Today, Senate Majority Leader Fred Berry announced his support of Mayor Tim Murrays campaign for Lieutenant Governor. Senator Berry talked about how Mayor Murray has helped turn an old dysfunctional manufacturing city into the fastest growing municipality in the state. During the senators remarks he stated no matter which one of the great Democratic candidates for Governor we are supporting, we all agree that Tim Murray is the most qualified and best choice for the North Shore.
Mayor Murray and Senator Berry were joined together with Mayors Kim Driscoll (Salem), Bonfanti (Peabody), Clancy (Lynn), District Attorney Jon Blodgett, and State Representatives Walsh (Lynn), Speliotis (Danvers), Keenan (Salem). In addition, the room was packed with city councilors and school committee members from all over the North Shore. To everyones surprise, the Mayor of Beverly, William Scanlon, came into the room and pledged his support to Mayor Murray. William Scanlon is the only un-enrolled Mayor in Massachusetts.
Senator Berrys endorsement further shows that Mayor Murray is the best and most qualified candidate in the race for Lieutenant Governor. While Murray was receiving the endorsements this morning the West Roxbury and Roslindale Transcripts announced their endorsement of Murray http://www.townonlin….
With two weeks to go it looks like Murray is flying high! Hurry Hurry Vote for Murray!!!
Fred Berry, Career Politician endorses Tim Murray, Career Politician. Film at 11!
Mayors, city councillors, selectmen, and school committee members understand how difficult it is to deliver local services on tight budgets. Demands for services don’t decline when local aid is reduced.
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One of the functions of the Lieutenant Governor is to chair the Local Government Advisory Commission. In theory, the governor is supposed to preside, and Dukakis did pay attention to local leaders. Under Romney and Healey, there has been no dialogue or communication.
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Murray would be an advocate for cities and towns. That’s the heart and soul of his campaign. His fellow mayors know him, like him, and are genuinely excited at the prospect of having a sympathetic figure in the second seat.
Look, it’s not meant to be a huge insult to Tim and his copious endorsements, but it’s a simple fact. Politicians endorse other politicians. They don’t look forward. Mostly, they fear culture change and they’re going to support people outside the tradition, institutional and inbred political family who think that way. I’m sure they all like Tim, but in many respects, it’s a cultural thing more than a huge statement about his abilities and policies versus Andrea Silbert’s or the clown princess. On top of that, they don’t result in a huge amount of votes, dough or anything else. Ask Jim Segel.
Deval’s new ad says it best: insiders are scared of change, scared of someone coming in and shaking up things.
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That’s why they’re scared of Deval Patrick. That’s why they’re scared of Andrea Silbert
and I do respect your hard work for Andrea…but many of the “political insiders”, particularly local mayors, who are endorsing Murray are actually also endorsing Deval…they are not scared of Deval, they are working hard to get him elected.
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Municipal officials do not feel like “insiders” when it comes to treatment they get on Beacon Hill…and they see Deval Patrick and Tim Murray as two candidates who might give them a fair shake and a lot more respect.
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In a one man versus two women field, Andrea’s adversary in this race is Deb Goldberg who’s money and over the top spending is cutting Andrea out of the contest. You know I am not an Andrea supporter, I voted for Murray at the convention and I’m sticking with that choice but I think candidates should win or lose on ideas and experience, not the depth of a bank account.
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And this playing field was tilted (or should I say gilded) from the start.
I’m for Patrick and Murray.
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I’m for Patrick because he is the candidate that comes closest to sharing my core values. I think Patrick has the courage and drive to lead Massachusetts in the right direction. I don’t agree with him on everything, but I think he would make the best governor of anyone in the race.
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Just as I think we need someone with Deval’s vision and fresh view of Massachusetts politics, I think Tim Murray is the class of the LG race. He does have a track record. He is a mayor. He has impressed his colleagues. He has done good work, and he has lived with all the issues that face cities and towns across the Commonwealth.
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If Tim Murray has done a great job as mayor and chair of the Worcester School Committee, why would people who recognize that work and agree with his positions abandon him in favor of an outsider without the understanding of the issues?
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I also think Tim would be a great running mate for Deval. Deval will do very well inside 128 and west of the Quabbin. The place Democrats have had significant troubles are the areas around 495. Murray will give the ticket a much needed boost in Worcester County, and places like Lowell, Marlborough, and the other places in and around 495 where we should be winning elections.
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Look at the map on .08 Acres, and check out the red in Worcester County and around 495.
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Consider:
Worcester County
Romney-Healy 140,191
O’Brien-Gabrieli 99,344
Romney-Healy plurality +40,897
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Middlesex County
Romney-Healy 267,579
O’Brien-Gabrieli 241,934
Romney-Healy plurality +25,640
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Middlesex County (without Cambridge, Arlington, and Newton)*
Romney-Healy 238,853
O’Brien-Gabrieli 189,415
Romney-Healy plurality +49,438
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Statewide
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Romney-Healy 140,191
O’Brien-Gabrieli 99,344
Romney-Healy plurality +106,007
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Think of this. Democrats lost Middlesex County? O’Brien-Gabrieli lost FRAMINGHAM to Romney. FRAMINGHAM!?! A town that reliably sends progressives to the legislature!
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If we can get more competitive in Worcester County, and energize our base, we should be able to do well in 2006. A Patrick-Murray ticket should do the trick.
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(By the way, I am no ton the payroll of any campaign.)
I’ve been around a few campaigns and ya know, I’ve actually never heard or known about any voter who votes on a ticket based on the liuetenant gov candidate. If people in Worcester County are going to vote Dem it’s not because of the bottom of the ticket.
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Do you know of any studies or voters who would overlook the party’s nominee for Governor and base their votes for governor on someone else?
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Great talking point… silly logic.
We agree, Migraine…you are confused or obsessed…your 2 AM posting is testament to one or the other…pablo does have a valid point…when the Republicans can win with a candidate they pulled in from utah and his Beverly Farms never-had-a-real-job runningmate in every small city and town btween Worcester and Springfield…perhaps we need to put someone on our ticket who knows how to speak to and persuade Central Mass. voters…Hillman will for Healey…Tim will for us…and we will win for a change…
I will say that as a young college student my being up until 2am is not as much of an issue as someone a little older, say… you… being up so late.
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As I have said in other posts, I think that the top of the ticket is more important… if we have people on the Dem State Committee (you) who are placing our hopes to win the corner office on the shoulders of the lieutenant gov nominee, maybe we need different party leadership…
Are you disclosing your full relationship with the Murray campaign? If you’re paid all you have to do is let the readers know!
Asture readers of this site will know that my group endorsed Andrea Silbert.
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So, I’m offering this observation as a piece of reporting, not advocacy.
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Tim Murray was the ONLY LG candidate to show up for a big event on Friday in Pittsfield, where Senator Kerry was the keynote speaker.
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Tim spoke of his day, starting in Worcester [Wista, for those of you located in the eastin paht of the state], going by train to Framingham to greet commuters there, then on to Fall River for an event with Deval Patrick hosted by Congress Member Jim McGovern. After various other activities, he flew to Pittsfield to be there in time for the evening program.
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Tim was fresh (and not in the wiseass sense), engaging, and energetic.
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I can tell you that Tim scored a LOT of points for his efforts, in an area so often neglected by the Beacon Hill crowd. He was careful to make the point that he was the only statewide candidate who lives west of I-495!
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Good for Tim, I say!