Law School Presents Discussions with Mass. Gubernatorial Candidates

“These sessions will focus on the pressing public policy matters facing the commonwealth in 2015 and beyond, offering an opportunity to hear the candidates’ views and perhaps shape the discussion as the campaign moves forward.” –Gregory Massing, executive director, Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service

The Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service at Suffolk University Law School will offer an opportunity to hear the views of each declared candidate in the 2014 Massachusetts gubernatorial race during a series of lunchtime discussions open to the public.

Each candidate will speak and take questions from audiences made up of students, faculty, policymakers, analysts, businesspeople, non-profit leaders, lobbyists and lawyers in separate roundtable discussions scheduled from January through March 2014.

“We invite the public to get an early look at the candidates as Massachusetts prepares for a significant transition in leadership,” said Rappaport Center Executive Director Gregory Massing. “These sessions will focus on the pressing public policy matters facing the commonwealth in 2015 and beyond, offering an opportunity to hear the candidates’ views and perhaps shape the discussion as the campaign moves forward.”

The candidates will give brief remarks, followed by Q & A and discussion. All sessions will take place from noon to 1:30 pm, except where noted below, in the first-floor function room of Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont St., Boston.

  • Don Berwick, Democrat, a physician who founded the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and served as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – Wednesday, Jan. 15
  • Joe Avellone, Democrat, a physician and former selectman who is the corporate senior vice president at PAREXEL International, a global bio-pharmaceutical research company – Tuesday, Jan. 21
  • Steve Grossman, Democrat, a small-business owner elected Massachusetts state treasurer in 2010; has served as both Massachusetts and national Democratic Party chair – 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30
  • Charlie Baker, Republican, former Secretary of Administration and Finance under Governors Weld and Cellucci, former CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care – Tuesday, Feb. 4
  • Martha Coakley, Democrat, Massachusetts Attorney General, former Middlesex District Attorney – Tuesday, Feb. 11
  • Jeff McCormick, independent, a founding partner of Boston venture capital firm Saturn Partners – Wednesday, Feb. 19
  • Evan Falchuk, United Independent Party, an attorney who has served in executive leadership roles at Best Doctors, Inc., a Boston-based global health company – Monday, Feb. 24
  • Mark Fisher, Republican, owner of Merchant's Fabrication, a metal manufacturing facility – Monday, March 3
  • Juliette Kayyem, Democrat, attorney and former assistant secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Boston Globe columnist – Wednesday, March 19

The candidate roundtable discussions are free and open to the public. Registration is required.