News : POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The hunt for SANTIAGO’S SUPPORTERS — FUTURE of WORK

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The hunt for SANTIAGO’S SUPPORTERS — FUTURE of WORK — MassGOP FALLOUT

Jul 14, 2021

THE HUNT FOR SANTIAGO'S SUPPORT(ERS) — State Rep. Jon Santiago may have taken himself out of the Boston mayor's race, but the scramble for his voters, donors and endorsers is now very much on with just two months to go until the preliminary election and plenty of undecided voters up for grabs.

There's hope among the campaigns that Santiago's exit will shift some state legislators who were in his camp — and maybe even prompt some new ones off the sidelines, particularly among the Boston delegation. State politicians often bring larger fundraising networks, which will come in handy down the line as candidates look to go up on the air. Yet some legislators indicated to me they're in no rush to endorse given the importance of the race — it'll decide who leads the state's largest city and economic driver, possibly for years to come — and the tough choice between several contenders who are familiar faces.

Santiago's also taking his time on this one. He spoke to each of the five remaining major candidates on Tuesday and plans to meet with them over the coming weeks before deciding on possible endorsements "in due time," an advisor said. But Santiago made one thing clear in a video announcing his departure from the race: "I look forward to supporting the first elected woman of color to lead Boston."

That's a not-so-subtle jab at John Barros, the city's former economic development chief who's now literally the last man standing among the five major contenders. People in Barros's camp say it's full steam ahead. But he's got a lot of ground to make up from where he currently sits at the back of the pack in polling and fundraising. His position is similar to where Santiago was situated — trailing four women who've got built-in networks from running and winning district or citywide council races multiple times before.

Santiago's base was not well-defined. His support is likely to scatter across a field in which everyone is a candidate of color and City Councilor Michelle Wu and Acting Mayor Kim Janey have emerged as frontrunners, with City Councilors Annissa Essaibi George and Andrea Campbell not far behind.

Santiago hewed more moderate in this progressive-leaning field, which could stand to benefit Essaibi George or Barros. An emergency room doctor, Santiago was a public-safety-friendly candidate, like Essaibi George. Wu and Janey both speak Spanish, which could help them appeal to some of the Latino voters Santiago was courting. Santiago also prioritized — and says he'll continue to work on — tackling the opioid crisis at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, which Campbell has called the most pressing issue facing the city.

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. The growing calls to oust Jim Lyons as chair of the state GOP aren't working — at least not yet.

The latest attempt comes from a group of 16 Republican donors that's offering to raise $1 million — if the state committee shakes up its leadership.

It's a tantalizing proposition for a cash-strapped party after weeks of very public drama. GOP Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday he hopes the state committee will address some of the "serious concerns" raised by the "loyal, generous donors" — several of whom are Baker-aligned.

Republican sources say a few people may be swayed by the offer. But they also acknowledge that's not enough to reach the two-thirds majority of state committee members needed to remove Lyons before the next chair election in 2023.

And with each knock on Lyons, the chair and his core of supporters are growing increasingly defiant. The donors had barely put their offer on the table when Lyons' allies hit back in emails and on social media, saying that most of the signatories hadn't given to the state GOP since Lyons took over in 2019 and that some had even donated to Democrats. Some Lyons supporters told me they see the pushback against him, which they regularly dismiss as coming from Baker supporters, as more of a rallying cry than a rebuke.

TODAY — Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides and Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Jim Montgomery celebrate $6.5 million in funding for the Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation and Nature Center in Adams at 11 a.m. Baker and Polito make a Destination Development Capital Program Grant Announcement at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown at 12:30 p.m.

Rep. Katherine Clark tours several local sites beginning at the future Wonderland Multimodal Connector in Revere at 9 a.m. and wrapping up at Wellington Station in Medford at 11 a.m. Rep. Seth Moulton tours infrastructure projects at 10 a.m. in Ipswich and 1 p.m. in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Janey, City Councilor Lydia Edwards, state Sen. Joe Boncore, and state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz attend the North Meadow on The Greenway groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. Campbell hosts a press conference on housing affordability at 982 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester, at 11 a.m. Janey celebrates the re-dedication of the Boston Fire Department's District 10 at 11:15 a.m. Rep. Lori Trahan and state Rep. Danielle Gregoire highlight American Rescue Plan relief for Marlborough residents with local stops. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and IBEW Local 103 members host a roundtable and press conference on worker-centered recovery at 1:45 p.m. in Dorchester. Rep. Jim McGovern and state Sen. Jo Comerford host a briefing on PFAS at 3:30 p.m. on Comerford's Facebook page. Rep. Jake Auchincloss attends the St. Mary of Carmen Society 86th Annual Festival at 7 p.m.

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

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts reports zero new coronavirus deaths for second time in less than a week," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Health officials on Tuesday reported zero new coronavirus deaths for the second time in less than a week ... the state Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 191 new cases as the average percent positivity also ticked up."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– State Sen. Joe Boncore is in negotiations with lobbying group MassBio, according to ethics and financial interest disclosures he filed with the state this week. Boncore referred to himself as a "prospective employee" who's in "discussions with a search committee concerning a position at" MassBio, according to documents reviewed by POLITICO.

