Boston 2024 Olympic Group Discloses Salaries Of Top Staffers

BOSTON (AP) — The group spearheading Boston's bid for the 2024 Olympics on Monday disclosed the salaries of its top executives and consultants, including former Gov. Deval Patrick, who will earn $7,500 per day when he travels on its behalf.

Boston 2024, a private nonprofit group, made the information public after a request to do so from Democratic Mayor Marty Walsh, who strongly supports the Olympic effort.

Six top staffers of the organization earn salaries above $100,000, led by chief executive Richard Davey, who is being paid $300,000 per year, according to the list it released. Erin Murphy, its chief operating officer and chief bid officer, earns $215,000 annually, while chief administrative officer Joe Rull's salary is $175,000.

Patrick, the former two-term Democratic governor who left office in January, said in an earlier statement that he had been retained as a consultant to help promote Boston and Massachusetts as sites for the games to members of the International Olympic Committee.

The IOC is expected in 2017 to name a host city for the 2024 summer games. Boston has been selected as the American bid city by the U.S. Olympic Committee and likely will compete with several international entrants, including Rome.

Murphy said Patrick will not be a full-time salaried employee and his pay will be based on his travel and overall efforts on behalf of Boston 2024. While the full extent of his work has not been determined, Murphy said, when he travels he will be compensated $7,500 per day.

"Governor Patrick has a passionate voice and unbridled enthusiasm for promoting Boston and Massachusetts to the world and believes the Olympic and Paralympic Games can greatly benefit the Commonwealth," she said.

Davey, who served as secretary of transportation under Patrick, said the decision to make public the compensation list came in consultation with Walsh. The mayor released a statement earlier Monday calling for disclosure of the information as a "testament to the transparency and openness of this process."

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday sidestepped questions about the involvement of Patrick, his onetime political rival and predecessor, with the Olympic organizing group.

"For me it's less about the people and a lot more about the product," Baker said when asked if he was worried about the Olympic effort becoming politicized. "There's a ton of work to be done here."

Baker expressed impatience with progress made in finalizing key elements of the Olympic bid, including proposed locations for various sports venues.

"I mean, time (is) wasting," Baker said. "There are still many unanswered questions associated with this, and I think the most important thing for (Boston 2024) at this point is to actually start building out the plan."

Patrick won re-election as governor by defeating Baker in 2010. Baker defeated Democrat Martha Coakley in November after Patrick decided against seeking a third term.

Northwind Strategies, a firm run by onetime Patrick political strategist Doug Rubin, is among other consultants listed by Boston 2024 and is being paid $15,000 per month for work on communications, the group said.

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