According to the Globe and reported to me by the inestimable Robert Winters, City Councilor Leland Cheung of Cambridge is taking the plunge for the LG race He may already have the support of Mike Ross.
Advisers to Cheung said they had spoken with top aides to Democratic candidates for governor about the possibility of teaming Cheung with their candidates.
“There is a need on the Democratic ticket for someone who is forward thinking with real-world experience who can help our party win in November,” Cheung said in a statement provided to the Globe. “I have talked it over with my wife Yin, and I will be making my decision in the next few weeks.”
Cheung has scored the highest vote total during the last two elections in Cambridge. He has degrees from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and MIT’s Sloan School, and has served on the executive committee of the state Democratic Party.
Former Boston city councilor and mayoral candidate Michael Ross said he got to know Cheung while organizing joint council meetings between the two cities, and agreed with him on job growth and economic development policies.
“He and I see eye to eye in those areas. I think he’s a pro-business Democrat, a pro-business progressive,” Ross said.
– See more at: http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2014/01/14/cambridge-councilor-eyes-bid-for-lieutenant-governor/GyN3HTyj3syKZ05xIt30oI/story.html#sthash.UiNyhNJZ.dpuf
Teaming up didn’t work so well for Marie St. Fleur. I wonder who he has been talking to. Kayyem is also Cambridge based, and they share many of the same supporters in that community, but it seems it would be too similar of a ticket. Grossman is another potential fit. It seems less likely to me that Coakley or Berwick would’ve reached out like this-but who knows. Teaming up in the primary is also risky for the LG nominee, since they may end up on a ticket with someone else even if they do win.
He enters with a slight money disadvantage to Lake and Kerrigan, particularly the latter, while Lake has racked up some key early endorsements including some labor unions and Gov. Dukakis. That said, this definitely seems like a wide open race and one David Bernstein predicted would draw more high profile candidates as it went on.
Having been somewhat absent from the scene directly for the last 6 years I have not been around to witness the rise of Cheung. Some may have apprehensions since he once ran as a Republican and is a former venture capitalist, but his record on the Council was relatively progressive while also being collaborative between the different factions and cliques that had formed. He also recently lost a bid for Mayor (elected within the Council) many had thought he had a lock on,so this may be related to that. Another former Cambridge City Councilor and Mayor, Michael Sullivan, is running for DA. This could be the year for a lot of ambitious Cantab pols.
My support is still with Mike Lake, though I wish Councilor Cheung the best of luck and would support him if he wins.
Christopher says
…leads to a CNN story about marriage equality in OK.
I know him a little bit through Young Dems, but did not realize he was once a Republican. He does seem pretty progressive from what I know of him. I too support Lake and agree with you that pre-ticketing is not a good idea. It is my understanding that the deadline to inform the party chair of your candidacy is February 2nd, so he only has about 2.5 weeks to decide.
jconway says
Thanks for pointing it out Christopher
JimC says
Lots of none officeholders have run for LG, so I see no issue with a city councilor running.