News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: KENNEDY, HEALEY pull ENDORSEMENTS in HOUSE RACE — BAKER pushes for SCHOOL REOPENINGS — BOSTON may sanction MASKLESS GOP event

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: KENNEDY, HEALEY pull ENDORSEMENTS in HOUSE RACE — BAKER pushes for SCHOOL REOPENINGS — BOSTON may sanction MASKLESS GOP event — NANGLE to plead GUILTY

Feb 24, 2021

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAPOBIANCO ACCUSED OF MISCONDUCT, POLS PULL ENDORSEMENTS — The race to fill former Speaker Bob DeLeo's seat in the House was hit with a bombshell yesterday.

An explosive report from GBH News detailed allegations of sexual misconduct against Valentino Capobianco, a Democrat in the race. Capobianco, who denies the allegations, is a member of the Winthrop School Committee and was chief of staff to state Sen. Paul Feeney before he launched his campaign.

Capobianco is accused of "aggressively pursuing younger women" and "attempting sexual acts with non-consenting inebriated women," among other incidents, according to GBH.

The accusations led some major political players — Attorney General Maura Healey, former Rep. Joe Kennedy III and Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins — to rescind their endorsements. Capobianco's former boss, Feeney, also pulled his support.

Hours after the story was published, the five candidates gathered for a virtual MassVOTES forum on Tuesday night. Also running are Democrats Jeff Turco, Alicia DelVento and Juan Pablo Jaramillo, and independent candidate Richard Fucillo.

"These allegations are categorically false ," Capobianco said at the forum. "This is the first time I'm hearing of any grievances. No police reports are filed, nor were any authorities ever notified. I steadfastly support the right of anyone to feel safe and comfortable coming forward regarding traumatic experiences, but I am obligated to defend myself." The incident did not come up again during the hourlong event.

Capobianco, a member of the Democratic State Committee, has had support from a number of players in the Democratic political sphere. Before the allegations became public, Capobianco netted donations from 2018 candidate for governor Jay Gonzalez, former Attorney General Martha Coakley, former Treasurer Steve Grossman and some state lawmakers, according to records from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

The special election to replace DeLeo is happening on a more condensed timeline than a regularly-scheduled election. DeLeo triggered the race when he resigned his post to take a job at Northeastern University late last year. Because of the state's expanded mail-in voting program, ballots have already gone out in the district, which includes Winthrop and Revere. The special primary election is March 2.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.

TODAY — Rep. Jim McGovern and state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa speak on a "Saving Our Local News" panel hosted by the Pioneer Valley NewsGuild. Former state Rep. David Nangle is expected for a hearing in U.S. District Court. Rep. Lori Trahan and Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy hold a Facebook Live conversation on the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act. State Rep. Jon Santiago is a guest on Bloomberg Radio to talk about his campaign for mayor of Boston.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts reports 1,114 new COVID cases, 30 deaths Tuesday as CDC reports 5.7% of state's population fully vaccinated," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "State health officials confirmed another 1,114 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, which is based on 62,531 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Officials also announced another 30 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic to 15,564."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "State looking to force school reopenings," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "Taking direct aim at Massachusetts school districts and teachers unions that have been reluctant to return to in-person instruction, state education commissioner Jeff Riley is looking to leverage state regulations to push districts to bring students back to the classroom ."

– "Skepticism, questions mark reaction to education commissioner's calls for reopening," by Travis Andersen and Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: "A chorus of stakeholders on Tuesday reacted skeptically to the Baker administration's call for elementary school students across Massachusetts to have the option of returning to in-person learning five days a week, though at least one prominent Boston lawmaker praised the idea."

– "Massachusetts commissioner sticks with 3-foot social distancing requirements as he plans to bring back all students to classrooms," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts education officials say they want to see all elementary students back in the classroom by April and older students back before the end of the school year. If students return to the classroom in the spring, they will have to space out at least 3 feet apart, not 6 feet apart, under the state's guidelines."