The paperwork confirms at least part of what Boncore has yet to say publicly — that he's likely to become the next leader of MassBio. Boncore again did not return a call for comment.

Boncore's possible departure from the Senate would trigger a special election. The timeline of it all remains unclear, but one prospective candidate, Revere School Committee member Anthony D'Ambrosio, has already filed paperwork with the state to run for the 1st Suffolk and Middlesex seat.

– "Baker Pushes Housing And Training Spending As 'Future of Work' Report Predicts Big Shifts," by Mike Deehan, GBH News: "Gov. Charlie Baker is warning that the Massachusetts workforce may never be the same after the pandemic — and he wants lawmakers to authorize his spending plans to retrain workers and boost homeownership in the post-COVID era. A new report on the 'future of work' that Baker commissioned says the reduced demand for office real estate, along with an increase in activity in residential areas, will reshape how Massachusetts does business and could threaten the state's standing as an innovation and economic leader without government intervention."

– More: "Boston and Cambridge could see major changes as some workers never return, McKinsey report says," by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "…From its surveys of hundreds of businesses and residents in April, McKinsey found that more than one-third of local employers plan to pare back their real estate footprints over the next two years. As a result, demand for office space could drop by up to 20 percent, and commuter rail usage could fall between 15 and 50 percent from pre-pandemic levels, the report said."

– "How should Massachusetts spend ARPA funds? Lawmakers schedule 2 public hearings in July on where federal aid should go," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts lawmakers scheduled two public hearings in July so the public — and the Baker administration — can weigh in on how they should spend close to $5 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act. The Legislature's budget chiefs scheduled the first virtual hearing for July 20, a Tuesday, to review Gov. Charlie Baker's proposed $2.9 billion spending plan. The second virtual hearing is set for July 27..."

– "State urged to set rules on college sports pay," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: "Lawmakers are urging rules that allow college athletes to get paid, following a decision by the NCAA to suspend a policy keeping athletes from making money from the use of their names, images or likenesses. … [State Sen. Barry Finegold said] the state should pass a law protecting athletes and giving clarity to colleges as they figure out how to comply with the NCAA's guidelines."

– "Public Employees Press Right-to-Strike Legislation," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service (paywall): "Two of the leading progressive Democrats in the House joined with union officials, teachers and other public employees on Tuesday to push for the repeal of a state law that bans public sector workers from going on strike."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Massachusetts breakthrough coronavirus cases: 71 fully vaccinated people have died, 268 hospitalizations," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "At least 71 people who have been fully vaccinated in Massachusetts have died after testing positive for a breakthrough COVID-19 case, the Herald has learned. … As of June 19, a total of 3,907 breakthrough cases had been reported to DPH. On that date, nearly 4.1 million Bay State residents were fully vaccinated. Out of the 3,907 breakthrough infections, a total of 71 people died and 268 people were hospitalized."

FROM THE HUB

– "Boston changes up lawyers in Dennis White case," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Boston has swapped out its litigation team in the Dennis White case, bringing on a veteran former federal prosecutor as it gears up for a hearing later this month. The city and Acting Mayor Kim Janey have enlisted the services of Brian T. Kelly, a big name in Boston legal circles who's most famous for prosecuting the mobster James 'Whitey' Bulger a decade ago."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "Jon Santiago says he is ending his mayoral campaign, tightening historic field," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "An emergency room physician at Boston Medical Center, captain in the US Army Reserve, and a second-term state lawmaker, Santiago pitched himself as an experienced crisis manager well-suited to guide the city out of the pandemic as its first Latino mayor. But the 39-year-old struggled to break through a historically diverse field and beyond the South End and Roxbury neighborhoods he represents on Beacon Hill. He is the first major candidate to leave the race ahead of the Sept. 14 preliminary election, departing a field that is currently led by four women of color. ... Santiago said in a phone interview Tuesday … 'I'm a pretty pragmatic individual. It was clear that the writing was on the wall.'"

PARTY POLITICS

– "Decrying Bigotry, Donors Threaten to Cut Off Mass. GOP Without New Leadership," by Alison King, NBC 10 Boston: "'There is no room for bigotry in the Republican party of Massachusetts,' Jessica Tocco says. She is one of the 16 Massachusetts Republicans who recently signed a letter to the state committee saying they will stop contributing to the party -- they have donated $1 million combined -- unless major changes are made. … [Chair Jim Lyons], a self-described proud, pro-life conservative, said he is trying to grow the party from the grassroots and that he would like to sit down and talk to the Republicans who signed that letter, but they have not reached out to him."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "Massachusetts kicks off northern tier passenger rail study as economy recovers from COVID," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "Work is beginning on a study that could return east-west passenger service between Boston and Greenfield, North Adams and other cities on Massachusetts' northern tier. It comes as ownership of much of the railroad track and the nature of travel are in flux following COVID-19."

