Romney exits right

OUR NEW YEAR'S wish: a governor who wouldn't rather be elsewhere.

By thumbing his nose at Massachusetts after less than three-quarters of one term as its chief executive, Mitt Romney, yesterday surrendered his clout and squandered his legitimacy. If, as it appears, his heart and mind are no longer in Massachusetts, he should resign.

Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey is inexperienced. But the state would be far better off in the hands of someone focused on state problems, rather than someone touring the country ridiculing the people he was elected to serve. Romney has joked in several states that, as a Republican here, he feels like ''a cattle rancher at a vegetarian convention."

Romney's decision was no surprise, as he admits to presidential aspirations and has increasingly taken conservative positions that would appeal far more to GOP activists in the South and West than to Massachusetts voters. Romney said he would keep his commitment to finish his term, but there is no reason to. He might as well follow Paul Cellucci, who went to Ottawa, and Bill Weld, who left for Mexico City (though he never arrived).

Romney's claim last night that ''I've got the job done I set out to do" is not credible. He touts his success in closing a large budget deficit without raising taxes.

But the facts are that the economic recovery was largely national; that he has forced regressive fees and property taxes to skyrocket; and that many state functions, including higher education, environmental protection, housing, and human services, still operate below 2000 levels.

Romney won election to clean up the mess on Beacon Hill, but his only success was the scalp of William Bulger, who resigned under pressure as president of the University of Massachusetts. Romney walked away from opportunities for real reform, of the campaign finance system and of the Quinn Bill on police pay.

He can claim a few victories: his firm stance strengthened a drunk driving bill this year, for instance. But most of his major initiatives have either been ignored, like the education restructuring he proposed in his first year, or have withered. He has yet to achieve consensus on health reform, his major goal for this year, despite an exceptional alignment of support.

It is true that if Healey were to take over as acting governor, she could expect no honeymoon from the Democratic Legislature. Still, she could win the office in her own right next November, and that possibility would give her some leverage. As of this morning, Romney has none.

Romney has every right to seek the presidency. But if his goal is the Potomac, let him swim in presidential waters if he can, and not linger on the Massachusetts stepping stone.