2006: The year of Gov. Deval Patrick

Ah yes, the politics of the New Boston.

It starts in 2007 with Gov. Deval Patrick.

His historic campaign was the story of 2006, and while the strength of his grassroots campaign went largely undetected, it clearly energized communities of color and provided a sense of hope and trust throughout the state. Patrick refused to go negative, despite almost daily attacks on his character and integrity by Republican contender Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey. She lost in a landslide.

And Patrick is already placing his stamp on state government by reversing policies and budget cuts enacted by Mitt Romney, the outgoing governor and Republican presidential aspirant.

But more than anything else, Patrick restored the belief that the actions of individuals could change government for the better and that the state needed people who were politically engaged and willing to do more than simply talk.

“The real heroes here,” he said during his victory speech, “are the thousands of you, many who have never been involved before in a political campaign who set aside what you were doing to get involved…and decided to take responsibility for [Massachusetts].”

He was willing to lead by example and used his story of rising up from a dysfunctional home to landing jobs as a lawyer in the White House and major corporations as an inspiration.

“What you should expect is that I will work as hard and as smart as I can,” Patrick said “…that I will bring every day the best that I have and the best that I am.”

Not bad, not bad at all for a young man from the projects of the South Side of Chicago.