Blue Mass Group

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Good Question by Bonifaz

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On February 10, John Bonifaz called attention to Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations for possible voting rights violations in Springfield, Boston, Lawrence and Lowell. At the time, Secretary Galvin told the State House News that John was saying “things that aren’t true.”

Galvin added: “I don’t know who [John’s] talking to.”

One month later, on March 10, the DOJ confirmed all four investigations. On March 14, John Bonifaz issued a statement that included:

“The confirmation of the Bush Justice Department’s investigation of Springfield is the latest example of the need for a pro-active Secretary of State who will work collaboratively with each jurisdiction to assure that these voting rights cases never come to fruition.”

Now, a full five months later, the DOJ is suing Springfield for voting rights violations uncovered during its investigation (read the full complaint here). This makes two voting rights lawsuits in two years (the DOJ sued Boston in 2005). Both lawsuits could have been avoided.

The Springfield Republican reports that the latest suit charges:

“… the city failed to provide Spanish-language assistance at the polls to the majority of its Spanish-speaking voters in recent elections. The complaint states that these minority-language citizen voters have faced hostile treatment at the polls because of their limited ability to speak English, and that in some cases, they have left the polls without casting a ballot, due to the absence of bilingual assistance.”

The article continues, “The complaint states that the city prevented Spanish-speaking voters from receiving assistance from the person of their choice, even in cases where bilingual assistance was otherwise unavailable.”

It should not have to come to this.

Why did Bill Galvin claim not to know about the investigation? Once it was confirmed, why didn’t Bill Galvin, our Chief Elections Officer, do something over the last five months to remedy the situation? Why did he allow this to get to the lawsuit phase – just seven weeks from our next election? Where has Bill Galvin been while the rights of Latino voters have been denied?

Nowhere to be found.

As the recent editorial in the Republican, titled “Springfield’s voters all need equal access,” states:

  “…Springfield must make every effort to find out what has been going on – and to work to fix any problems it finds as soon as possible. Instead of trying to fight the Justice Department, the city should fight for its voters. All of its voters.”

John Bonifaz has been engaged in this fight throughout his career – including defending the rights of Latino voters in Lawrence last year. As our Secretary of State, he will establish a Voters’ Bill of Rights and work with cities and towns to ensure that all voters are able to fairly cast their ballot and have their vote counted.

As John Bonifaz likes to say, “The right to vote is universal; it does not speak only one language.”

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Comments

  1. I know it’s in Galvin’s self-interest not to engage in any debates or even discussions about or with Bonifaz. At least, that’s the political calculation.

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    But what about his responsibility, as an elected official, to be responsive to the needs of the citizens of this state? I’m not anti-Galvin, but I feel he has fallen flat on his face on this one, and on similar cases elsewhere. I think we deserve better.

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    The Springfield case hits close to home for me. I lived in Springfield for many years (back when Charlie Ryan was Mayor the first time!), and it pains me to have seen indignity after indignity heaped upon this “City of Homes” by uncaring politicians and incompetent bureaucrats in Beantown.

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    I have many friends in Springfield, including two dogs named Zoe. [Disclosure (no secret to those who know me): I have a “special friend” there as well.] A few of my friends there are from the “old days” but most of them I have met in recent years, mostly in connection with political activities. Oh yeah, btw, Deval has a dog named Zoe, too. Coincidence? You decide!

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    One of my friends is a member of the Hispanic community, as is his wife. He tells me that voter registration among Latinos is very high, but getting folks to turn out to vote is like pulling teeth. Now I think I understand part of the reason, if not the main reason.

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    As a Deval Patrick supporter, I find this particularly frustrating, because this is a constituency that I think would be particularly inclined to vote for him. Yet, they are, in effect, being discouraged from voting.

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    Deval marched in the Springfield Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday. Maybe that will help.

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    Any ideas? (Besides voting for John Bonifaz?)

    • Michael, I wouldn’t even let Galvin off the hook so easily as you do regarding his avoidance of debate with Bonifaz. Debate is a fundamental aspect of our democracy, and it is the obligation of elected office holders to participate. Galvin has explicitly denied this: “I don’t have an obligation to help John Bonifaz create attention that he can’t otherwise seem to get.” He’s wrong. Any elected official has a duty to stand side by side against his/her challenger and justify his re-election. If Galvin won’t debate Bonifaz, he is hurting democracy and deserves to lose his office.

      • The Lamont test is quite simple:

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        If an incumbent is out of touch, incompetent, has the wrong ideology, or some combination of the three than it is crucial that the challenger presents not only an alternative but the best alternative to the incumbent.

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        In CT I am confident that Ned Lamont is a challenger that would also make a good senator, I do not feel that Bonifaz would make a great Secretary of State or do a better job than Galvin even othough on some issues Galvin is doing a poor job.
        That said by all means debate, even Lieberman had the courage to debate.

        • I think that while Lamont doesn’t have the best qualifications to be Senator, there’s more reason to vote against Lieberman in that case. However, even tholugh Galvin is clearly no Lieberman, his challenger Bonifaz is the best man for the job giving his years of experience.

      • Galvin isn’t crowned, he’s elected on the merits of his ideas and performance.  He has an ethical obligation to posit those ideas and defend his performance in direct contrast to those of his opposition.  That’s how this democracy works these days.  His hubris on this issue alone should be enough to cause thoughtful voters to reject his re-election. 

          • ONLY if I can bring the Class Action Suit guy with me.  He’s pretty freakin’ scary, with his rumpled, ill-fitting suit, his unruly hair, the scowl, and that index finger that looks like it’s coming as a right hook to the chin. 

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            I can’t help obsessing on that guy…..sorry. 

              • That may well be true, but Casey has a ways to go before he looks like this guy–unless he’s been drinking his breakfast. 

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                Kinda looks like Lee J Cobb in “Twelve Angry Men” meets Paul Newman in “The Verdict.”

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                Gimme that crown, Galvin, or you’ll be added to my class action suit without your consent!

  2. Here’s my two cents.  John Bonifaz has stellar credentials for the office of Secretary of State and would make a terrific one for the Commonwealth!  But electing him would not only be great for our state, John wants to make Massachusetts a model for the nation in the area of voting rights and voting integrity so John could be our gift to the rest of the country as well.  Why not elect the best?  If we want to preserve our fragile democracy we need to do no less!

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    LSPinti

  3. Somehow John needs more publicity/advertising etc… but damn that stuff is expensive….

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    Frustrating…

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    Mark

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