News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: An election of historic firsts

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: An election of historic firsts

Sep 08, 2021

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: MICHLEWITZ BACKS WU — Aaron Michlewitz, the North End state representative who chairs the House Ways and Means committee, is endorsing City Councilor Michelle Wu in the Boston mayor's race today.

"Michelle deeply understands the issues facing our downtown neighborhoods, especially the need for affordable housing, livable communities and high-quality city services for every Bostonian," Michlewitz, whose district covers a swath of neighborhoods from the waterfront to the South End, said in a statement. "It's been a pleasure to partner with her on so many key issues, including to keep rental housing stock available in our neighborhoods. I know that with her experience and vision, she will make a strong partner in City Hall."

Michlewitz was an early backer of state Rep. Jon Santiago, who exited the race in July.

Santiago is endorsing Acting Mayor Kim Janey today, as Boston's state delegation continues to splinter behind several candidates in the race's waning weeks.

Janey is "leading Boston through the pandemic," Santiago, an emergency room doctor, said in a statement. "She is delivering results to combat the housing crisis and doing so with empathy and resolve. And she is committed to a Boston that is both equitable and just. I look forward to working with her to realize that vision for the next four years."

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Boston's historically diverse mayoral field has created some tough choices for the city's political class and voters. But it's not the only municipal contest this fall with some potential firsts in store.

Look at Boston City Council. The Boston Globe recently dove into the "wave of Black immigrant candidates" seeking council seats. Julia Mejia, who made history as the first Latina and Afro-Latina Boston city councilor in 2019, is running for reelection in the 17-person at-large race that also features Ruthzee Louijeune, the daughter of a Haitian immigrant, who is vying to be the city's first Haitian-American councilor. At-large candidate Said Abdikarim and District 4 candidate Deeqo Jibril both arrived in Boston decades ago as Somali refugees. Alex Gray would be the city's first blind councilor. The list goes on.

And it's not just Boston. North Adams Mayor Tom Bernard isn't seeking reelection, and all four candidates on the ballot to replace him are women — setting the city up for its first female mayor regardless of which two candidates advance from the Sept. 21 preliminary election. In Somerville's Sept. 14 preliminary, Will Mbah, a Cameroon native, is running to snap the streak of white Somerville mayors. Multiple candidates in Holyoke's Sept. 21 preliminary mayoral election could be the city's first Latinx mayor. And Vilma Martinez-Dominguez is running to be the first Latina mayor of Lawrence in a five-way race headed for a Sept. 21 preliminary, to name a few.

"It's a really exciting time," Rep. Ayanna Pressley told me earlier this week. "We are making great strides to realizing leadership parity, both when it comes to gender and race, and really getting closer to being a city and a commonwealth that is not just progressive in the values that we espouse, but progressive in the values that we practice."

The Barbara Lee Family Foundation is tracking several mayoral races this year in which women could achieve firsts in their cities. In Newton, Amy Mah Sangiolo, a former city councilor, is challenging the city's first female mayor, incumbent Ruthanne Fuller, in a bid to become the city's first Asian-American mayor. Yvonne Spicer, the first popularly elected Black woman mayor in Massachusetts, is running for reelection in Framingham. In Everett, Gerly Adrien, the first Black woman elected to the city council there, is challenging Mayor Carlo DeMaria.

BLFF Executive Director Amanda Hunter told me it "seems to be a continuation of a trend we really saw start in 2017 in the wake of the first women's march and the change in the culture and conversation around women running for office across the country."

The number of women, and women of color, running for office this year also serves as a "reminder of the importance of a pipeline for women" in local politics, she said. The Center for American Women and Politics estimates out of the 1,621 mayors of cities with populations over 30,000, only 25% are women. So, Hunter said, "there's still a lot of room for growth."

TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and administration officials speak at the Gloucester Biotechnology Academy ribbon cutting at 9 a.m. Polito stays in Gloucester for a small business tour. Baker attends the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. and the Edgerley Family Horizons Center ribbon cutting in Roxbury at 5 p.m.

Boston's mayoral candidates participate in a live television debate at 7 p.m. hosted by NBC10/NECN/Telemundo, the Dorchester Reporter and the Bay State Banner. Janey hosts a Neighborhood Coffee Hour at LoPresti Park in East Boston at 10:30 a.m. and gives remarks at the Omni hotel ceremony. Campbell appears on Boston 25 News at 8:30 a.m. and attends local events. Michlewitz formally endorses Wu at 11 a.m. in the North End. Santiago endorses Janey at 9:30 a.m. in the South End.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren will endorse the Coalition to Protect Workers' Rights and call on the industry-backed Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work to withdraw its ballot initiative seeking to classify app-based drivers as independent contractors at 10 a.m. at the Allston Stop and Shop. Warren also hosts a meet-and-greet at 6 p.m. at the UMass Dartmouth Amphitheater. Sen. Ed Markey hosts a press conference with NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts and the Planned Parenthood Leage of Massachusetts on abortion access at 11 a.m. outside the John Adams Courthouse. Rep. Jim McGovern hosts a roundtable examining hunger on college campuses at 11:30 a.m. Andrew Card, who served as chief of staff to former President George W. Bush, will speak about 9/11 at 4 p.m. at Framingham State University. The Train Campaign and governor candidate Ben Downing discuss his transit plan at 5 p.m. in Lee.

