Governor Mitt Romney

Former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, announced this week that he has formally organized a presidential exploratory committee to pursue the 2008 Republican Party nomination for President of the USA. Details at -- www.mittromney.com

The primary thing that I think of when I hear "Mitt Romney" is the day he decided on which state he would pursue his political career. The states that were options for him included -- Utah (due to his Olympics work), Michigan (since he was born there and his father served as governor), or Massachusetts (where he and his wife, Ann, have lived for over 30 years) -- now that is impressive to have three states to "choose" from for launching a credible campaign for public office since very few people can do that while overcoming any potential "carpet bagger" image.

Governor Romney has been called the "savior of the Salt Lake City Olympics" and made national news when he took command of the "Big Dig" transportation infrastructure project in Boston but what do we know about his wife, Ann?

For a complete overview readers can scan Mrs. Romney's biography (and photo!) here --

http://www.mittromney.com/Learn-About-Mitt/Annxs_Biography

Here is a very impressive excerpt from her biography that caught my attention especially the program (Right to Play) that uses sports to benefit poor children:

"Mrs. Romney is dedicated to improving the welfare of children, locally and internationally. She helped develop Right To Play, formerly Olympic Aid, an international nonprofit organization that uses sport and play as a developmental tool for children in the most disadvantaged areas of the world, and is still an active supporter of its tremendous work worldwide. She lends her time and leadership to equine therapy programs for physically challenged children, literacy programs for children including the annual Scholastic Reading event, as well as organizations such as Partners for Youth with Disabilities, the American Red Cross, the Boston Ten Point Coalition, and the Perkins School for the Blind. As First Lady, she also served as a board member of the Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund. In recognition for her efforts, Mrs. Romney was the recipient of the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award from Operation Kids."


I must say I am impressed with her life of volunteer work but feel obligated to point out that she has been very involved with the "United Way". Granted United Way probably does some good things but when I worked in corporate life I found the United Way to be another bureaucratic mess just like our federal government. I would never write a check to the United Way opting instead to support local non-profit charities directly.

This looks like a husband-wife team worth watching for 2008.

Todd