He was Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
It is a fact that he was Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. Lieutenant Governor Thomas P. O'Neill III declined to compete for a third term in the 1982 Massachusetts gubernatorial election, instead opting to run for Governor of Massachusetts. Kerry launched his candidacy, joining Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs Evelyn Murphy, State Senator Samuel Rotondi, State Representative Lou Nickinello, and Lois Pines in the primary election.
Kerry received 325,890 votes (29 percent) to Murphy's 286,378 votes (25.48 percent), Rotondi's 228,086 votes (20.29 percent), Nickinello's 150,829 votes (13.42 percent), and Pines' 132,734 votes (11.81 percent). Former Governor Michael Dukakis defeated O'Neill and incumbent Governor Edward J. King in the concurrent gubernatorial primary. In the general election, the Dukakis-Kerry ticket defeated the Republican ticket of John W. Sears and Leon Lombardi by 1,219,109 votes (61.92 percent) to 749,679 votes (38.08 percent).
Kerry presided over meetings of the Massachusetts Governor's Council while Lieutenant Governor. Dukakis also assigned Kerry to serve as the state's liaison to the federal government of the United States. He was also involved in environmental concerns, such as the fight against acid rain.
The governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts serves as the state's chief executive officer. The governor presides over the state cabinet and commands the commonwealth's military forces. Massachusetts has a republican government, which is similar to a presidential system. The governor serves as the head of government, but his position is distinct from that of the legislative branch. The governor has extensive political responsibilities, including ceremonial and political tasks. The governor also has veto power and signs measures into law. The governor is a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Body, an eight-person popularly elected council that advises and consents on certain legal matters and appointments.