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

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– The gloves are coming off in the Boston mayor's race with three candidates — Janey, Essaibi George and Campbell — locked in a tight race for second place behind Wu with less than a week left before the preliminary election.

Campbell and Janey tussled Tuesday over a radio ad that the Janey-supporting Hospitality Workers independent expenditure PAC is running in opposition to Campbell.

"Andrea Campbell's campaign for mayor is supported by special interests that want to take money from our schools and give it to other schools that discriminate against kids with special needs," the male narrator intones. "Special interests versus kids with special needs. Andrea Campbell is on the wrong side."

Campbell slammed that premise as "quite laughable" given her work representing special needs students in education cases, and called on Janey to disavow the ad in a press conference.

But Janey did no such thing. Her campaign blasted out a statement saying "Andrea Campbell's entire campaign is based on negative political attacks on Mayor Janey, so it's the height of hypocrisy for her to complain about an outside group providing voters with information about her." Campbell's also dismissed the notion she's running a negative campaign by frequently criticizing the acting mayor.

– The Boston Herald's Sean Philip Cotter rounds up the clashes, while the Boston Globe's Adrian Walker writes that "everything is about to get more contentious" with two high-stakes debates beginning tonight.

– "Attack Ad Revives Charter Schools As Political Issue In Boston's Mayoral Race," by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: "Voters state-wide put a pause on charter school expansion, but the issue is making a veiled appearance in Boston's mayor's race. City Councilor Andrea Campbell, defended herself Tuesday against the race's first decisively negative radio ad, which touches on the issue and calls into question Campbell's concern for special needs students."

– "Is the Boston business community afraid of Michelle Wu? Not anymore," by Shirley Leung, Boston Globe: "...Wu has staunch supporters in Boston's business community, and they've been with her before she recently took a commanding lead in the polls."

– "Kim Janey Reflects on Her Journey From Teen Mom to Boston Mayor," by Alison King, NBC10 Boston: "Her experience sitting in the corner office at City Hall is unique in the field of candidates running for mayor — but she hopes her experience as a young person resonates with voters ahead of the Sept. 14 preliminary election."

– WATCH: Boston's mayoral candidates discuss "Defunding the Police" with the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jim Rooney.

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd has endorsed Alex Gray for Boston City Council at-large, per his campaign. "As one of the lead co-sponsors of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I am honored to endorse Alex Gray in his campaign for At-Large Boston City Council. One of the most important qualities of a great leader is to be a very good listener. Alex Gray has spent his entire career listening to others and acting to make a difference in their lives," Dodd said in a statement.

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins has endorsed Carla B. Monteiro for Boston City Council at-large, per her campaign. "I have had the pleasure of working with Carla for a number of years now, first as a former member of the Sheriff's Department and more recently as a committed, concerned civic activist," Tompkins said in a statement. "Her tenacity and focus on the critical issues of mental health, public safety, criminal justice reform and addiction recovery will serve the Boston City Council and citizens of Boston very well."

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Former state Rep. Byron Rushing has endorsed David Halbert for Boston City Council at-large, per his campaign. "David will be a city councilor we need," Rushing said in a statement. "He believes that the 'public' in our institutions — parks, libraries, schools, housing, transportation — must mean affordable access to everyone. He is committed to the work of accomplishing that."

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP

– "Salem campaigns report signs vandalized, stolen," by Dustin Luca, Salem News: "Several candidates for office this year are saying their political signs are being vandalized, stolen or swapped. Among them is Frank Perley, a candidate in the three-way mayoral race that has triggered a city-wide preliminary election Sept. 14. The race also includes four-term Mayor Kim Driscoll and Ward 7 City Councilor Steve Dibble."

FEELING '22

– "In governor's race, stark differences on early, higher ed," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "For several years the dominant conflict on Beacon Hill was how to update funding for the state's K-12 schools. Now that a new formula is in place, the next battle lines are the rest of the education system: early education and higher education. The issue is expected to be front and center in the 2022 gubernatorial race, as the three Democrats are carving out progressive platforms that would infuse huge new public subsidies into the education systems while transforming how they operate."

– "Dem candidates for governor pushing big, expensive ideas," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "Over the last 30 years, voters in Massachusetts have been remarkably consistent, electing moderate Republicans as governor to serve as a counterbalance to the Democratic-controlled Legislature. … early trendlines suggest Democrats believe a different dynamic is in play this time around."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Charlie Baker bill would allow recognition for service deaths from chemicals, mental illness," by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker believes not all service-connected injuries deserving of recognition are immediately visible — they can also be caused by exposure to harmful toxins like Agent Orange, or by sustaining mental illnesses in the field."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Massachusetts coronavirus cases up 5,484 over Labor Day weekend, hospitalizations tick down," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The four-day total of 5,484 cases — a daily average of 1,371 infections — was about the same daily rate as last weekend's average of 1,360 cases."

