Mixed reviews for the first 100 days

DEVAL PATRICK'S 100th day in office comes today, on Friday the 13th, and in some ways that's fitting for an administration that's had a star-crossed beginning.

But there's some good news for the state's new CEO as he looks ahead.

First, Massachusetts hasn't given up on him. Second, he's been doing somewhat better lately.

And third? Well, there's still plenty of room for improvement.

"Is he controlling the agenda the way a governor should? No," says one close observer. "But at least he's stopped shooting himself in the foot."

Ah, progress. And though there has been a certain through-clenched-teeth nature to Patrick's apologies for his various blunders, perhaps, as he insists, he finally does "get it."

Here's one hopeful sign: Yesterday the news broke that the governor will appoint Doug Rubin, his campaign consultant, as his new chief of staff.

Certainly Patrick has heard from a number of places that he needs to strengthen a staff seen as politically inexperienced and amateurish. One recent nudge may well have come from Mike Dukakis, who along with Kitty, was in to see Patrick two weeks ago.

The former governor couldn't be reached, but among his circle, Dukakis's concern over Patrick's missteps is well-known, as is his notion of what the new governor should do: Get an equivalent of John Sasso, the talented -- and gubernatorially empowered -- strategist who quarterbacked Dukakis's successful second term.

The hiring of Rubin, who is respected for his political skills, is said to be a move toward that model. Better late than never.

Responding to the early disarray, Patrick has already assigned a key role to Joe Landolfi, a savvy communications operative, and hired David Morales, an erstwhile aide to former Senate president Robert Travaglini.

Those changes have helped: The press operation has improved, and Patrick's public events seem better put together. Another bright spot merits mention: Secretary Leslie Kirwan and her team at Administration and Finance are winning pretty good reviews.

One continuing disappointment, however, is Patrick's timidity in the face of reform and cost-saving opportunities. Back when he was in Platitudinous Rex campaign mode I tried to gauge his willingness to stand up to the Democratic Party's constituency groups when the public interest required independence.

He was plenty tough enough, Patrick insisted.

So far, I just don't see it.

A depressing example of his ruffle-few-feathers faint-heartedness came this week when the governor pushed his Municipal Partnership Act. One element calls for letting municipalities join the state's Group Insurance Commission, which buys health care coverage for state employees -- but only if a city's unions agree. That union veto dramatically dilutes the value of that reform.

But when I asked Patrick if he'd support a stronger bill, one that made it easier for cities and towns to join (or even mandated their membership), the governor signaled that he had no interest. What if the Legislature were inclined to back a stronger bill?

"I'm not talking about hypotheticals," he replied.

House Speaker Sal DiMasi, who estimates yearly savings of $150 million to $200 million from having municipalities join the commission, said he would be inclined to push a stronger measure if he thought it could pass.

It might -- with some real gubernatorial leadership.

There are numerous other ways to save serious money, but they take guts and gumption.

Eliminating police details could conserve tens of millions in state, municipal, and public authority dollars, says Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

So could competitive service delivery, which lets private companies deliver public services when they can do it more efficiently. Or eliminating project labor agreements, which make it difficult for nonunion firms to compete for public construction work.

Meanwhile, where is the new funding formula candidate Patrick promised to ease the way for more charter schools? Certainly Democrats determined to give families more educational options -- options that usually include a longer school day -- would push for more of the independent public schools.

And some are. In New York, Governor Eliot Spitzer declared in his inaugural address that he wanted 150 new charters. He's also reformed the workers' compensation system, improving his state's competitiveness, and won clean-government reforms.

Watching the Empire State CEO from afar, one can't help but wish Patrick had more of Spitzer's determination. I wouldn't necessarily want the self-styled steamroller that is the Full Eliot, mind you. But a Governor Spitzpatrick would be awfully refreshing.

Scot Lehigh's e-mail address is lehigh@globe.com.