MITT ROMNEY
GOVERNOR
| KERRY HEALEY
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 20, 2006 | CONTACT:
Eric Fehrnstrom
Felix Browne
(617) 725-4025 | ROMNEY NAMES TWO NEW MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Designates Christopher Anderson to serve as board chair Governor Mitt Romney today appointed Thomas Fortmann and Sandra Stotsky to serve five-year terms on the state Board of Education, the nine-member panel that sets policy for K-12 education in Massachusetts. The new appointees replace James Peyser and Abigail Thernstrom, whose terms had expired. The Governor named current Board of Education member Christopher Anderson to serve as board chair. "Tom Fortmann and Sandra Stotsky each bring a lifetime of educational experience to the Board of Education," said Romney. "They will insist on high standards, preserve the choice offered by charter schools and make sure that the needs of children always come first in the decisions we make regarding education policy." Fortmann, of Lexington, has diverse experience in public education and private enterprise. He earned his undergraduate degree in Physics from Stanford University and a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Fortmann began his career as a lecturer at the University of Newcastle in Australia and later spent more than 20 years with the Cambridge technology firm BBN Technologies. In 1997, he retired as a senior vice president in charge of more than 100 engineers working on a range of applications, including educational technology. A longtime math and science volunteer teacher in Massachusetts schools, Fortmann is the founder of the Massachusetts Mathematics Institute, a professional development program that helps K-6 teachers learn the mathematics they need to teach effectively. "Our challenge in today's competitive, global economy is to raise our students' achievement - especially in science, engineering, and mathematics - to the level of their international peers," said Fortmann. "Massachusetts must create a world-class K-12 education system to meet this challenge, and I'm grateful to Governor Romney for this opportunity to contribute to the effort." Stotsky, of Brookline, is an education professional with extensive experience in teaching and research. A graduate of the University of Michigan, she holds a doctorate in Education from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Since 1977, Stotsky has held teaching or research positions at Curry College, Harvard Summer School, the Boston University School of Education and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The author of dozens of scholarly articles on education, Stotsky was a senior associate commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Education from 1999 to 2003. She is currently a research scholar at Northeastern University, a position she has held since 2004. Romney praised Anderson for agreeing to chair the board and called him "keenly aware of the important links that exist between educational success and economic competitiveness." Anderson, of Westford, is president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council, an industry group that works to make Massachusetts more competitive for high technology employers. As Council president, he has articulated the need for public schools to produce skilled workers that technology employers need for future growth. Anderson is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and holds a law degree from Suffolk University School of Law. "I appreciate this opportunity from Governor Romney and look forward to building on his leadership in striving for meaningful standards, innovative educational choices and enhanced math and science instruction for all Massachusetts students," said Anderson. "The world is changing and our state's education system must do the same - for the sake of all our teachers and students - if we are to improve our competitive edge in the global technology economy." ### | 
Boston, MA 02133
I am an independent voter from NH. We have watched this man run an absentie governorship of the state of Massachusetts while he ran for president. The last thing this country needs now is another empty hat in the white house. Most people I know here think is candidacy is a joke.
ReplyDeleteI believe Romneys intellect and managerial skills will prove to be head and shoulders above the current "empty hat" you speak of. Do some research on his background and you'll be impressed. (I don't know the people that you do in NH, so I can't address your friends opinions of his candidacy.)
