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Analysis: Patrick's Image Tarnished, But Not Destroyed By Walsh Controversy

Marian Walsh will be staying in the state Senate after all.

The West Roxbury Democrat's decision caps a controversy that's been growing since Gov. Patrick nominated Walsh three weeks ago for a top job at the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority.

The position has been vacant for a dozen years.

Critics described Patrick's choice of Walsh as a patronage hire as Walsh is a key Patrick supporter.

But Tuesday — saying the outcry was like a "tsunami" — Walsh backed out, saying she won't seek the job.

Patrick said he had mixed feelings about Walsh's decision and about the way he handled her hire.

"I wish we had handled it differently," Patrick says. "Look, it's been painful for me, for the senator, for a whole lot of people."

For more on how the governor might have handled it differently, we turn to Jeffrey Berry. He's a political science professor at Tufts University.

This program aired on April 1, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.

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Bob Oakes Senior Correspondent
Bob Oakes was a senior correspondent in the WBUR newsroom, a role he took on in 2021 after nearly three decades hosting WBUR's Morning Edition.

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