Among the gubernatorial hopefuls seeking the State House’s top position, Treasurer Tim Cahill presents himself as the candidate for ordinary people. Last week, the Quincy native—a Boston University graduate with street-level experience—visited the Chelsea Record’s editorial board. “There’s a clear difference between me and the other candidates in the race,” Cahill remarked on Friday. “While I have a proven record of independent thinking and of making important fiscal decisions that have helped the state I think I’m the candidate that has a deep appreciation of the struggles the everyday citizen is facing in this economy.” His positioning carries merit. Distinctions between Cahill and his rivals are substantial. Current Governor Deval Patrick projects an air of detachment, while former Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare CEO Charlie Baker embodies the intellectual Harvard archetype. Cahill, by contrast, is the everyman—a role fitting his working-class Quincy background. Coffee shops and neighborhood restaurants are his natural habitat rather than $500-per-plate fundraising luncheons. “It’s not my style,” he noted. Yet Cahill demonstrates genuine command of policy matters, holding reasoned positions on issues such as casino expansion—he supports slots at Suffolk Downs while favoring resort-style casinos in areas with lower population density. Approachable and substantive, he’s the sort who’ll share a cup of coffee with someone willing to listen for more than 10 minutes. This old-school political approach motivated Cahill to leave the Democratic Party, which backs Patrick, and pursue the governorship as an Independent. While his opponents return to homes in Milton and Swampscott, Cahill goes back to the blue-collar Boston suburb where he was raised and continues living today alongside his wife, Tina, and their four daughters. “I think there a bit of reality living in a place like Quincy because you’re not only reading about the struggles, or seeing the statistics of job loss in the evening news–you’re seeing it everyday in your neighborhoods,” Cahill stated. “These are people you know or grew up with and it hits home.” His political journey began as Quincy City Councilor from 1987 to 1996, followed by election as Norfolk County Treasurer. He held that position until winning the State Treasurer role in 2002 after Shannon O’Brien departed to run for Massachusetts Governor. A second term followed his 2006 reelection. Though always a capable, pragmatic politician, Cahill’s abilities flourished upon reaching statewide office. Managing one of state government’s largest departments, he expanded the State Pension Fund by over 50 percent within three years, reformed the State’s School Building Assistance Program, and secured $4 billion in lottery aid for cities and towns. “I want to be able to expand my ideas of job creation and job growth and find innovative ways to raise funds to the governor’s office,” Cahill asserted.
