Warren Tolman and I haven’t always agreed.
In 1990, Warren beat one of my friends to win a seat in the State House and as a legislator, he quickly developed a reputation as a pain. I wasn’t surprised that the Boston Globe nicknamed him Mr. Ethics Pain-in-the-(you know what). He was always bucking the establishment – whether it was charging hard on campaign finance reform or standing up to the leadership. But during my years with Warren Tolman in the State House, I came to admire him as someone who was always willing to stand up for the values we believed in.
Now, as Warren runs for Attorney General, I’m proud to endorse him to be the leader of the People’s Law Firm. Warren is willing take a stand for our principles and Warren never backs away from the tough issues.
Whether it’s taking on Big Tobacco or driving campaign finance and ethics reform, Warren has been a leader. He has proven he will step forward and confront the tough problems and we can count on Warren when he pledges to hold colleges accountable for taking action on campus sexual assault, or promises to create a first-of-its-kind Office on Violence Against Women to address domestic violence.
Warren Tolman is the best candidate to take on the NRA and he will carry out his plan of requiring smart gun technology on all new firearms. Especially when people say taking on the NRA can’t be done, I’m confident Warren will deliver to protect our communities and keep us safer. I spoke about the importance of smart gun technology during my 2002 gubernatorial campaign and we’re still trying to get it done 12 years later. Massachusetts can depend on Warren Tolman to stand up and fight so that smart gun technology is a reality in our Commonwealth.
One of the jobs that I have held since leaving public office was working as a consumer advocate, reporting stories for the evening news. I interviewed hundreds of residents who were scammed and ripped off in big and little ways. Warren shares my commitment to our families, students, homeowners and retirees. He will look out for us and be a resource and an advocate for consumers when a car dealership rips off a buyer or a contractor skips out with a deposit before finishing a job. The Attorney General’s Office has wide authority to protect consumers and Warren Tolman is best candidate to exercise those powers on behalf of Massachusetts families.
When he sees an injustice, Warren Tolman will run through walls to make things happen. That’s how he beat Big Tobacco with his tobacco disclosure legislation. With Warren Tolman as Attorney General, we will get a tough, diligent Attorney General who will fight for every one of us.
JimC says
jconway says
He was the author if our clean elections law which the voters overwhelmingly approved of and the legislature failed to enact. His following the limits of the proposal contributed to his loss to Shannon O’Brien in that election. He also shepherded some of the strictest anti-tobacco laws in the country and is committed to curbing candy and e-cigarettes which are the latest ways Big Tobacco tries to skirt the law and lure younger customers.
JimC says
What do you mean that he shepherded them? He cosponsored them?
Clean Election was not sold well. Not his fault, but not great leadership either.
David says
it was not sold well? It passed like 2-1 at the ballot – an unusually large margin.
JimC says
… which would imply that the shepherd failed to sell it to his fellow legislators.
David says
and, in fact, they repealed it a couple years after the voters approved it. Clean elections laws are a huge threat to incumbents. It hardly seems fair to ascribe the fact that the legislature didn’t go along with it to Tolman.
JimC says
So I asked.
As I’ve noted on a previous diary about a different candidate, if you’re going to claim to be a leader on something, it helps if you succeed.
johnk says
when the lege didn’t fund it, he was the plaintiff on the state supreme court case to force the lege into action. You can still vote for whomever you want, it doesn’t mean you can make things up.
JimC says
I have not “made up” anything.
JimC says
OK, he was the acknowledged leader. I’m not denying that.
But where does the law stand now? What work did he do it, AFTER he was in a position to benefit from it? How did his example inspire others to keep up the fight?
I wouldn’t normally ask these questions. But he’s running again, and claiming the mantle of leadership, so here we are.
johnk says
so, I do think it’s fair to ask questions. What has he done over the past decade. How does that jibe with his past political career. I’m asking myself that same question. But, I’ll admit I was a huge supporter in the past.
David says
Is that true? It was enacted via a voter initiative – not sure that Tolman was involved in drafting it. Certainly, though, he was a big supporter in the legislature, and put his money where his mouth was (so to speak) by running for Governor as a clean elections candidate, ultimately winning a lawsuit in the Supreme Judicial Court to force the legislature to deliver the promised campaign funds.
jconway says
To answer JimC, he was the lead sponsor of the Big Tobacco Disclosures act which was the toughest requirement in the country for listing all ingredients on a pack and disclosing fully their adverse health effects. Regarding the Clean Elections Law, ‘lead sponsor’ or ‘public face’ might’ve been a better term than ‘author’. I do know that it’s been his signature issue throughout his political career and one he is going to dedicate this office to if he gets elected. He also has detailed plans for taking on the NRA, backing restorative justice programs, fighting climate change, and protecting consumers.
And now that he has divested entirely from the gaming industry, hopefully that snafu can be put behind him as well and we can focus on his record on the issues. I am a committed supporter, but I also think his website has some of the most detailed plans of action and vision for what he wants to do with this office of any statewide candidate outside the Governor’s race.
bennett says
I would like to see the filings. I would like to see if his name is off the patents.
He talks transparency. Where is the transparency?
Christopher says
It’s not his job to prove a Globe article is completely accurate. If anything the burden is on the accuser. I also think taking names off patents is unreasonable. If you helped invent something would you want to lose the credit for your work?
bennett says
They can be bought and sold. The Globe article says he divested from one company Fast Strike Games. We don’t know what else he owns. He didn’t fess up to this one until he was called on it in the original story. He has twelve years of business dealings to account for before I will believe he is “divested entirely”.
BTW, I would like to know what his contribution was to gain that patent. You all seem to be so keen on him, why doesn’t he speak for himself?
Christopher says
…and he has the right to sell or not his share of the patent rights as he sees fit. If anything I think it is more transparent for him to keep his name on the patents for all to see. Meanwhile, you need to provide evidence that he is shady if you are making the accusation. I would welcome his speaking for himself – your attitude, not so much.
bennett says
He should be speaking for himself. The evidence is that he pulled himself off the website as soon as the Globe called him about Fast Strike Games. He said he would sell “IF” he was elected. Now because he is asked about it all the time he says, he has sold his interest for $1. All I want is for him to come clean. Release the documents of the sale of whatever he sold, of the whole company formation, what they promised investors as returns. This has got to be way above the smell test. And right now, sorry christopher. But it is still smelling. You can hold your nose all you want. But he should be more forthcoming.
evertalen says
Asking for candidates to provide legal documents to substantiate every public claim? I bet you wanted to see Barack’s birth certificate too.
JimC says
But personally I don’t think a campaign would lie about this. It’s not that hard to check, if a reporter decides to.
bennett says
If he hasn’t then, he is not divested entirely from the gaming industry.
demeter11 says
And I believe we all should know about this hedge fund and his role in it. Needless to say internet tracks are gone. Is this a pattern?
Christopher says
I didn’t realize Rubin was working for him. I figured Rubin would have enough on his plate with Coakley. How does hiring Rubin equate with divesting from the gaming industry? Does Rubin consult for that industry? If so do you really think it is appropriate to hold one client responsible for other clients of a service provider? Do you have a lawyer? If so should we hold you responsible for that lawyer’s other clients? What about other patients of your doctor?
David says
Yes.
The complication arises in the not-hard-to-imagine situation where a political client with a broad portfolio (e.g., a candidate for Governor) wants to take a position that is contrary to the financial interests of another of his/her advisor’s clients. One can imagine that if Coakley were the anti-casino candidate and were constantly talking about how evil they are, that could prove awkward for Rubin.