News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: NEW INTERNAL POLL in Boston mayor’s race — Ed board to MULL MASKS — HEALEY says BAKER’s vax mandate ‘absolutely legal’

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: NEW INTERNAL POLL in Boston mayor’s race — Ed board to MULL MASKS — HEALEY says BAKER’s vax mandate ‘absolutely legal’

Aug 24, 2021

SCOOP: NEW INTERNAL POLL IN BOSTON MAYOR'S RACE — City Councilor Michelle Wu is leading the Boston mayor's race by a sizable margin, with Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey and City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George tied for second place, according to an internal polling memo from Essaibi George's campaign reviewed by POLITICO.

Wu is at 27% in the poll, which was conducted for Essaibi George's team by Change Research from Aug. 16-21. Janey and Essaibi George were tied at 15%, followed by City Councilor Andrea Campbell at 10% and former city economic development chief John Barros at 5%. Nearly a quarter of those surveyed remain undecided with just three weeks left until the preliminary election. Change Research surveyed 600 registered voters and the poll's margin of error was +/- 3.9%, Essaibi George's campaign confirmed.

Essaibi George's campaign wrote in its memo that the current survey slightly oversampled progressive and liberal voters compared to the team's previous internal polls, and slightly undersampled moderate and conservative voters. "For this reason, we believe that Michelle's numbers here are slightly inflated and Annissa's are actually higher in reality," campaign manager Cam Charbonnier wrote.

Janey is down 9% from the campaign's poll in July, in which she was in first place, according to the memo. Charbonnier posits that the acting mayor is losing support to Wu, not Campbell, who he wrote "is not making gains."

Look back at the last public poll in the race, the Suffolk/Boston Globe survey from late June, for some context: Wu led with 23%, followed by Janey with 22%, Essaibi George with 14%, Campbell with 11% and Barros with 2%. State Rep. Jon Santiago was still in the race at that point and got 5%.

Take this all with a grain of salt. The internal memo didn't include the poll's crosstabs, which the campaign declined to release, so there's plenty of information left unknown.

But it offers a snapshot — at least through the lens of Essaibi George's campaign — of a race that's been publicly devoid of such data for almost two months. And it may give Boston's political class, which has been hankering for a poll, at least some indication of where the field stands after a particularly contentious few weeks in which the candidates clashed over vaccine and mask mandates and Janey and Essaibi George weathered bouts of bad press.

One takeaway from the limited information: A sizable chunk of voters are still undecided. As they make up their minds, it could lead to more fluctuations in the field ahead of the Sept. 14 preliminary election, from which two candidates will advance. All five major candidates are up on the air now, which could also move the needle. But for now it appears Wu still has a decent shot at one of the top spots. It also looks like Emerson College is polling in the mayor's race, according to screenshots of links to the survey from two sources. Emerson pollsters didn't respond last night.

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

TODAY — GOP MA09 congressional candidate Jesse Brown hosts a press call with an Afghan National Army veteran in hiding from the Taliban at 9 a.m. Sen. Ed Markey talks infrastructure and visits the Herring River restoration project in Wellfleet at 1 p.m. and tours Coast Guard Beach in Eastham at 2:15 p.m. Sen. Elizabeth Warren hosts a meet-and-greet in Newburyport at 6 p.m. at the Custom House Maritime Museum. Boston mayoral and city council candidates join local community groups and MIT researchers for the launch of "Real Talk for Change" a project that aims connect the "under-heard" with decision-makers through "facilitated listening" conversations, 11 a.m., Madison Park High School. Barros participates in a conversation with Boston Alphas at Fort Hill Bar & Grill at 2:30 p.m. Campbell is a guest on Politica Entre Amigos at 7 p.m.

