Exit to let Patrick's pick lead his party
Saying he has completed his mission to win back the governor's office, state Democratic Party chairman Philip W. Johnston told party leaders last night that he will step down next month, clearing the way for Governor Deval Patrick's former campaign manager to take the post.
Johnston made the announcement at a Democratic State Committee meeting last night and urged them to elect John Walsh, who oversaw Patrick's historic election last year. Johnston attempted to resign two years ago, but came under pressure from US Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Democratic legislative leaders to remain in the job through last year's gubernatorial election.
"I feel that I am leaving at an appropriate time," Johnston said yesterday afternoon. "The party is in the strongest position in its history, electorally, financially, and organizationally."
In an interview, Patrick said that Johnston initiated the move to resign several months ago. Since then, Patrick said, he and Johnston have been working on making the transition to Walsh. "From my perspective, Phil could have stayed as long as he wanted," the governor said.
"My main objective when I ran in 2000 was to elect a Democratic governor, and we have done that," Johnston said. "Not only that, we had the most successful election last November in the history of the Massachusetts Democratic Party."
Johnston said that in the last six years, the party has raised $13 million, beat back Governor Mitt Romney's well-financed effort to gain Republican legislative seats in 2004, and now has a Legislature with the most lopsided Democratic majority in the country.
"We retained every seat," Johnston said, describing the Republicans' $4 million effort in 2004. "In fact, we picked up three. Romney looked very foolish. It was an enormous victory for us."
Johnston, a former legislator from Marshfield who served as secretary of human services during the Dukakis administration, said he plans to channel his political energy into US Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
Other Democratic leaders joined Patrick in praising Johnston. "The party is much better off thanks to his efforts, and he leaves a powerful legacy: a strong Democratic Party organization, a Democratic governor, and a Democratic Legislature," said US Senator John F. Kerry. 