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Public Outcry Prompts Walsh To Step Down From Nomination

State Senator Marian Walsh says she won't take a controversial job at a quasi-public agency following more than a week of public outcry over the appointment.

Walsh says her appointment as assistant executive director of the Health and Educational Facilities Authority caused so much public anger, that she became the issue — something she didn't want.

The $175,000 a year position had been vacant for years before Patrick offered it to Walsh. Critics called it a patronage job, since Walsh was an early Patrick supporter.

But the governor says he wanted Walsh to bring change, and he may re-start the search to fill the position.

We give them a little while to see if they get it done," Patrick says, "And if they don't we'll be right back at it trying to insert a change agent."

Patrick says with reforms, the quasi-public financing agency could save the state millions of dollars.

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

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