As we noted earlier, Somerville Alderman Dennis Sullivan has announced his intention to run for Jarrett Barrios’s Senate seat, but existing news reports were unclear as to whether he was running as a Democrat, Republican, or independent.
So I emailed him for clarification, and also to inquire whether Anthony Galluccio’s legal difficulties had anything to do with his decision to run. Here is his reply:
David,
Thank you for your questions. I am running as a Democrat. Many people have urged me to consider running for Senate since Senator Barrios announced for DA. My experience includes 3 terms on the Somerville School Committee and I am currently in my second term as Alderman. I am seeking the Senate seat to continue the excellent leadership we have at the State House.
So it’s official: there will be an actual primary race for Barrios’s Senate seat. Thank goodness.
On a side note, I got a mailing from the Galluccio campaign a couple of days ago, and was unimpressed. It was 100% biography (His father came from Italy. He worked hard. etc.). Could’ve been Sam Alito. Nothing at all of substance, except for a URL to the campaign website. So I went to the website and it’s still under construction.
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Very glad there will be a real race!
The seat is his to win, unless they throw him into jail. The people of Cambridge love his record as mayor and city councilor and his very direct hands on approach to governance. He is just as progressive as Majorie Decker was on the issues of the day, abortion, gay marriage, etc. though his constiuents are certainly more “conservative” than hers. Again conservative for Cambridge just means that tax dollars go to schools instead of Peace Commissions. Plus Decker’s biggest career move was when she boldly challenged the Army’s birthday celebration on the Common and it rightfully backfired in her face. I dont know about the opposition but like I said if the voters in this state re-elected Teddy they could certainly re-elect Gallucio. Its time people started actually reviewing his positions instead of digging up mistakes he made in 1987 when he was 19!
If it was you or I, we’d be currently facing an oui 3rd, which equals 6 months in jail. The most recent alleged oui was just 3 months ago, I didn’t know Anthony was just 19 years of age then!
As this post is about Dennis Sullivan, I will try to stay on topic. I am excited to see that there is someone from my district is running for a Senator Barrios’ seat. That being said, I still know very little about Mr. Sullivan including his positions on a varity of issues facing our Commonwealth. Anouncing your candidacy before you have a website up and running is not a good political strategy, especially as his site still announces his last Alderman win.
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Moreover, we all know that Galluccio is a politics as usual kind of guy. He is going to make deals and he is a Bulgerstyle democrat, however, I don’t know if Sullivan is any different. Addidtionally, in a district that has a large portion of minorities it would be nice to see someone other than, in the words of Mayor Menino, “sliced white bread.”
I donât know much about Sullivan, but he did take a rather curious step and endorsed Pat Jehlenâs Republican opponent for state senate. I know heâs says heâs running as a Democrat, but Iâm not sure what supporting a Republican for state senate says about his loyalty to the Democratic Party, particularly our progressive wing and a strong champion such as Pat. My first take on Sullivan: I have serious doubts.
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Also, I love 2.5 cats ridiculous attempt trying to link Galuccio to Alito. Nothinâ like some good olâ fashioned prejudicial innuendo about Italians. Iâm sure Galuccioâs a cousin of John Gotti too? The guy has been pro-choice and has been recognized by NOW for his work. Heâs a progressive politician, albeit one with a questionable current legal situation, with the most liberal of positions. Crappy campaign literature, his current legal situation and your childish insinuations aside, thereâs a very good chance heâs going to be your senator. Like him or hate him, you should get used to him.
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The fact of the matter is the only way Galluch is losing this seat is if (1) He is convicted of drunk driving or (2) Jarrett Barrios drops out of the DAâs race and runs for the Senate. Galuch would have no choice but to back out. But itâs his race to lose.
Being a progressive is more than merely supporting education, believing in abortion, or saying that affordable housing is a problem in Massachusetts. Lots of state politicians accept these “liberal” ideals but that does not make them progressive. Simply, it makes them Massachusetts politicians.
