BOSTON – Continuing his efforts to recruit top talent to state government, Governor Deval Patrick today announced the appointment of four highly-regarded leaders from the worlds of finance, education, health care and public safety to positions in his Cabinet. The Governor also commended outgoing Secretaries Jay Gonzalez, Paul Reville, JudyAnn Bigby and Marybeth Heffernan for helping achieve key Patrick Administration priorities: economic growth and prosperity; responsible fiscal management and government innovation; closing the achievement gap and community college reform; expanding access to affordable, quality health care; and building stronger, safer neighborhoods.
“Glen, Matt, John, and Andrea are the real deal. They come to their new positions with the expertise, the talent, the respect and the vision to achieve our bold agenda over the next two years,” said Governor Patrick. “Time is of the essence, and I have a team of leaders to take on the challenges and seize the opportunities we all know are on the horizon.”
“Jay, Paul, Judy and Marybeth were instrumental in achieving the cornerstones of an agenda that is making a difference,” said Governor Patrick. “This is bittersweet for me because in addition to being my wise advisors, they are my friends. I will miss them and I am proud of them. On behalf of the public we all serve, I thank each for their expertise, their dedication and their keen understanding that policy only matters at the point where it touches people.”
“The Cabinet has helped to execute a strong and effective agenda over the last six years, and we plan to build upon that great work to support long-term sustainability across the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray, who joined the Governor and Cabinet Secretaries at a State House press conference today. “We thank each secretary for their dedication and commitment to serving our Commonwealth, and we look forward to further tackling an ambitious agenda that includes jobs, infrastructure, innovation, and education.”
Glen Shor will replace Jay Gonzalez as Secretary of Administration and Finance. Shor, a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, currently serves as the Executive Director of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, the state’s official public health insurance exchange. Gonzalez has been a senior member of the Patrick-Murray Administration since January, 2007 and has been responsible for not only the state budget but also key initiatives in health care and reforming the way state government does business. (Please see full bios of all Secretaries below.) Jean Yang, the current Chief Financial Officer at the Health Care Connector, will replace Shor in January.
Matt Malone will replace Paul Reville as Secretary of Education. Malone, who holds a master’s degree and PhD from Boston College, is currently the Superintendent of the Brockton School System. A passionate advocate for closing the achievement gap, he led turnaround efforts in Boston and San Diego. Reville, the Commonwealth’s first Education Secretary, successfully integrated the state’s education agencies and led the Governor’s efforts to pass the most comprehensive education reform law in twenty years. Reville will return to the faculty of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
John Polanowicz will replace JudyAnn Bigby as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Polanowicz serves currently as the President and CEO of St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center. Prior to that, the West Point graduate and Stanford MBA served for eight years as the President of Marlborough Hospital. Dr. Bigby has led the largest agency in state government for the past six years and is universally regarded as a tireless advocate for those who often have no one to advocate for them.
Sheriff Andrea Cabral will replace Marybeth Heffernan as Secretary of Public Safety and Security. In ten years as Suffolk County Sheriff, Cabral has been lauded for reforming prisoner reentry programs and modernizing the county’s correctional facilities. A graduate of Boston College and Suffolk Law, Cabral is also the first woman in the Commonwealth’s history to serve as Sheriff. Heffernan leaves the administration after six years as Undersecretary and Secretary. She helped secure passage of long-sought reforms to the Criminal Offender Record Information System and led the administration’s efforts to reform the Probation Department.
These transitions will take place next month as the Patrick Administration prepares for the beginning of the 2013-2014 legislative session.