JOIN TODAY FOR A PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW WITH REP. DAN CRENSHAW: As the Biden administration grapples with the fallout from the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade and Eugene Daniels will dissect the latest with Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), a former Navy SEAL who deployed five times overseas, including in Afghanistan. Crenshaw will discuss the precarious situation, drawing from his own experience, and detail what he thinks should happen in the coming days, weeks, and months. REGISTER HERE.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts coronavirus cases spike 3,335 over the weekend, hospitalizations keep climbing," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The daily average of cases is now 1,013, which compares to the record-low daily average of 64 cases in late June. The 3,335 new cases over the weekend was 339 more infections than last weekend's report."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Campus Surveys To Launch Higher Ed Racial Equity Plan," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service (paywall): "State higher education officials are working to develop a 10-year strategic plan setting racial equity goals and objectives, with a survey of students, faculty and staff across public colleges and universities coming this fall as an early step in the process."

– Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards isn't officially running for state Senate yet, but she's already dropping literature for her likely campaign. Edwards plans to run for the 1st Suffolk and Middlesex seat if state Sen. Joe Boncore leaves for MassBio as expected. Literature started popping up in parts of East Boston, where Edwards lives, over the weekend, per a source. Eastie is also home to one of Edwards' potential competitors in the race, state Rep. Adrian Madaro. The district spans parts of Boston and Cambridge as well as Revere and Winthrop. Revere School Committee member Anthony D'Ambrosio is also running in the not-yet-declared special election.

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Massachusetts students might be required to wear masks in September. Here's what to know," by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: "The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is slated to vote Tuesday to determine whether Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley should have the authority to issue the mandate."

– "Union demands may reshape Baker's COVID vaccine mandate," by Felice J. Freyer, Boston Globe: "When Governor Charlie Baker on Thursday announced that 42,000 state workers would be required to get COVID-19 vaccines, their union leaders reacted with strong but widely divergent opinions. Human service workers enthusiastically embraced the new rule. Correctional officers and others threatened legal action to block it. But ultimately, the battle over vaccine mandates will be waged at the bargaining table, with unions on both sides of the divide seeking similar provisions."

– "AG Maura Healey Upholds Baker's Vaccine Mandate: 'It's Absolutely Legal In My View'," by Zoe Mathews: "Attorney General Maura Healey upheld Gov. Charlie Baker's decision to require proof of vaccination for state workers in an appearance on Boston Public Radio Monday. Baker's announcement last week — requiring vaccination for all executive department employees — has already garnered threats of legal action from correctional officers and other groups. 'It's the right move,' Healey said. 'In terms of legality, it's absolutely legal in my view.'"

– "After full FDA approval for Pfizer COVID vaccine, Massachusetts lawmakers remind residents 'we have a way out' of pandemic," by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: "Members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation jumped at the opportunity to urge Americans to roll up their sleeves for a COVID-19 vaccine after the Food and Drug Administration's full approval of the Pfizer shot for anyone 16 and older on Monday."

– "A Harvard professor predicted COVID disinformation on the web. Here's what may be coming next," by Pranshu Verma, Boston Globe: "[Joan Donovan] was one of the first researchers to predict medical disinformation would upend the fight against COVID. … Now, she has a broader warning: If Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media companies don't change their algorithms, any number of recent lies spreading online could take hold in the next few months and threaten the national discourse around the pandemic recovery, climate change, and racial inequality."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Boston state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, the House Ways and Means Chair, has endorsed Ruthzee Louijeune for Boston City Council at-large. "Ruthzee's work and life experience make her uniquely qualified to be a City Councilor At-Large. Her energy and fresh perspective make her ready to get to work on day one," Michlewitz said in a statement through the campaign.

– "Ruthzee Louijeune releases TV ad, in rare move for a Boston city council candidate," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "In a rare move for a Boston city council candidate, the campaign for at-large hopeful Ruthzee Louijeune has released a television ad that will air in the 3-week run-up to the Sept. 14 preliminary election, a move that could help her break through to voters in a race that has been largely overshadowed by the high-profile mayoral contest."

