In November, Massachusetts' gubernatorial race may once again include a private equity executive.
Last month, Chris Gabrieli launched a campaign to succeed Gov. Mitt Romney, who founded Boston-based private equity firm Bain Capital.
Mr. Gabrieli, when he is not campaigning, is a venture capitalist. He is managing director of Ironwood Equity Partners, Boston, a small business investment company formed by Ironwood Capital Ltd. Previously, he was a partner at Bessemer Venture Partners.
Mr. Gabrieli unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor in 2002 and in the 1988 Democratic Congressional primary.
Three years ago, he helped persuade the $40.2 billion Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board, Boston, to allocate up to 2% of assets in economically targeted investments by Massachusetts money managers. And last year, he was one of several venture capital executives to push successfully for a state bill backing embryonic stem cell research.
At least one of Mr. Gabrieli's planks should please local money managers, especially venture capital fund executives: getting big state pension funds and university endowments to invest in the local economy, "like investing in technologies most likely to create jobs in the 21st century, such as stem cell research and renewable energy," he said.