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Progressive is more than ideals, it is about the way politicians conduct their business. A progressive politician is defined by how they interact with the people, and how they engage as politcians. Progressive politicians seek to engage the populous, maintaining open and transparent records, committing to principled if politically unpopular actions, and above all bahaving in princpled manner.
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To be a progressive it is essential that a politician abandon the traditional old boy patronage and tit-for-tat behavior. Progressive politicians beleive in politics not pork, understand that tough decisions have to be made and that it is not about how much you “bring home.”
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This is not Mr. Galuccio. He is a “you wash my back and I’ll wash yours politician.” You cannot begin to classify him as a progressive without doing violence to those politicians who truly are progressive.
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Mr. Goodie is probably correct that “tâs his[Galuch’s] race to lose,” but to classify him as a progressive is simply wrong. An official who contends that he’s entitled to special treatment when being investigated for drunk driving is not a progressive and does not belong in the Senate, he belongs in AA.
…which for you, is that you clearly hate Galuccio. Do you feel better now that you got that off your chest?
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Please provide us with some evidence (i.e. LINKS) that prove show that he is “you wash my back and I’ll wash yours politician,” “believes in pork,” etc. We need examples if you are going to toss out venom like this.
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While he is being investigated on allegations on drunk driving, when has he “contended that he’s entitled to special treatment when being investigated for drunk driving?” Examples please? If he ends up being convicted and continues to run, well, that’s another story and I’ll be right there with you opposing the guy.
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If you’re going to post these insinuations, please be responsible and have some courtesy for the rest of us and back up your statements with facts. He looks like the progressive candidate to me in this race until I am shown evidence otherwise.
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Back on topic, does anyone have any other information on Sullivan besides he supported a Republican colleague over Pat Jehlen? Where does he stand on the issues? Is he worth supporting?
I just wonder where that definition of “progressive” comes from. I can see John McCain fitting into that definition of “progressive” but he’s not my idea of a progressive. I think issues are a whole lot more important than process, so in my book Gooch rates as a progressive.
To me Teddy Roosevelt was a Progressive politician even if he wasnt liberal, there were and still are many Progressive Republicans and to me progressive and liberal have become inappropriate synonoums as of late. A Progressive is someone who believes that people should have the ultimate say in their government, someone who listens to local concerns, and someone who stands up for what the people want and for what is the right thing to do both morally and politically. A progressive shows political courage and doesnt shy away from a fight, Majorie Decker to me is the typical grandstanding politician who did not have the courage to run and has not actually done much for the people that elected her. Galluccio is far more progressive and for open government than any of his opponents all of whom took the ‘political courage’ to run only after Gallucio was accused of a felony by a local paper.
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Additionally he is for open government by supporting an elected mayor, something none of the other city councilors support. He wants the voters to decide whether or not to keep the ridiculous PR system, and he wants them to have more power. Galluccio is the most popular politician in the most liberal city not just because he is a liberal but because he is accessible, its easy to reach him, and on a host of local issues he can get things done.
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The football team needs a better field, people demand it, it gets built. The local streets need fixing, schools need improvement, etc. isnt a good politician one who responds to the needs of constituents? Who is better John Kerry who voted for a war most of his constiuents opposed or Anthony Galluccio who consistently delivers on his campaign promises? Since when does actually delivering on your promises and meeting the needs of a constituency equal vote buying?
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This is a minor character assasination issue, the only proof we have is the word of his accusers and you need more evidence than that to convict. Even more importantly the only thing people on this site are complaining about is the drunk driving, their other charges that hes conservative or not progressive arent sticking so their throwing what little baseless things they have left. Politicians are flawed, the heroes that Kerry, Clinton, and Kennedy were made out to be by the left are in many respects flawed human beings, it doesnt make them bad public servants and people should look at the record and the issues.
Why do you call the PR system “ridiculous”? I’ll be the first to admit that it has some flaws, namely (a) it makes the ballot a tad unwieldy and (b) it’s a little difficult to comprehend… but I think it results in better results than would be obtained by partitioning Cambridge into nine districts and electing a council member from each district.
I don’t yet know where Sullivan stands on the issues and until I do, character debates notwithstanding, I’d rather have someone who holds the same positions I do on the issues I care about.