Patrick wants potholes fixed before Michelle Obama visit

RICHMOND, Mass. (AP) - An official in a western Massachusetts town says a representative of Gov. Deval Patrick asked that potholes on the road leading to the governor's holiday home be filled prior to a fundraising visit by first lady Michelle Obama.

Richmond Town Administrator Matthew Kerwood says a staffer from the Democratic governor's office called this week and asked for the fix on the road near Patrick's home, where he's hosting a $20,000-a-seat dinner on Aug. 3 for the president's re-election fund.

Kerwood tells the Boston Herald the road is actually in neighboring West Stockbridge, so he passed the request on to his counterpart there.

Both men said the request was no big deal, but it drew criticism from Republicans who said Patrick is burdening taxpayers.

Neither the governor's office nor his campaign commented.