– "Healey wades into COVID vaccine debate and stokes questions about her political future," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Healey has used the sudden burst of appearances to emphasize the need for equity in the state's vaccination plans — even if the issue has, at best, tangential ties to an attorney general's official duties. It's also stoked questions about her own political plans."

– "Massachusetts driver's license bill has 'momentum' to pass despite COVID-19, governor's opposition, lawmakers say," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "The first hurdle for the Massachusetts bill to expand driving privileges to immigrants without legal status isn't Gov. Charlie Baker, who opposed the measure in previous years, but perhaps the leaders in the House and the Senate who determine what bills end up on the floor for a vote."

– "On joint rules, House takes different approach than Senate," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "The Massachusetts House will vote Wednesday on joint rules that take a small step toward increased transparency regarding committee votes but do not go as far as the Senate does, or as some advocates would like."

– "Sudders, Bharel talk Massachusetts coronavirus vaccine equity issues with Black and Latino caucus," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders and Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel attended the meeting that also played as a precursor of sorts to the larger legislative oversight hearing administration officials — including Gov. Charlie Baker — will testify at on Thursday, caucus members told the Herald."

– "Meat, egg producers seek to delay cage ban," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI: "The meat and egg industry wants to delay the start of a voter-approved law banning certain cages for farm animals, which is set to go into effect next year. Question 3, which was approved by more than 77% of voters in 2016, bans shelled eggs, veal and other meat produced by cage-confined animals and establishes some of the toughest farm animal restrictions in the nation."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Mass. making progress on vaccinations, but lack of supply 'tremendously anxiety-provoking,' Baker says," by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: "Governor Charlie Baker said Tuesday that some 1.4 million Massachusetts residents have received their first dose of the two-shot COVID-19 vaccine as the state continues to ramp up its efforts to inoculate as many people as possible against the deadly contagion."

– "'It's The Hunger Games': Massachusetts residents recount roadblocks trying to book COVID vaccinations, lambaste state's rollout," by Jackson Cote, MassLive.com: "Ellen Farley's story last Thursday was one shared by tens of thousands of people across Massachusetts: She woke up in the pre-dawn hours, set up her computer and was promptly ready by 8 a.m. to book an appointment to get vaccinated for coronavirus."

– "The company barely existed a year ago. Now, Curative is running half of the state's mass vaccination sites," by Kay Lazar and Anissa Gardizy, Boston Globe: "The nine employees of a fledgling California company called Curative were developing a new test for sepsis when the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the United States in early 2020. Barely a year later, the company is running three of Massachusetts' six mass vaccination sites."

– "As new coronavirus vaccine site opens in Dorchester, residents and officials say local access 'means everything,'" by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "Dorchester's Russell Auditorium usually hosts weddings, anniversaries and dances. But on Tuesday, the soft music flowing through the event hall served as the soundtrack for medical professionals sticking coronavirus vaccines into the arms of local residents."

– "Will Massachusetts boards of health get COVID vaccine doses back? Gov. Charlie Baker touts mass vaccination sites, regional collaboratives instead," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "After shifting new COVID-19 vaccine doses away from local boards of health, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said the state plans to focus on mass vaccination sites."

– "Northeastern University offering leftover coronavirus vaccine doses to school community," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "Northeastern University has been doling out coveted coronavirus vaccine doses to members of the school community even as local boards of health have been cut out of the process and thousands across the state clamor to sign up for appointments."

– "Secret Tips to Book Your Vaccine Appointment Online," by Spencer Buell, Boston Magazine: "It goes without saying, but ideally the state's vaccine rollout would be smooth enough that no one needs tips or tricks to get a shot in a timely manner, let alone hacks. But until such time as things are operating perfectly, it's helpful to know what your neighbors are doing to make their vaccine-scheduling process as painless as can be."