– "Massachusetts coronavirus breakthrough cases jump 4,415 last week," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "More than 4,000 fully vaccinated people in Massachusetts tested positive for the coronavirus last week, a daily average of more than 600 people as breakthrough infections continue to rise each week amid the delta variant."

– SHOT: "Poll shows most Boston residents support vaccine mandates in workplace, mirroring national trend," by Emma Platoff and Tonya Alanez, Boston Globe: "Vaccine mandates among employers and mask mandates in schools are widely popular in Boston, a new poll shows, a promising sign of consensus at a time when COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine rules remain highly divisive issues in other parts of the country."

– CHASER: "Nursing home owner balks at vaccine mandate," by Dave Rogers, Newburyport Daily News: "ROWLEY — The owner of a local nursing home is threatening to close his business should the state follow through with its order that all nursing home workers be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 10."

– "'I'm learning firsthand how difficult it is to be shunned by people you love.' The vaccine wars are getting personal," by Beth Teitell, Boston Globe: "At Boston Medical Center, where Katherine Gergen Barnett, a family medicine physician, sees patients tangling with relatives who don't want them to get a shot. 'It's pitting loved ones against each other,' she said."

– "Melrose Public Schools quarantines 2 classes amid COVID-19 outbreak, superintendent says," by WCVB.

– "How 'Test and Stay' aims to keep more kids in Mass. schools amid COVID this fall," by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "Upcoming federal infrastructure funds must storm-proof T system, Markey says," by Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: "Senator Ed Markey and transit advocates are urging state officials to use federal infrastructure funds to stormproof the MBTA in the wake of Hurricane Ida's downpours last week."

– "Massachusetts traffic is back. It's also different. Is it about to get worse?" by Nik DeCosta Klipa, Boston.com: "'We are expecting a surge,' Neil Boudreau, the state's assistant administrator for traffic and safety, recently told Boston.com."

– "Massachusetts highway exit renumbering complete," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "MassDOT said Tuesday that it's completed the yearlong, $2.8 million task of renumbering highway exits across the Commonwealth so they comply with federal regulations reflecting milepost, not sequential, numbering."

FROM THE DELEGATION

-- "Are two congressmen better than one? Debate heats up in Fall River ahead of new maps," by Ted Nesi, WPRI: "...some are pushing to unite all of Fall River in the 9th District next year, which would link the entire city with nearby New Bedford in Congress."

– "McGovern to host House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at Rainbow Child Center in Worcester on Thursday," by Dave Nordman, Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

FROM THE 413

– "Springfield courthouse set to reopen Thursday amid mold controversy," by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: "The trial court has tentatively set a Thursday reopening date after days of mold remediation and environmental analyses at the 55-year-old [Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse] building, which has been plagued for years by suspected environmental hazards. However, a mutiny may be afoot as members of the Hampden Bar Association and leaders of courthouse departments want to wait until they see scientific proof the building is safe for employees and the public."

– "Springfield firefighters demand COVID merit pay; Mayor Domenic Sarno calls union leadership a 'political pawn'," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Sheriff bans personal paper mail for inmates," by Paul Leighton, Salem News: "The Essex County Sheriff's Department announced Tuesday that it will no longer be accepting personal mail for inmates. Instead, letters must be sent to a company in Missouri that will open and scan the letters into a computer file. The sheriff's department will then print out the letters and deliver them to the inmates. Sheriff Kevin Coppinger said the change is needed to prevent people from sending paper letters and cards that are soaked with drugs and ingested by people in jail."

– "RFK's widow says his assassin 'should not have the opportunity to terrorize again' in statement against parole," by Paul LeBlanc, CNN: "Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, said Tuesday that her husband's assassin 'should not have the opportunity to terrorize again' after he was recommended for parole last month."

– "Mass. Renters On The South Coast Were Twice As Likely To Be Evicted, Despite Federal Moratorium," by Ben Berke, The Public's Radio: "More than 14,000 households in Massachusetts faced eviction cases in court during the pandemic. But the Southeast Housing Court — a regional jurisdiction with courthouses in Plymouth, Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford, where Duarte's case was heard — stands out as the state's toughest court for tenants during this extraordinary public health threat and the ensuing economic disruption."

– "Fallen Marine to return to Lawrence on 9-11," by Jill Harmacinski, Eagle-Tribune: "The body of slain Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosario, 25, will be returned to the city early Saturday afternoon."

– "'A very important day for UMass': $175 million gift will propel medical school to level with elite global institutions," by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com.

SPOTTED – Boston City Council District 7 candidate Angelina "Angie" Camacho was also at the Greater Boston Labor Council's Labor Day events in Copley Square.

TRANSITIONS – Philip Duffy has been tapped as climate science adviser for the White House. Link. Former interim Sen. Mo Cowan is leaving General Electric to join the executive team at Devoted Health in October. Link. Kathryn "Katie" Donovan has joined Ligris + Associates' residential real estate team.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Jess Tocco of A10 Associates, Lenore Cho and Andrei Berman.

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