ReplyDeleteI hope you realize that anyone (including all previous presidents who were also senators or governors) who runs for president must delegate some of their responsibilities in order to pursue presidential candidacy. I commend Romney for deciding to "retire" instead of going through a full-fledged presidential campaign while also serving as governor (like many past presidents have done). History shows that most past governors who become president dedicate themselves to their campaign and when they win, the LT. Governor takes over as the interim governor. This is much more of a neglect of duty than the inconsequential traveling Romney has done in comparison with the many others (even Sen. Kerry from the same state). Besides, one important part of being a leader is to surround yourself with the best capable people so that you can efficiently delegate... no person can individually and solely run an entire state or country. That's why "support staffs" exist... to support.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to take this opportunity to reach out to you. The time has come to lead our beloved nation back to it's position of leadership in the world arena. I know that many of you are disillusioned with our current leadership for the same reasons as I. I believe in my deepest core convictions that the current leadership in Washington has let us down in it's lack of keeping the covenant it made with us, the people. The broken promises to lead us to a leaner, smaller government that provides less interference in our lives. An government that allows the free market to flourish keeping America the lone beacon of economic leadership in the world. We all share the disappointment in this. In taking measures to prosecute the War on Terror a reluctance to allow our fighting men and women the latitude they need in rules of engagement has arisen and a deference towards political correctness has allowed an emboldened enemy to use our own media as their greatest weapon against us.
ReplyDeleteIn life we must realize that there is a penalty of leadership, and that as the lone world superpower there will always be those with their sycophantic views that want to take aim and paint us, the greatest most compassionate, prosperous, and generous nation even known to man, as being the evil in the world. This is while they whom point the boney finger of indignation toward us behead those who do not hold their perverse view of the world and commit genocide against entire populations. In this world there is good and evil and we are duty bound as Americans to always remember the we are the shining city upon the hill to which the rest of the world looks to for leadership. Our nation is founded upon the tenants of personal freedoms to worship and live your life as you see fit. Our founding fathers have given to us the enduring gift of the most tolerant, free, and prosperous union the world has ever known. Our great melting pot allows us all, conservative, liberal, and of any belief a seat at the table and does not marginalize any of those divergent viewpoints as any less valid that the other. We as Americans must wake up to the fact that when we show weakness in the form of lack of resolve to defend truth and light over the forces of evil in this world that the world's view of the US will dim. Not because we are to strong and resolute but because we are to worried with image and political correctness to stand up for our beliefs.
Yet we are at a critical juncture that will shape the world we live in, one at which the very foundations of modern western civilization are at stake. The very tolerance and freedoms which place the United States as the standard bearer of Truth in this world are being used by an enemy who wishes to impose their perverted world view to fractionalize us from the inside out. A world view of terror and intolerance, yet they paint us as all that is evil in this world. It is our duty to stand united and be a shining beacon of light to the rest of the world. We must demonstrate in all our deeds and actions as Americans the power of enlightenment and truth. Erstwhile we must reject those whom graced by the blessings of this nation would use the devises of our own free media and personal liberties to propagate the dark message of despair that we are what is the ill of the world. Those who would say that it is our strength that makes the world unstable and only by timid retreat can the world's problems be solved must be marginalized. It is this fiction which they wish to repeat until it becomes truth because it furthers their own agenda. It is they who say we have imperialistic desires when it is truly their desire to consolidate their own power. They say this of the only nation in the history of man whose forces have been that of a force for freedom and liberation; not that of imperialistic expansion and they expect the masses to accept it as a self-evident truth despite history which proves else-wise.
Much as we can learn from looking at history in 1938 there was great debate in Britain between the wide held beliefs of the day that were typified by Sir Neville Chamberlain that if concessions were negotiated with the Third Reich that their imperialistic opportunism could be they could be pacified and peace could be negotiated. Sir Winston Churchill stood as a lone watchman warning of what was to come. Much as then today we face an enemy that has taken their perverse interpretation of world view and has no desire to negotiate in good faith to a peaceful end. Their only desire is the submission of the world to their belief system and the establishment of an their rule with providence over all the world as well as the systematic destruction of all western culture.
We stand at this time in history where the very foundations of western culture are at stake. I believe that the forthcoming Presidential Election in 2008 is a referendum on the very existence of our lives as we know it. It is imperative that we nominate a true conservative with the resolve to do what is necessary to stem the incessant tide in growth of the federal government. A person of resolve that will see through to the end whatever the evil of others on the world stage deems necessary for our survival. If we as a party put forward a candidate that yields moral strength and resolve to public opinion and moderation for the sake of pleasing the middle we will have already lost the battle.
