiders marks change for an administration that once boasted about looking beyond Beacon Hill for its staff.
In Landolfi, Patrick has enlisted the help of a state public relations veteran. His employers have included: the Department of Correction, Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Department of Social Services, and Executive Office of Administration and Finance. He has also been the spokesman for Gerald Whitburn, the former state human services secretary, and former governor Paul Cellucci.
Morales is the second senior aide in recent weeks to leave the office of the senate president. Travaglini is being wooed by the Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals with a $300,000-a-year lobbying job.
