His concerns with the health of small businessand with health care, education, and the needs ofthe community all emerge from different parts ofhis diverse background, Massie says.
His time at the Business School impressed onhim the need for efficiency and equipped him tounderstand the needs of small business inMassachusetts, he says. And as a teacher, he hasseen the importance of education close up.
On the issue of universal health care, apersonal experience has influenced his stance.
Massie, a hemophiliac, is HIV-positive due to ablood transfusion, though his immune system isfine at the moment and poses no problem to hiscandidacy, he says.
"I don't consider my HIV status a qualificationfor government," Massie says. "It's new, and thatis newsworthy."
In a press release, he notes how people can beleft without health care protection. "I know thiscan happen because when I was a boy this oncehappened to me," he writes.
From his time in the ministry and years inpublic service, he says, he has gained a strongcommitment to community and a politician'shands-on role within it.
"The belief that it is important to articulatethe goals and values of a community is somethingI've held for a long time," he says. "It's a partof ministry and part of political office."
Massie, who calls himself "a rebel with acause," says as Lieutenant Governor he would liketo respond directly to the needs of commoncitizens, even working in shelters and schools.
"I've been involved with public service andwith political issues," Massie says. "I wouldsuggest that Lieutenant Governor is a positionthat responds to creative, energetic commitment."
Janice E. Burpee of Medford, who teaches SundaySchool at the Christ Episcopal Church ofSomerville where Massie was the minister,testifies to Massie's claim that he is a creative,active leader.
"He was a problem solver," says Burpee, whoalso works for Harvard Real Estate. "He made suchan impact on every problem that was there andalways came up with a different angle."
In Massachusetts, candidates for LieutenantGovernor run separately from gubernatorialcandidates during primary elections but are pairedtogether in the November general elections.
Massie says whatever the result of theMassachusetts Democratic gubernatorial primary, hefeels confident he could work with the otherperson on the ticket.
"I support the Democratic platform; theysupport the Democratic platform," he says.
Neither Ronald F. Thiemann, dean of theDivinity School, nor gubernatorial candidatesMichael J. Barrett '70 and Mark Roosevelt '78 wereavailable for comment