FROM THE HUB

– "Boston may sanction restaurant for COVID-19 violations at Republican event," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "Boston licensing officials may sanction a West Roxbury restaurant where Republican leaders gathered earlier this month and appeared to flout COVID-19 social distancing protocols, according to photos from the event posted online."

– "Steeped In Activism, Kim Janey Prepares To Make Boston History As Acting Mayor," by Adam Reilly, GBH News: "Barring a big surprise, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will soon head to Washington, D.C., to become President Joe Biden's labor secretary — at which point City Council President Kim Janey will become acting mayor. The moment will be historic, since Janey will be the first Black person and first woman to run the city."

– "'Turning point': Women of color increasingly leading Boston," by Steve LeBlanc, The Associated Press: "The city is on the cusp of having its first woman and person of color as mayor when current Mayor Marty Walsh becomes President Joe Biden's labor secretary. Walsh is the latest in a string of largely Irish-American (and one Italian-American) mayors — all men — going back the better part of a century."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "Progressive Leaders Endorse Halbert in At-Large Race," from the Halbert campaign: "Today, David Halbert's campaign for City Council At-Large announces a slate of endorsements from key progressive leaders and former candidates, including former candidate for the 8th Congressional District Robbie Goldstein, LGBTQ community activist and former candidate for State Representative (17th Suffolk) Jordan Meehan, and community organizer and former District 9 candidate Brandon Bowser."

– "Barros, inching closer to a bid for mayor, is set to resign from City Hall post," by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: "John Barros, the city's chief of economic development, is stepping down from his City Hall post, in a move some political observers see as inching ever closer to a bid for mayor."

– "Byron Rushing endorses Michelle Wu for Boston mayor," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Longtime Boston state Rep. Byron Rushing is endorsing Michelle Wu for mayor. 'She has the vision and the ability to take on the crises we face and help people move forward and recover,' Rushing said in a statement."

– "Teamsters Local 25 backs Michelle Wu for Mayor," Dorchester Reporter: "Teamsters Local 25 endorsed Boston City Councillor At-Large Michelle Wu for Mayor of Boston on Tuesday, citing her refusal 'to back down to corporations and their anti-worker rhetoric.'"

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "With 'cliff' looming, T stalls for time," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "MBTA officials are planning to put off the release of a new, five-year capital plan until June 2022, a move that reflects the financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus and also the political calculus of a governor running out of funding options for the T's ambitious capital spending program."

ON THE STUMP

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "Trailblazers PAC Endorses Bryan Barash for Newton City Council," from the Barash campaign: "Trailblazers PAC, the national, nonpartisan organization supporting candidates for county or municipal level office who stand for honest government, announced its endorsement of Bryan Barash for Newton (Massachusetts) City Council in the March 16, 2021 special election."

– "Commission calls for allowing campaign funds to be spent on child care," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "A legislative commission is recommending that political candidates be allowed to spend campaign funds on child-care expenses while they're running for office, a move supporters say would make it easier for more parents to participate in politics."

DAY IN COURT

– "You can't bank jail time like a bank account, SJC rules Tuesday," by John R. Ellement, Boston Globe: "People can bank money — they can't bank prison time, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled Tuesday. The state's highest court rejected the idea that a defendant whose drug conviction was overturned due to government misconduct should be allowed to 'bank' prison time to draw on when they face incarceration on some other charge in the future."

– "DOL Nominee Walsh Skewed Probe To Hurt Rival, Court Told," Law360: "Boston's former health and human services chief told a federal judge Tuesday he was fired after a shoddy sexual harassment investigation backed by Mayor Marty Walsh because the soon-to-be U.S. labor secretary wanted to eliminate a political rival."

– "Former state Rep. David Nangle to plead guilty to 23 federal fraud charges," by Alana Melanson, The Lowell Sun: "According to a superseding information filing Monday in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, Nangle will plead guilty to 10 counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, four counts of making false statements to a bank and five counts of filing false tax returns."

