AP Interview: Mihos pledges lay off up to 8,000 state workers

BOSTON --Independent gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos said he would lay off up to 8,000 state workers and use some of the estimated $400 million in savings to pay for programs like free tuition at all the state's community colleges.

Mihos, the independent candidate for governor, told The Associated Press in an interview on Monday that he would target top level and mid-level managers in state government. The pledge to eliminate 8,000 jobs amounts to about 12 percent of the work force at state agencies.

"We're going to go right through each and every one of them. We need to get lean," he said, adding that he would target "patronage-laden" agencies first. "We want to get as much money back to the cities and towns as possible."

The remarks came in an interview with The Associated Press, during which Mihos also issued a "no new taxes" pledge.

The other leading gubernatorial candidates -- Republican Kerry Healey and Democrat Deval Patrick -- have yet to respond to invitations from the AP for one-on-one interviews. Also running in this year's campaign to succeed Republican Mitt Romney, who is exploring a run for president, is Green-Rainbow Party candidate Grace Ross.

The work force reductions would help pay for a key part of Mihos' platform: a proposed increase from 28 percent to 40 percent over four years in the level of state aid going back to cities and towns -- at an estimated cost of about $1.7 billion annually to the state.

Michael Grunko president of Service Employees International Union Local 509, which represents 11,000 human service workers in Massachusetts including state employees, accused Mihos of ripping a page from the Republican play book and attacking state workers without knowing what he's talking about.

"He has no idea where these 8,000 jobs will really come from," Grunko said. "This does not make health care any more affordable. It does not make our streets any safer. It's just a political gimmick."

Mihos -- the owner of the Christy's convenience store chain -- also issued his own "no new taxes" pledge on Monday. Mihos said he hadn't been approached by the Citizens With Limited Taxation, which traditionally offers to appear with candidates who take the pledge.

The head of the group appeared with Healey when she took a similar pledge. But so far, Healey is the only other candidate to promise not to raise taxes.

"I'm not going to raise taxes. Taxes are too high," Mihos said. "We've got to make the state more affordable. We've got to lower the burden and stress on people who are here in the commonwealth."

Barbara Anderson, the group's executive director, said an offer to Mihos to sign the pledge was sent to him on Sept. 14, but he never responded. Anderson said she welcomed Mihos' position on the issue, but had other concerns about his decision to run for governor.

"I'm not surprised. I expected him to sign it. I don't think Christy would raise taxes," she said. "I'm concerned that he's helping to elect Deval Patrick who has definitely not taken a no new taxes pledge."

Mihos, a former Republican, has repeatedly brushed aside criticism that he's acting as a spoiler in the race, siphoning off support and votes from Healey, and making it harder for her to close a gap with Patrick, who is ahead in most polls.

"How can you spoil a system that's rotten?" Mihos said, faulting past Republican governors for losing interest in the job. "When Republicans get elected to that particular job, there's like a seat ejection switch on the governor's seat. They have no focus. They don't work at it each and every day. They vilify those they have to work with each and every day and nothing gets done."

During the 90-minute interview with the AP, Mihos also vowed to make tuition free at the state's community college system. There are 15 community colleges in the state; eliminating tuition would cost an estimated $25 million to $30 million.

Mihos said the program would give students coming out of high school who "maybe haven't found themselves as yet two years to put it all together and figure out what they want to do" -- either to go onto a job or to a four-year college.

Students at the state's two-year community colleges pay an average $3,526 in tuition and fees. There are approximately 115,000 students attending community colleges in Massachusetts.

A task force created by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education charged with looking at student financial aid has recommended the state waive tuition and fees for all Massachusetts high school graduates who enter a community college within six months of graduating and who don't need remedial help.

The proposal would cost about $35 million, according to Eileen O'Connor, communications director for Board of Higher Education.