Thursday, 4:30 PM
GOP to toast Kerry Healey, with tributes from Romney and Bush
(Barry Chin/ Globe Staff file photo)
Kerry Healey, show above delivering her concession speech last November after losing the governor’s race, will be honored by Republicans tonight at an appreciation dinner in Framingham that is expected to draw 200 people.
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
With Kerry Healey running at the top of the ticket last November, the Republican Party hit bottom in Massachusetts, with GOP representation falling to a historic low on Beacon Hill.
Despite that outcome, some Republicans are looking back at Healey’s campaign and four years as lieutenant governor with fondness. Patricia Hackmer, chairwoman of the GOP town committee in Concord, tried to organize a thank-you dinner at her home for Healey. Word spread.
"It quickly outgrew my dinning room and now it’s at the ballroom at the Sheraton Tara" in Framingham, Hackmer said today in a telephone interview. "I just wanted to cook a dinner for a couple ladies, and tell her how proud we were of her. Then it just took off."
Last fall, Democrat Deval Patrick trounced Healey by 21 points, ending Republicans' 16-year reign in the governor’s office. Democrats captured all six statewide constitutional offices, all 12 seats in Congress, roughly 7-to-1 majorities in both chambers of the state Legislature, and all eight seats on the Governor's Council. Organizers of tonight’s tribute aren’t thinking about Election Day.
"We hare upbeat and positive," said Hackmer, who supported the lieutenant governor in the election but did not work for her campaign. "We are proud of Kerry Healey. We’re proud of our ideals, and we are proud of Republican message."
For $38, attendees tonight will dine on Chicken Wellington, wild rice, and a salad with goat cheese, walnuts, and cranberries. The master of ceremonies will be state Senator Bruce E. Tarr, and speakers will include Reed Hillman, Healey's former running mate.
Over cheesecake and strawberries, tributes will be read by those most touched by Healey’s service to the commonwealth, including those who helped her champion Melanie’s Law, which established stronger penalties for drunk drivers whose license had been suspended. It was named for Melanie Powell, a 13-year-old girl killed by a repeat drunk driver.
The website of the Concord Republican town committee described the event as a "appreciation celebration" and reminded fellow Republicans to take pride in "knowing that all efforts no matter how small or successful create a better good for all people.
"All battles cannot be won but can be measured by our success of the battles to come," the website says.
