
JOY CONWAY – Senses commitment
With Massachusetts Gov. Paul Cellucci poised to assume the position of ambassador to Canada for the Bush administration, Bay Staters are preparing themselves for the changes in the executive wing of the State House.
Lt. Gov. Jane M. Swift might make her ascent to the position of acting governor surrounded by low approval ratings after questionable incidents of staff babysitting sessions and helicopter rides across the commonwealth, but officials from within the residential real estate industry see the change as non-controversial. That is, at least when it comes to furthering their political agendas on Beacon Hill.
Legislative chairmen representing industry groups like the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts and the Greater Boston Real Estate Board hailed last year’s legislative session at the State House as a successful one, with the passage of the Community Preservation Act without a transfer tax and the implementation of a home inspector licensing law and alternative dispute resolution law among the highlights.
Officials have hoped to build on last year’s momentum, and saw Cellucci’s recent State of the State speech – where he committed to keeping housing as a top priority for his administration – as a sign of good things to come for the current year.
Though there are changes expected if and when Swift becomes acting governor, those in the real estate industry are predicting the commitment to housing will not be one of the changes.
“We haven’t even talked about [the possibility of a change],” said Finley H. Perry, a Hopkinton-based builder and legislative chairman for HBAM. “I haven’t heard anything that would indicate there would be a change. I believe the lieutenant governor shares the same ideas that governor has.”
Swift herself could not be reached for comment, but a spokesperson in her office last week said the housing industry should expect little to change should the expectant mother take office in the coming weeks or months.
“I think it’s safe to say [Swift] stands behind any commitments made by the governor, and will continue to stand behind those commitments should she become acting governor,” the spokesperson said.
“Honestly, I think [Cellucci and Swift] have operated as a team,” said Joseph Delaney, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Hunneman in Canton and vice president of government affairs for MAR. “Philosophically, I think they’re cut from the same cloth.”
Industry officials pointed to an event in Westborough earlier this month, where Cellucci and Swift unveiled a broad-based package of legislation and funding aimed at increasing the housing supply, as evidence that Swift is as equally committed to the issues.
Joy Conway, senior vice president of government and industry affairs for GBREB, has gotten to know Swift on a more personal level through her work on the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Women’s Issues and said she felt Swift will carry out the current administration’s agenda.
“I’ve gotten to know her one-on-one, and I have a sense of commitment [from Swift] to the Cellucci-Swift agenda on issues GBREB has a direct interest in, and I would expect the lieutenant governor to be as committed and aggressive as Cellucci,” Conway said.
“We think there’s a really good chance at getting a lot of issues out on the table this year, like exclusionary zoning and Title 5 issues,” Perry said. “Cellucci has been very out in front for all of those issues, promoting the private sector to respond to the state’s housing needs. We don’t see any reason for [Swift] to change that.”
In addition to standing behind the most recent housing proposal, Conway said she expects Swift to continue Cellucci’s stance on other housing issues she is faced with. “I think she’ll take a strong stand on [Chapter] 40B,” Conway said, referring to the state’s so-called anti-snob zoning law that is coming under fire from several suburban lawmakers this year. “She’s not going to be very receptive to legislation that will weaken 40B. I’m sure she’ll also stand behind the governor’s executive order providing funding for towns to complete master plans that include affordable housing.
“My sense is the lieutenant governor is 100 percent behind the initiatives advanced by the Cellucci-Swift administration,” Conway said.
Matters of Strategy
Though not expected to be particularly pertinent in this instance, Perry said a switch in who is governor of the state could have a significant impact on how an association like HBAM formulates its legislative agenda for the year.
“It’s a huge factor if we know the governor is very much against something or very much in favor of something,” he said. “If there’s reason to think we can work with an administration on a certain issue, then that’s huge.
“We’re encouraged when the administration speaks favorably on the issue [of housing],” Perry said. “Development is going to happen, and they want to help do it in an affordable way.”
Perry added that while support from the governor’s office is important, association ties with other branches of the state government are significant as well. “It’s not just the Cellucci administration. We’ve met with [House Speaker] Tom Finneran, and we’re encouraged that we’re able to speak with him and our issues are not going unnoticed. And [Senate President Thomas] Birmingham also met with us last year working on the CPA.”
He said most of the legislative work done involves relationships with offices like Administration and Finance, the Department of Housing and Community Development.
“We’ve had good discussions with [DHCD Director] Jane Wallis Gumble and [Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency Director] Steven Pierce. That’s where we do the work, and there’s no reason to think they’re going anywhere soon.”
“To some extent it’s true” that associations like MAR fashion their agendas around who occupies the corner office, Delaney said. “There’s no doubt it’s helpful in bringing it to the public’s attention if there are issues where you’re on the same side,” he noted.
Delaney also stressed the importance of other agencies and the Legislature. “In Massachusetts, you’ve got to deal with both houses, and we know what the numbers are, but the public pulpit [of the governor’s office] is a good resource to have.”
“Our proposals emanate from the needs of our members and the needs of the industry,” Conway said. “Depending on who’s in the administration, who’s in the legislature and who chairs what committee, those are matters of strategy in trying to educate the people.”
Delaney said MAR is looking forward to forging a working relationship with Swift once she becomes acting governor, and the association has invited her to be the keynote speaker for MAR’s annual Realtor Day on Beacon Hill in early April.
“I know the reports from the field is that Jane will be well-received. Jane will have the chance to demonstrate her capabilities once she becomes acting governor, and given the opportunity to do so, she might flourish,” Delaney said.