Patrick may overturn Romney picks

WORCESTER -- Governor-elect Deval Patrick said last night that he would strongly consider overturning some of the 200 of the lame-duck appointments handed out by Governor Mitt Romney, who will relinquish his power today at noon when Patrick is inaugurated.

"I want to look at the whole rush of appointments made in the last little while," Patrick told reporters last night after a celebration in downtown Worcester. "Not because I begrudge the governor -- well, I won't go that far. In some ways he's been busier in the last few weeks than he has been in the last few years."

"Look, I need, we need, people who support our agenda in key places in order to deliver our agenda," the Democrat added, when asked what his first act as governor would be. "And I want to make sure that we have the opportunity to put the right people, the best people in place."

Yesterday, the Globe reported that Romney installed more than 200 Republican activists, state employees and others, including outgoing Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, to boards and commissions in the closing weeks of his administration. Romney had previously decried patronage.

According to the secretary of state's office, Patrick can repeal some appointments within 15 days after they are made, under certain circumstances. Patrick last night did not specify which of the appointments he was likely to reject.

Patrick's remarks on patronage were made in an exchange with reporters, after he spoke to a sold-out crowd of 1,750 in Worcester, where he kicked off four days of inaugural festivities in a region that helped him and running mate, Lieutenant Governor-elect Timothy P. Murray, win a resounding victory over Healey in November.

Speaking in a cavernous building in downtown Worcester, Patrick struck themes of hope and optimism, foreshadowing the speech he will give today on the steps of the State House as Massachusetts makes history in swearing in its first African-American governor.

"There is no challenge we are facing that I believe is beyond our capacity to care about or to solve. And tomorrow, with the weather predicted to be glorious and uncommonly fair skies, we will feel the energy and the satisfaction of what we built from nearly nothing over the course of two years," Patrick told the crowd.

He and Murray wore tuxedoes at last night's event, which was billed as black tie optional. The crowd ate shrimp and crab cakes and enjoyed an open bar. "This is Worcester's time to shine," said state Senator Ed Augustus.

During the campaign, Patrick reached out to towns and cities outside Interstate 495, insisting he would not be solely focused on Boston if elected. He sought endorsements from city and town officials by promising more state aid to lower property taxes, 1,000 more police on local streets, and a better transit system. He also said the Romney administration had neglected cities and towns.

"One of the things you'll see unfold over the next couple months is how we go about having a more meaningful relationship with cities and towns," Murray said in an interview. He will act as a liaison to the cities and towns.

Over the past several elections, the Republican gubernatorial ticket has dominated Central Massachusetts, helping the GOP stay in power for the last 16 years. In 2002, the Republican ticket took every city and town in Worcester County, many by a 2-to-1 vote, except for the city of Worcester, which the Democrats won by only 4,700 votes.

But in 2006, relying on Murray's connections, a grass-roots network, and an appeal to local officials, the Patrick-Murray ticket won 53 of the 60 communities in Worcester County. The two Democrats won the city of Worcester by 19,100 votes, and even carried Sturbridge, the hometown of Reed Hillman, the running mate of Republican gubernatorial candidate Kerry Healey.

Several people from the area were appointed to positions in the Patrick administration. Patrick's chief economic development adviser, Representative Daniel E. Bosley, is from North Adams. Murray, who is to resign Wednesday from his post as mayor, plans to live in Worcester and plans to take the commuter rail to Boston once a week.

Today, the festivities return to Boston, for a flurry of inauguration-day events planned throughout the city. Work crews yesterday were busy erecting a 20-by-20-foot JumboTron for a crowd of thousands expected to converge on the edge of Boston Common to watch the swearing in ceremony.

"I've got butterflies and anticipation and a deep sense of humility from the weight of the responsibility and the scope of the task, but we're up to it," Patrick told reporters yesterday as he arrived at the State House for an inaugural walkthrough with his staff and security detail.

Four former Massachusetts governors are expected to attend today's ceremony -- Michael S. Dukakis, Paul Cellucci, Jane Swift, and William F. Weld. Romney is not expected to attend.

Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.