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: "OVERSHOT," — Globe: "Women lag in top pay at UMass, report says," "State calls for open schools," "Healey raises profile, speculation."

FROM THE 413

– "Call for resignations follows 'absolutely scathing' audit of Hampden County Regional Board of Retirement," by Emily Thurlow, Springfield Republican: "Select Board Chairman Don Davenport is calling for members of the county's retirement board to resign after an audit flagged issues ranging from questionable spending on website services to a 'highly unusual' contract that paid over $250,000 in health insurance premiums to two part-time attorneys."

– "Women struggle to break through top pay ranks at UMass Amherst," by Deirdre Fernandes, Boston Globe: "No women were represented among the top 10 earners at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2019, pointing to a formidable pay ceiling at the state's flagship public campus, according to a new report."

– "North Adams Mayor Tom Bernard will not seek a third term," by Francesca Paris, The Berkshire Eagle: "Mayor Tom Bernard has announced that he will not seek reelection to a third term this year. Bernard, who first was elected in 2017, said Tuesday he wants to focus on running the city and managing the pandemic rather than conducting a reelection campaign."

– "Smith College denies ex-employee's claim that it's hostile to white people," by Greta Jochem, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Smith College is denying claims made by a staff member who resigned Friday that the college is a 'racially hostile environment for white people' and that it tried to pay the employee to keep quiet about it."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Newton officials investigate letter sent to school employee as hateful act," by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: "Newton school officials said they are investigating a hateful letter sent late last month to a Brown Middle School staff member of color whose job includes developing Black History Month lessons in the building. The letter was directly addressed to the Brown staff member, who picked it up in his school mailbox."

– "School Committee split on plan to remove police from schools. Board eager to see replacement," by Scott O'Connell, Telegram & Gazette: "School Committee members split on city manager's announcement last week that school resource officers would be removed from city schools by the end of the year, with some questioning the call to decrease a police presence they believed was beneficial."

– "Yunits stepping down as county administrator, will stay on during transition," by Jeannette Hinkle, Cape Cod Times: "By the time John 'Jack' Yunits Jr. assumed the role of Barnstable County administrator in February 2016, most county governments in the state had been disbanded. Critics held that the regional form of government was redundant, a waste of taxpayer money, and by 2010, Yunits said, county government in Massachusetts had all but disappeared."

– "Weymouth could get its own municipal internet," by Jessica Trufant, The Patriot Ledger: "Mayor Robert Hedlund wants the town to develop a plan for launching its own municipal fiber network to provide town-wide internet access. Hedlund will submit a measure to the Weymouth Town Council asking to use about $25,000 to fund the master plan as the first step in the process."

TRANSITIONS – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Rep. Jon Santiago, a candidate for mayor of Boston, announces his campaign staff: Victoria Williams will serve as campaign manager, Sean Downey and Patrick Sheridan Rossi of Hilltop Public Solutions will serve as senior strategists, Kellie O'Neill of KC Strategies will serve as finance director, Katherine Tolman will serve as deputy finance director, Jessalyn Reid will lead Santiago's digital effort, and Celinda Lake of Lake Research Partners will lead his research team.

– Roger Lau, who managed Sen. Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign, is joining the DNC as deputy executive director. Link.

– Mary Serreze joins Patch as Rhode Island breaking news editor.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to former acting Gov. Jane Swift, and Sarah Groh, chief of staff to Rep. Ayanna Pressley.

NEW EPISODE: POWER OF ATTORNEY – On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray talk about outgoing U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling with the Boston Herald's Sean Cotter. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.

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HAPPENING TODAY - A PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW WITH REP. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY : Democrats clinched control of the House in November but did not achieve their expected gains, making it trickier to push forward with President Joe Biden's agenda. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair, joins Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade and Eugene Daniels to discuss his plans for protecting Democrats' slim majority in 2022, lessons learned from the November campaign cycle, and the continued fallout from the Jan. 6 insurrection. REGISTER HERE.