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "I've never let my blindness define me, but it has shaped who I am as a person." That's the message behind Boston City Council at-large candidate Alex Gray's new digital ads launching today in a buy that extends across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, per his campaign. The long version of the video opens in near-darkness — "you are seeing exactly what I see," says Gray, who would be the first blind city councilor in Boston's history if elected — before turning to more traditional political ad fare. Joe Sabia, a friend from Gray's Boston College days and a video producer and celebrity interviewer who launched Vogue's popular "73 Questions With" series, volunteered to create the ads.

– Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins has endorsed Angelina "Angie" Camacho for Boston City Council District 7, per her campaign, saying in a statement that Camacho "is a powerful advocate for economic empowerment and well-paying, sustainable employment; truly affordable housing; social and economic justice; and a renewed focus on quality education — all things that not only play a critical role in the prevention of incarceration and recidivism, but the health and safety of our communities as a whole."

BALLOT BATTLES

– "Healey says her lawsuit against Uber and Lyft 'has nothing to do with' pending decision on tech-backed ballot question," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "By the end of this month, the office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey must determine the constitutionality of a proposed ballot question that would allow Uber, Lyft, Instacart and DoorDash to continue classifying their drivers and deliverers as independent contractors, not employees, while granting the workers some new benefits … their colleagues elsewhere in the agency are busy suing some of the very same companies, saying they are violating state law by denying workers benefits to which they are entitled. But those are 'separate analyses that can be done independent and separately,' Healey said Monday morning during an appearance on GBH News' 'Boston Public Radio.'"

FEELING '22

– NEW THIS MORNING: Haverhill state Rep. Andy Vargas is running for the 1st Essex District state Senate seat being vacated by Methuen state Sen. Diana DiZoglio, who's running for state auditor.

Vargas is launching his campaign with a slew of local endorsements, including from Democratic state Reps. Christina Minicucci of North Andover, Third Division Chair Frank Moran of Lawrence, Tram Nguyen of Andover and state Sen. Barry Finegold of Andover. Other Beacon Hill endorsements include Democratic state Sens. Brendan Crighton of Lynn, Julian Cyr of Truro, Adam Gomez of Springfield and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Sal DiDomenico of Everett.

Some first in Playbook details: Vargas's campaign advisors include fundraiser Annie Schreiber; Liberty Square Group president Scott Ferson; Danny O'Halloran, who managed Vargas's 2015 city council campaign; political strategist Luisa Peña Lyons; direct mail and messaging strategist Sean Sinclair and Felix Gomez of Vessel Vision Productions.

DAY IN COURT

– "Lawyers On Both Sides Recommend Sanctions For 3 Ex-Assistant AGs In Drug Lab Scandal," by Deborah Becker, WBUR: "Lawyers for Kris Foster, Anne Kaczmarek and John Verner recommended their clients face some sanctions for their roles in the highly-publicized scandal, including public reprimands or even short-term suspensions of their law licenses."

– "Civil rights suit filed against Tisbury PD alleging gender, sexual orientation discrimination," by Jessica Hill, Cape Cod Times: "A Westwood woman, who applied unsuccessfully for a position with the Tisbury Police Department, filed a federal lawsuit last month alleging the town of Tisbury and others discriminated against her because of her gender and sexual orientation."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "50 years of Red Line 'changed and saved' Quincy," by Joe Difazio, Patriot Ledger: "The railway laid the foundation for Quincy's recent housing boom and helped save the city from stagnation."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– Rep. Jim McGovern set off a short-lived stir yesterday when he attempted to "wax philosophical" during a House Rules Committee meeting but instead seemed to hint at his retirement, saying: "I don't know how many more years I'm going to be doing this, but the bottom line is whatever time I have here, I want to fight for those who struggle."

After some eyes emojis on Twitter and some frantic texts from his staff, McGovern quickly set the record straight.

"To your disappointment," he joked to his colleagues. "I'm going nowhere and I intend to be chairman of this committee for a very, very long time."

