Declarations

Economic windfall
“It could be an economic windfall for the entire region. It’s something I think will have major ramifications in terms of resource distribution.”

Darrell West, a political science professor at Brown University in Rhode Island, commenting on Democrats with seniority being positioned after the midterm election to become chairs of influential committees in Congress.

American value
“We are going to make the government work for you. We’re going to listen to different points of view in a Maryland where compromise is not a dirty word but an American value.”

Martin O’Malley, newly elected Democratic governor of Maryland.

No litmus test
“I’m looking for the best ideas and the best people from wherever they come. We don’t have a litmus test. I suspect there will be people from both parties and no party in the cabinet and in the administration.”

Deval Patrick, newly elected Democratic governor of Massachusetts.

Uncovered crime
“Larger firms may be able to absorb the financial shocks of employee crime, but smaller firms may be faced with financial disaster. Surprisingly, our research shows that more than two-thirds of private companies do not buy crime insurance.”

Gregory Bangs, manager of the crime unit at the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, on research by his company showing employee theft to be a rising problem.

Beacon of betrayal
“This investigation speaks to allegations of a betrayal of trust by and a display of favoritism on the part of Beacon’s senior management. The impact of such alleged conduct on the small business owners of Rhode Island is actually far greater than the increased cost of premiums that less-favored companies had to pay on behalf of those receiving preferential treatment, because it reinforces the unfortunate public perception that this is how business is done in our state.”

Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch announcing that a grand jury had indicted David R. Clark, the former vice president for loss prevention and underwriting of the Beacon Mutual Insurance Co., in five felony counts. Clark has pleaded not guilty.