Biz group MTF picks Howgate as next president

Photo | MTF via State House News Service Doug Howgate, president Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation

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By Colin A. Young | State House News Service

Doug Howgate, a policy analyst who has helped shape state budgets for nearly two decades as a top Senate staffer and a trusted voice of business interests, has been chosen to take over as president of the influential Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, the organization announced Thursday morning.

MTF President Eileen McAnneny announced in May that she would step down from the job at the end of this year and the business-backed foundation's board established a search committee to identify and evaluate potential successors.

Howgate, the board's choice, has been serving as MTF's executive vice president since January 2021 and was the organization's director of research and policy from 2015 to 2018.

"At a time when Massachusetts is undergoing a generational leadership change in its business, not-for-profit, and government sectors, and is more focused then ever on creating an equitable foundation for economic opportunity, it was imperative that we identify a next leader that had both the vision and skill set to further expand the scope and impact of MTF's work," Stephen Mosha, chair of the board of trustees, said in a statement. "In a field of outstanding candidates, Doug's keen understanding of both the policymaking process and employer needs, focus on rigorous analysis and recognition of the broad array of policies that impact the Commonwealth's fiscal health stood out. We couldn't be more pleased that he will succeed Eileen in this role."

MTF is among the most influential groups on Beacon Hill. Not only do lawmakers and the administration pay close attention when the organization weighs in on pending legislation, but MTF is invited annually by state leaders to be among the small group that advises the state's budget brain trust on expectations for the next year's tax collections.

Howgate, an alumnus of the College of the Holy Cross who holds a master's degree from Georgetown University, knows the State House and the ways of the Legislature well.

He was budget director at the Senate Ways and Means Committee from 2010 to 2014, then joined MTF, and then served as senior policy advisor to Senate President Karen Spilka from the fall of 2018 until he rejoined MTF early last year. His resume also includes stints as deputy chief of staff at the Massachusetts Port Authority and senior policy analyst at the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.

"Doug Howgate is a singular talent in the realm of Massachusetts budget policy," Spilka said when Howgate left her office.

As executive vice president, MTF said that Howgate "expanded MTF's analysis of budget, healthcare, economic development and workforce policy; made the organization a go-to resource on COVID recovery funds and how to use these dollars to effectively foster an equitable recovery; added new resources to support MTF's work in early childhood education; and fostered new relationships with non-member business and civic organizations."

"For nearly 20 years, Massachusetts fiscal policy has been at the center of almost every role in my career. There is no better organization to combine my passion for the topic with an intentional approach to assuring that fiscal policy is a sound and expansive foundation for sustainable economic growth and equitable opportunity for residents and businesses," Howgate said.

McAnneny said that Howgate "has been a true partner to me during a complex and challenging time in the Commonwealth's history."

"His capacity to see the big picture, understanding of the nuance of both policy and how the legislature and administration work, and his collaborative approach make him well suited to this important role," she said.

McAnneny arrived at MTF in 2015 -- the first woman to lead the business-backed organization -- from the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, where she was president and CEO. She had previously held roles at Fidelity Investments and Associated Industries of Massachusetts. She succeeded Michael Widmer, who had led MTF for more than 20 years. Widmer took the reins from Richard Manley, who also had a long tenure in the organization's top job.

Howgate assumes his new position on Jan. 1. He lives in Somerville.