The election needs to be a clear referendum on the contrast between the Democrats message of fear and pessimism and limits and our message of hope, leadership, confidence and growth. Their negative message that sees people only as members of groups as opposed to our vision of each American as individuals. It is time for our nation to once again strive to chart a new course for the future rather than apply the old and failed policies of a past era.
We know going forward that the Democrats will field the likes of Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama or any other of a multitude of corrupt individuals. Those who wish to forward an agenda that believes that only Government knows how to solve our problems, one which has no belief in the greatness and generosity of the great individuals of this nation. A vision of a return to the failed liberal policies of the past.
I ask you to go forward with sober discipline in choosing who to support in the upcoming primaries. I believe that Mitt Romney is a proven leader who will bring fiscal responsibility back to Washington and restore our nation to it's position of respect and leadership in the world community through strength. I ask that you carefully research and ask yourself in your heart who is that leader who would provide a message of hope and strength to stand diametrically opposed to the message of pessimism and division the Democrats will put forward in the general election of 2008.
God bless you and God Bless America
G. Gene Thompson
East Moline, IL
Mr Anonymous, when you hide your identity and claim your voice as a "independent" it is so easy to sit and snipe with snide remarks. The problem being you have not backed your statements with evidence of fact to support your statements. What does your commentary have to do with the contextual content of this site? I believe we can all clearly see where you are coming from wanting to tear down others rather than forwarding any substantive message of hope and vision of your own.
ReplyDeleteIn the end analysis it all boils down to one simple truth; who is the right person to see us through the difficult days the world faces ahead. I would like to interject one small piece of evidence at this point. A quote from Mr Romney.
Governor Romney: "The jihadists are waging a global war against the United States and Western governments generally with the ambition of replacing legitimate governments with a caliphate, with a theocracy."
(Omaha World Herald, January 23, 2006)
The one and only reason that it is imperative for us to forward this campaign is embodied in this simple statement. But yet it meaning is so profound to our very existence and way of life. The reason is Gov. Romney understands this most important of all issues. This simple statement shows the gravity of understanding that this man possesses as to the prophetic times in which we live. I ask you in the face of the radical jihadists who wish nothing but the establishment of a one world islamic theocracy (caliphate) with their false messiah as lord over the entirety of the world can we afford leadership who does not understand the clarity of evil which we face?
God Bless you,
"Publius"
G.Gene Thomspon
East Moline IL
Mr Anonymous, when you hide your identity and claim your voice as a "independent" it is so easy to sit and snipe with snide remarks. The problem being you have not backed your statements with evidence of fact to support your statements. What does your commentary have to do with the contextual content of this site? I believe we can all clearly see where you are coming from wanting to tear down others rather than forwarding any substantive message of hope and vision of your own.
ReplyDeleteIn the end analysis it all boils down to one simple truth; who is the right person to see us through the difficult days the world faces ahead. I would like to interject one small piece of evidence at this point. A quote from Mr Romney.
Governor Romney: "The jihadists are waging a global war against the United States and Western governments generally with the ambition of replacing legitimate governments with a caliphate, with a theocracy."
(Omaha World Herald, January 23, 2006)
The one and only reason that it is imperative for us to forward this campaign is embodied in this simple statement. But yet it meaning is so profound to our very existence and way of life. The reason is Gov. Romney understands this most important of all issues. This simple statement shows the gravity of understanding that this man possesses as to the prophetic times in which we live. I ask you in the face of the radical jihadists who wish nothing but the establishment of a one world islamic theocracy (caliphate) with their false messiah as lord over the entirety of the world can we afford leadership who does not understand the clarity of evil which we face?
God Bless you,
"Publius"
G.Gene Thomspon
East Moline IL