DAY IN COURT

– "Supreme Court Schedules Arguments On Death Penalty For Boston Marathon Bomber," by Hafsa Quraishi, WBUR: "The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on whether to reinstate the death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on Oct. 13."

DATELINE D.C.

– The White House has sent Easton Democrat and state House Majority Leader Claire Cronin's nomination as the next U.S. ambassador to Ireland to the Senate. President Joe Biden also nominated Atul Gawande , a surgeon affiliated with Harvard and Brigham and Women's Hospital who co-founded state vaccine partner CIC Health, as assistant ambassador for the Bureau of Global Health.

– The U.S. Conference of Mayors sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to take "immediate action" on the bipartisan infrastructure framework backed by Biden, POLITICO first reported. See the Massachusetts mayors who signed on. Several mayors here also signed a letter pushing climate-specific infrastructure action, POLITICO's Matthew Choi reports.

FROM THE 413

– "Police chief: Gun violence surge in Pittsfield tracked national trend; federal help hard to find," by Amanda Burke, Berkshire Eagle: "The spate of gun violence that rattled the city this spring tracked with a larger, national trend in cities across the country, Police Chief Michael Wynn said Tuesday … given its location on the outer reaches of the westernmost part of the state, it struggles to gain assistance from federal agencies."

– "'I don't want the police involved in my kids' education': A fight brews over video surveillance of students in Western Mass.," by Pranshu Verma, Boston Globe: "...the Springfield School Committee's decision — which gave police real-time access to internal and external school video starting last month — is facing pushback from privacy advocates and angry parents, whose faith in law enforcement has been eroded by a history of brutality and corruption."

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– "Sciarra leads pack in campaign donations in Northampton mayor's race," by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "City Council President Gina-Louise Sciarra is in a dominant financial position over seven other candidates who have either announced their candidacies or taken out nomination papers for mayor in November's election. Sciarra has received $20,430 in donations and has $12,016 on hand, according to the latest fundraising report from the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. To date, none of her opponents have raised a comparable amount, and several have raised nothing."

– "Sullivan's fundraising ahead of mayoral field in Holyoke," by Dusty Christensen, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "In total, Holyoke mayoral candidates have raked in $152,311 since the start of the year, according to figures from the state's Office of Campaign and Political Finance. ... At the top of that list is At-large City Councilor Michael Sullivan, who between Jan. 1 and June 30 raised $55,278, of which $20,000 came from his previous campaign account. Fellow At-large Councilor Rebecca Lisi raised $31,986 in the same time period, $7,916 of which came from her previous election fundraising. William Glidden, a writer and former aide to previous mayor Alex Morse, pulled in $31,929, all of which was raised since Feb. 5."

– "Incumbent, newcomer vie for Haverhill mayor's office," by Mike LaBella, Eagle-Tribune: "Mayor James Fiorentini has announced his plans to seek a record 10th term in office. Fiorentini is expected to face challenger Guy Cooper, a U.S. Marine veteran who has served on the Haverhill Police Department as a police patrolman since 1997."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Pressure from state officials builds for Lowell woman to kill her pet goats," by Stefan Geller and Aaron Curtis, Lowell Sun: "Crouched on the gravel driveway of Oliveira Farm as she brushed the fur of her three 6-month-old pet goats, Vilmaria Maldonado let out a deep sigh of relief. The goats that she has owned since February — named George Washington, Republican and Democrat — would live another day. … Animal Control Officers and officials from the state Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) visited the Tewksbury farm on Tuesday to pressure Maldonado, of Lowell, to kill her goats, due to their classification as 'slaughter-only' livestock."

– "'Critical Staffing Shortage' Causes Shakeup at Mass. State Police," by Ryan Kath, NBC 10 Boston: "A staffing shortage is causing a shakeup inside the Massachusetts State Police, according to an email the NBC10 Boston Investigators obtained from the leader of the agency. According to the memo, 46 veteran troopers are being pulled from their specialty units and temporarily reassigned to barracks, where they'll help patrol the streets."

– "Cornel West releases 'candid' resignation letter to Harvard dean," by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: "Cornel West, the public intellectual and activist who resigned from his teaching position at Harvard in March following what he said was the denial of his request to be considered for tenure, released the letter he sent to his dean that made the move official."

SPOTTED – Sen. Ed. Markey, Fatih Birol, Jake Levine, Varun Sivaram, Paula Stern and Dick Morningstar on Tuesday night having dinner together at Cafe Milano in Washington.

TRANSITIONS – MassLive reporter Steph Solis will join Boston Business Journal as digital editor. Tweet. Meredith A. Bailey is the 58th president of the Massachusetts Dental Society. Aisha Francis is the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology's new president, adding to her existing role as CEO.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Rick Jakious, Rep. Seth Moulton's district director, former state Attorney General Martha Coakley, who is 68, former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, who is 54, Nate Bermel and David Emil Reich.

Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.

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