Commentary

Deval Patrick’s Legacy, as Explained Through His MEMA Vest

Governor Deval Patrick declares state of emergency and driving ban at MEMA headquarters . The Boston Globe

By Eric Levenson @ejleven and Jordan Lebeau @JordanInBoston

January 7, 2015

2 minutes to read

After eight years in the State House, Governor Deval Patrick is returning to his life as a private citizen. And he’s taking his black MEMA vest, a symbol of his softer side, with him.

That fleece vest, representing the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, has adorned the governor through snow and other natural disasters over the years. Patrick would generally wear it in addresses to the public, assuring them the state was taking proper precautions for inclement weather.

Though ostensibly for cold weather, the MEMA fleece came out all times of year. It could be worn for Patrick’s addresses on tropical storm damage in April 2011 to snow emergencies in January 2014. In 2011, The Boston Globe wrote he was “working to make disaster fashion his personal trademark.’’

The vest has also worked to define his Patrick’s leadership style. The laid-back vest, often coupled with rolled-up sleeves, was a stark contrast from Mitt Romney’s business-like, buttoned-up presence.

Patrick, surrounded by local officials, speaks to the media with the flooded Meadows Gold Course in Greenfield behind him, during a tour to assess the damage from Tropical Storm Irene.

If Patrick’s press conferences seemed a little on the quasi-educational side, the fact that they came from a man who oversaw the state while it led the union in education shouldn’t come as any surprise. But Governor Patrick was hardly a ruler-toting authoritarian: his tone was that of the cool teacher all the students liked reading announcements at the end of the day. He explained the facts clearly and concisely, gave a few suggestions, and then got out of the way.

Patrick leaves behind an extensive legislative record. He worked to close business tax loopholes, raised the state sales tax from 5 to 6.25 percent, consolidated transportation agencies, and pushed for the legalization of casino gambling.

Patrick and other government officials at the MEMA bunker in Framigham on January 2, 2014 while briefing members of the media and the public on the storm hitting New England.

Governor Patrick’s love affair with Massachusetts began when he arrived to attend Milton Academy on a full scholarship. If Massachusetts and Illinois share anything in common, it’s the severity of our weather and the deep care for our politics, both state and local. Governor Patrick, with some help from his trusty MEMA vest, managed to deftly navigate both. So, strike a pose, Deval, it’s your last day!