| Brendan Lewis | Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise |
Two icons of Massachusetts politics also have joined the call for a new primary system.
One Republican, one Democrat, they each served two terms as governor. But now they both support a ballot question that no longer ensures Democrats and Republicans of guaranteed candidates in general elections.
The Yes on 3 campaign announced Monday that former Gov. Charlie Baker has joined former Gov. Deval Patrick in endorsing the election reform. Tim Murray, Patrick’s lieutenant governor, also agrees with his former boss.
”Enable more good people to compete
“The opportunity to hold public office is a tremendous privilege, but even greater than that honor is the profound responsibility it carries to serve the community that elected you, regardless of party politics,” Baker said in a statement.
Added Patrick: “Politics nowadays is less about ‘red’ versus ‘blue’ than about insiders versus outsiders. Elections ought to be a competition of ideas, experience and character than about who has the better structural advantage. All-party primaries can enable more good people to compete and encourage more office holders to deliver results once elected.”
As one would expect, both the Democratic and Republican party establishments oppose Question 3.