Healey and Driscoll pack food and discuss priorities in Taunton

Massachusetts Governor-elect Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor-elect Kim Driscoll stopped by the Boys & Girls Club of Taunton on Tuesday afternoon for a drive for healthy food and school supplies as part of their tour of a week “Team Up Massachusetts”.

The duo will tour across the Commonwealth, culminating in their grand opening at Boston’s TD Garden on Thursday, January 5.

Speaking to reporters, Healey and Driscoll explained how they felt the charity events they attended during their visits highlighted the work they wanted to focus on.

“The kids are counting on us, our next administration, to support them and be on the ground,” Driscoll said. “It’s where we learn and we listen and it better prepares us to take on those roles.”

Asked about the administration’s political agenda, Healey provided the typical outline of the political priorities she had during the campaign, mentioning affordable housing, transportation and child care.

Healey also told reporters she would reveal more details about their administration’s plans at the inauguration in Boston on Thursday.

When asked who she sees as opposition to the Healey-Driscoll agenda or what obstacles there might be given that Republicans no longer have their hands on any levers of power in Beacon Hill, the governor-elect said refused the opportunity to take a partisan tone.

“I don’t think in those terms,” ​​Healey said. “I think in terms of how we work to get to ‘yes’ and get things done.”

“I think I’ve learned, over the last eight years (as attorney general) certainly, that you’re going to find allies in a lot of places,” she said. “Some of them unexpected – and you’ll get there by showing a willingness to listen, communicate and collaborate.”

Healey and Driscoll took a guided tour of the Boys & Girls Club before engaging with those in attendance and hopping on the assembly line to pack the greens. Joining them on the assembly line was Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell and State Rep. Carol Doherty (D-Taunton), whom Healey had puzzled for during the campaign.

Also in attendance were Sen. Mark Pacheco (D-Taunton), State Rep. Jim Hawkins (D-Attleboro), State Rep. Chris Markey (D-Dartmouth), Bristol County Estates Registry Tom Hoye, former Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan, and members of Taunton City Council.

Taunton was the Southeast Massachusetts regional stop on Healey and Driscoll’s tour. Later Tuesday, they took part in another food drive in Yarmouth for their stop on Cape Cod.

On Monday, the tandem of governors was in Springfield and Worcester for their stop in western and central Massachusetts. On Wednesday, they will visit Lowell for their stop in the Merrimack Valley, the fifth and final visit before the grand opening on Thursday.