Sources: Swift Dropping Out Of Governor's Race
Cites Family Reasons For Leaving GOP Field To Romney
POSTED: 10:02 a.m. EST March 19, 2002
UPDATED: 12:11 p.m. EST March 19, 2002
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BOSTON -- Sources tell NewsCenter 5 that Acting Gov. Jane Swift has decided to drop out of the race for the GOP gubernatorial nomination this fall.
Swift, a mother of three, including twin girls who were born last June, cited family reasons for her decision not to run.
Jane Swift is the state's first female governor. She assumed the responsibilities of the top executive while giving birth to twins.
In April, 2001 Gov. Paul Cellucci left the office after being appointed ambassador to Canada by President Bush. Swift, a Republican, assumed the powers of governor on April 10, becoming the youngest person in the nation to hold the office at age 36.
Under doctor-ordered bed rest while she was pregnant last May, Swift's governorship got off to a rocky start, as the Governor's Council questioned whether she would be legally able to run the state from her hospital bed. The controversy didn't last long, as Swift gave birth to twin daughters, Lauren Alma and Sarah Jane, on May 12, becoming the only governor ever to give birth while in office.
Controversy dogged Swift in her first months in office. Although she attended several fund-raisers, she would not commit to a run for governor. She was also criticized for declaring on her marriage license that her husband, Chuck Hunt, had only been married once before, instead of three times. She said she was unaware of his previous marriages.
After Sept. 11, Swift enjoyed a surge in popularity as she staunchly refused to delay state primary elections and moved to shore up security in the Bay State. She quickly came under fire again, however, as the two planes that were crashed into the World Trade Center towers originated at Logan Airport, and the investigation focused on airport security.
Both Massport Executive Director Virginia Buckingham and Security Director Joe Lawless had been appointed to their jobs by the Cellucci administration. 
Swift herself had benefited from a patronage appointment at Massport earlier in her political career.
Although the Massport executives two were eventually removed from their posts, critics still questioned why Lawless was given another job in Massport and Buckingham was given a $180,000 severance package. Swift originally defended the package, but later asked the Massport board to reduce the package.
Swift also engaged in a fight with the Turnpike Board over raising tolls on the Mass. Turnpike. Tolls were scheduled to increase along the pike, but two of the three board members -- Jordan Levy and Christy Mihos -- voted to delay the increase in favor of restoring tolls at Exits 1-6 in western Massachusetts and bringing back tolls at the West Newton, Mass., exit.
Swift moved to fire Levy and Mihos, but the two fought back, taking the case to the Supreme Judicial Court, where they argued that Swift did not have the authority to fire them.
In January, Swift picked Patrick C. Guerriero, a former state representative and Melrose mayor, to run as her lieutenant governor. Until the announcement, Guerriero was Swift's deputy chief of staff.
The pairing presented an unconventional Republican ticket, with Swift, 37, linked up with Guerriro, 33, an openly gay Republican Party activist.
Swift searched for a running mate after Republican Jim Rappaport, who ran for U.S. Senate unsuccessfully in 1990, announced that he would seek the lieutenant governor nomination despite Swift's objections.
Aides said she is expected to make a formal announcement later Tuesday.
Swift's decision comes on the heels of a news that Olympic chief Mitt Romney plans to formally announce his candidacy for the corner office. He returned to his hometown of Belmont, Mass., this weekend after three years organizing the 2002 Olympic Winter games in Salt Lake city.
 JANE SWIFT: INTERACTIVE: VIDEO: |
Jane Swift is the state's first female governor. She assumed the responsibilities of the top executive while giving birth to twins.
In April, 2001 Gov. Paul Cellucci left the office after being appointed ambassador to Canada by President Bush. Swift, a Republican, assumed the powers of governor on April 10, becoming the youngest person in the nation to hold the office at age 36.
Under doctor-ordered bed rest while she was pregnant last May, Swift's governorship got off to a rocky start, as the Governor's Council questioned whether she would be legally able to run the state from her hospital bed. The controversy didn't last long, as Swift gave birth to twin daughters, Lauren Alma and Sarah Jane, on May 12, becoming the only governor ever to give birth while in office.
Controversy dogged Swift in her first months in office. Although she attended several fund-raisers, she would not commit to a run for governor. She was also criticized for declaring on her marriage license that her husband, Chuck Hunt, had only been married once before, instead of three times. She said she was unaware of his previous marriages.
After Sept. 11, Swift enjoyed a surge in popularity as she staunchly refused to delay state primary elections and moved to shore up security in the Bay State. She quickly came under fire again, however, as the two planes that were crashed into the World Trade Center towers originated at Logan Airport, and the investigation focused on airport security.
Both Massport Executive Director Virginia Buckingham and Security Director Joe Lawless had been appointed to their jobs by the Cellucci administration. Swift herself had benefited from a patronage appointment at Massport earlier in her political career.
Although the Massport executives two were eventually removed from their posts, critics still questioned why Lawless was given another job in Massport and Buckingham was given a $180,000 severance package. Swift originally defended the package, but later asked the Massport board to reduce the package.
Swift also engaged in a fight with the Turnpike Board over raising tolls on the Mass. Turnpike. Tolls were scheduled to increase along the pike, but two of the three board members -- Jordan Levy and Christy Mihos -- voted to delay the increase in favor of restoring tolls at Exits 1-6 in western Massachusetts and bringing back tolls at the West Newton, Mass., exit.
Swift moved to fire Levy and Mihos, but the two fought back, taking the case to the Supreme Judicial Court, where they argued that Swift did not have the authority to fire them.
In January, Swift picked Patrick C. Guerriero, a former state representative and Melrose mayor, to run as her lieutenant governor. Until the announcement, Guerriero was Swift's deputy chief of staff.
The pairing presented an unconventional Republican ticket, with Swift, 37, linked up with Guerriro, 33, an openly gay Republican Party activist.
Swift searched for a running mate after Republican Jim Rappaport, who ran for U.S. Senate unsuccessfully in 1990, announced that he would seek the lieutenant governor nomination despite Swift's objections.
Aides said she is expected to make a formal announcement later Tuesday.
Swift's decision comes on the heels of a news that Olympic chief Mitt Romney plans to formally announce his candidacy for the corner office. He returned to his hometown of Belmont, Mass., this weekend after three years organizing the 2002 Olympic Winter games in Salt Lake city.
Previous Stories:
- March 19, 2002: Early Word: Romney Will Run
- March 18, 2002: Romney Returns To Bay State
- March 12, 2002: Activist Calling Delegates For Romney
- March 6, 2002: Romney Poll Results Said To Be 'Positive'
- February 28, 2002: Swift Says She's Not Afraid Of Romney
- January 29, 2002: Swift Becomes State's First Female Governor
- January 3, 2002: Swift Names Guerriero As Running Mate
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