McGovern's 2nd Congressional District is likely to change during redistricting, but there's no shortage of Democrats who might run to replace him when the time comes. For what it's worth, GOP Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito currently lives in the district, as does former Democratic Lt. Gov. Tim Murray.

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

– "'Pot City': Could Taunton become a hothouse for weed delivery?" by Chris Helms, Taunton Daily Gazette: "Taunton may be becoming a hothouse for marijuana delivery companies like Blazin' D's. It makes sense, given three advantages the Silver City enjoys: easy access to major roads, solid infrastructure for warehouses and short distances to customers in Boston, Providence and on the Cape. The city is already home to the state's first recreational marijuana delivery company, Freshly Baked."

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– "Meet the candidates for mayor: Six battling for Gloucester's executive office," by Taylor Ann Bradford, Gloucester Times: "The city clerk confirmed that six Gloucester residents have made their way onto this September's preliminary election ballot for mayor: Francisco Sclafani, Greg Verga, John Harvey Jr., Brian Pollard, Robert Russell, and incumbent Sefatia Romeo Theken."

– "Agawam businessman Charles Alvanos makes mayoral bid official, will challenge incumbent Mayor William Sapelli," by Stephanie Barry, MassLive.com: "Retired U.S. Marine and financial planner Charles Alvanos never met a battle he didn't like, and now he's made his bid for the mayor's seat official. Alvanos, 73, of Anvil Street, made a formal announcement on Monday following unofficial verbal overtures to run for the seat over the past few months."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "'We see ourselves as the reflections of other people there': Local Afghans ache as chaos engulfs nation," by Ivy Scott and Tonya Alanez, Boston Globe: "A Boston neurosurgeon procuring medical supplies for Afghanistan amid memories of his own harried escape decades ago. The Duxbury founder of a girls' school losing sleep as she prays for the continued safety of her staff and students. And a Newton architect marshaling funds for refugees from the torn land."

– "UMass Memorial Health buys former Beaumont Nursing Center property for $23.5M to expand Worcester presence, bolster capacity amid bed shortage," by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: "UMass Memorial Health is expanding its footprint with the $23.5 million purchase of a Worcester property that could bolster capacity by up to six dozen beds amid a shortage hitting the region."

– "Three tornadoes touch down in Massachusetts, weather service says," by Martin Finucane and Amanda Kaufman, Boston Globe: "The tornadoes were reported in Marlborough, Stow, and Bolton, and they left fallen trees and power outages in their paths. No injuries have been reported from any of the incidents."

– "Boston Dynamics's humanoid robot Atlas mastered a parkour track. But like a human, it took plenty of practice," by Mia McCarthy, Boston.com.

– IN MEMORIAM: "Jimmy Hayes, former Bruin and Boston College hockey champion, dies at 31," by Matt Porter and John R. Ellement, Boston Globe.

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

– "New Hampshire Town Loses $2.3M in Taxpayer Money to Cyberattack," by Marc Fortier, NBC10 Boston: "'It pains us to inform the residents and taxpayers of Peterborough that, like so many other towns and cities, we have fallen victim to an internet-based crime that has defrauded our taxpayers of $2.3m,' Select Board Chairman Tyler Ward and Town Administrator Nicole MacStay said in a press release posted to Facebook."

TRANSITIONS – Paul Hernandez, an Aspen Rising President's Fellow and vice president for academic and student affairs at Mount Wachusett Community College in Massachusetts, has joined Achieving the Dream as a senior advisor to President Karen A. Stout.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY – to all who celebrate Gumdrop Day. Five years ago today, Massachusetts met #mapoliwithanimals star Gumdrop, the pitbull-type puppy who became the (adorable) face of the pet protection bill that allows first responders and civilians to break a car window to rescue an animal from extreme temperatures. Gumdrop fan Katie Lannan of State House News Service has more.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Lawrence Bacow, Emily Cherniack and Sarah Heinonen.

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