Thanks to alert reader Greg for noting this Cambridge Chronicle article in which Anthony Galluccio is quoted as saying that he’s “still a candidate for state Senate” despite Jarrett Barrios’s decision to drop out of the Middlesex DA race and seek reelection to the Senate instead.
The article also reports that Somerville alderman Dennis Sullivan, who recently announced he was running for the seat, has now decided against a run in light of Barrios’s decision; Sullivan said that he will back Barrios. No official word so far on whether Democrats Stephen Winslow of Malden or Brian Smith of Charlestown, or independent David Cleveland, all of whom previously said they would run, are staying in to challenge Barrios as well as Galluccio.
My guess: Winslow and Smith will not pursue their candidacies now that Barrios is back in the race; they will follow Sullivan’s lead and back Barrios instead. Cleveland, who was never planning to run in the Democratic primary but only in the general as an independent, may or may not stay in, but won’t be a factor. And if Galluccio is charged with drunk driving on April 28, I just don’t see how he can make a credible run against Barrios, so he will drop out too if that happens. If he’s not charged, however, there’s no reason he wouldn’t stay in (other than the fact that he will almost certainly lose anyway).
I saw Steve Winslow at a Somerville Community Path meeting last night, and asked him about the Senate race. It’s likely he’ll withdraw soon.
Though Galluccio lost the first time around if he beats the drunk driving charges he can make inroads in non Cambridge communities like Charlestown, Everett, and other places in his district that have more socially conservative blue collar populations. Also his record as a city councilor can pull him through. I do have a pro Galluccio bias though, people will see that Barrios was an oppurtunist since he realized he couldnt become DA so he’ll run for re-election to jump ship in the next state cycle four years down the road, maybe for DA again if Leone doesnt deliver or for one of the statewide races. That man is pure ambition and while he is a nice man and a good senator he doesnt have the same committment to public service that Galluccio has.
that’s a mighty big “if.”
If campaign finance supporter Barrios (until he realized he could only win elective office by raising money for him & the wizard to spin stuff)gives back the money he raised for the DA’s race AND Galluch beats the rap, which he will, and raises some dough to be competitive, the liberal puddy cat has a primary fight on his hands. Any comments on why Barrios is not giving back all the money he raised for a race he realized he couldn’t win? I mean it’s the right thing to give it back, right? Any supporters of the liberal puddy cat want to offer their spin on why he should keep hundreds of thousands of dollars for a race he is not now in?
I’m sorry, but I must’ve missed the article where it explains this. Where did it say what Barrios is or isn’t doing with the money he raised?
His website offers no “I’m returning the money raised for DA” explanation; he has to be forced to return it. I hope the press covers this, or that he responds immediately by returning the money. Also, sharpchick, any comment on his rep district being carved up SIX ways, his “on to the next office” career?
Just because his website doesn’t say he’s doing something doesn’t mean he’s not doing it. If you’re just assuming he’s not returning the money because he’s not specifically saying anything about it in his website, then you’re just making an assumption and I don’t see any basis for it.
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I guess you’ll just have to look at OCPF reports in the next couple of months to see what actually happens. I would see no problem if he didn’t return the money though, or if he gave his donors the option to return it and only returned it to those who asked for it. I don’t see what’s the problem with that; it’s up to the people who gave the money to decide what they want and it really doesn’t sound like you gave him any money.
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As for the redistricting stuff, I didn’t live here so I really don’t know much about it. I gather that he was a Rep the district was one way, and when he ran for Senate it was another. What’s your point exactly? It seems to me like the redistricted Senate district was a lot harder for a gay Latino to win (Saugus, Revere, Everett, Charlestown!? Yes, yes, it includes Chelsea, but again, gay latino). So I don’t really see why someone who has aspirations for higher office would have a hand in giving himself a tougher district to run in.
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And on the higher office stuff, you know what? I have no problems with politicians being ambitious. I rather they be ambitious and try to better themselves and get more power. If they have done a good job, they’ll get those positions, and if they haven’t, they won’t. What is wrong with ambition? What is so bad about it? Honestly I prefer that politicians didn’t stay in the Senate or House for a million years so that we can get some fresh blood in there every once in a while (since incumbents win the majority of the races). Anyway, it’s all on the constituents. If they don’t think their guy is doing a good job (ambition or not) they won’t re-elect them. As simple as that.
Sharpchick: I’m referring to the fact that when Barrios ran for the Senate he didn’t fight to protect the Representative district he was leaving; it was carved up into SIX districts. Rep. Ruth Balser said publicly that Barrios said his district could be used because he was running for Senate. Sorry, not your seat to do that Mr. Barrios. He sold out his Representative district (spin it any you want wizard) and didn’t do his job. Why? Because he’s from Tampa, he didn’t care that his predecessor was an African-American who fought hard for that district only to see this opportunistic spinmeister allow it to be consumed because he’s moving on. Do your research!