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Charlie BakerAmerican businessman and politician, Governor of Massachusetts since January 2015.
Date of Birth: 13.11.1956
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Charlie Baker: A Biography
- Government Service
- Non-Profit Healthcare Leadership
- Gubernatorial Campaigns
- Governor of Massachusetts
- Personal Life
- Musical Tastes and Personal Interests
Charlie Baker: A Biography
Early Life and EducationCharlie Baker was born and raised in Needham, Massachusetts. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1979 and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in 1991.
Government Service
Baker's career in public service began in 1991 when he became Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services under Governor Bill Weld. He later served as Secretary of Human Services and then as Secretary of Administration and Finance under Weld and his successor, Paul Cellucci.
Non-Profit Healthcare Leadership
After eight years in government, Baker became CEO of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, a non-profit multi-specialty medical group serving Eastern Massachusetts. He then led Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a non-profit provider of health benefits.
Gubernatorial Campaigns
In 2006, Baker first ran for Governor of Massachusetts but lost in the Republican primary. He resigned from Harvard Pilgrim in 2009 to run again for Governor on a platform of fiscal conservatism and cultural liberalism. Baker easily won the Republican primary but lost the general election to sitting Democratic Governor Deval Patrick.
In 2014, Baker ran for Governor again and defeated Democratic nominee Martha Coakley. He was re-elected in 2018, defeating Democratic challenger Jay Gonzalez with 67% of the vote, the largest margin of victory in a Massachusetts gubernatorial election since 1994.
Governor of Massachusetts
As Governor, Baker has enjoyed high approval ratings. He ranked as the most popular Governor in the United States for eleven consecutive quarters from Q1 2017 to Q3 2019.
Personal Life
In 1987, Baker married Lauren Cardy Shadt, a Kellogg alumna and the daughter of James P. Shadt, former CEO of Reader's Digest and Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages. Shadt was an assistant account executive at an advertising agency in New York City. They reside in Swampscott, Essex County, Massachusetts, with their three children.
Musical Tastes and Personal Interests
Baker is a fan of classic rock from the 1970s and 1980s, including The Ramones, Green Day, and Dropkick Murphys. He is also an avid fan of the original "Star Wars" trilogy (Episodes IV, V, and VI).
In 2018, Baker's son, Andrew "AJ" Baker, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman on a JetBlue flight. Baker addressed the incident publicly, stating that his son would fully cooperate with the independent review by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.
