All it takes is a dollar and a dream: the nomination deadline for the Middlesex, Suffolk, and Essex Senate seat, currently vacant after the resignation of noble Fluff-fighter Jarrett Barios, is today. There are seven declared Democratic candidates for the seat — all with significant weaknesses. Why not you? This race is wide open, and all you need is 52 signatures, according to our own jconway. The primary is September 11.
Many of the candidates will appear together at the Charlestown Navy Yard on Monday, August 6, at 7PM, MGH Building 114, 16th St., Charlestown Navy Yard. Some bloggy coverage of the event would be excellent. Anyone with additional information about this interesting and important race please fire away in the comments.
Please share widely!
Paul Nowicki…isn’t that the Dad of the kid who found the AllSpark in the Transformers movie?
And I, of course, am a huge, huge geek. đŸ˜‰
What about Senator Rosie
A fine candidate. Currently President of the Chelsea City Council. An impressive record. The only woman candidate mentioned to date. Her post here at BMG on 25 May certainly suggested she was running: “I will be seeking the MA Senate seat which is being vacated by Jarrett Barrios.” But a few days later, the Cambridge Chronicle reported that that wasn’t actually an announcement: “Bongiovanni said the [BMG] letter wasn?t meant to be a formal announcement but an introduction and that she hoped to make a final decision about whether she will enter the race by the end of the week.” That was the last mention I could find (hat tip, View from the Bridge).
Although she was interested she apparently was not a registered Dem by the filing deadline so she will not be in the race. And my thanks to rwinters for the tip.
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What could be interesting about this race is the Cambridge vote being split between Laurie and Galluccio. While Galluccio is consistently the biggest vote getter and thus the most popular city councilor a lot of the “progressive” community has issues with him (going way back before the DUIs) because of his opposition to rent control, now a dead issue. But if she could get enough of the BMG types and the old school PDC and CCA endorsements she could split the Cambridge vote. Also the presence of a Chelsea city councilor could hurt Galluccio since he carried that community in his last bout with Barrios.
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That said look for Gooch to get the most endorsements, have the most money, and maybe even have Barrios’s backing (dont forget the backroom meeting and I suspect deal between Barrios and Trav)
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On why you are such a big Galluccio supporter, and what you see as his greatest strengths and weaknesses. I’m sure people would be interested.
Currently I am supporting the Gooch but I do have a few reservations regarding the DUI stuff since its unbecoming of a public official to behave so recklessly. I do hope he is off the sauce and has put the incident behind him. That could his strengths and weaknesses IMO:
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Pros:
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-A solid 15 years of public service in Cambridge
-Most popular city councilor; mostly due to rapid response to constituent concern
-Solid committment to youth involvement; a lot of younger people like me meet Gooch through his involvement and sponsorship of youth atheltic programs, the high school football program (that new stadium was all his doing)
-Strong progressive record on all the issues: choice, gay marriage and gay rights, fair housing, hate crimes, etc.
-Experience-his run this race before and narrowly lost, knows where he did well and where he can improve
-Name recognition from the last race gives him a big advantage over these newcomers
-Money-he raised a lot for his aborted 06 run and that money transfers over giving him a good foundation
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Cons:
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-the DUI is no question his biggest hurdle to overcome
-Not sure how strong his base of support is outside of Cambridge, he seems to have a lot of Everett support (he announced in Everett and got an Everett City Councilor endorsement)
-Has made a few enemies along the way, especially the PDC and the CCA in Cambridge which opposed him due to rent control
-Perceived as very close to the Trav organization during last run, hopefully no longer an issue
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But certainly he’s the man to beat, I’d like to hear more from Laurie Leyshon since it seems shes also Cambridge based and could split some votes and I actually liked a lot of her ideas
“The only woman candidate mentioned to date.” Except, of course, for Laurie Leyshon. Sorry about that Laurie. Someone please blog her kickoff party!
The race should be wide open with the 7 nebbishes (EB3?s mom made me write this) currently vying for the Senate Seat of J. Barrios (rich people frequently use their first initials)
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Where is the eight hundred pound gorilla in this race? Does George Keverian live in this district?
…are the candidates who might actually have a shot at this thing. Any info about the others, and who might be making a serious race of it? If it stays with the above three, who does everyone think would do the best job, and why?
Paul Nowicki’s campaign site is (ready?) http://www.paulnowicki.com. I’m not too familiar with the district, but I’d think it helps to have a unique geographic base – in his case, Chelsea – in a multi-candidate field.
That is a kick-ass website: one of the best for this race for so far for sure. I updated the post.
The site looks nice (American Flag Background=Patriot) but I’d like to see some substantive positions on the issues, other than that he’s in favor of “fightin’ tair!”
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Other than his pledge not to violate our civil rights (thanks!), he strikes me as a bit too conservative for the district.
Oh, and to give credit where it’s due, on BMG I previously criticized Galluccio for having no issue positions on his site before. I see he’s finally gotten around to adding some policy positions. He doesn’t have my vote yet, but he doesn’t seem too bad…
There are other towns in the district besides Cambridge and Somerville. Charlestown? Everett? Revere? Saugus?
The primary is scheduled around the local primaries through out the district. Not scheduled for same days. This will cause voter confusion and ensure that the most organized candidate who has identified the most votes woll win.
Everett could be a key. But no Everett candidate. The Chelsea guy should get votes from revere and everett.
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But do they care? Will they know? I doubt it.
He has piled up a few endorsements from there, it was the only community he carried outside of Cambridge in 2000, and he has got name recognition from the last race.
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The Chelsea factor could hurt the Gooch cause he did very well last time there but those votes could now go to Nowicki.
Tough to Figure Out. Best organization Wins.
Let’s be accurate here: First of all the last contested state senate election was in 2002, not 2000. And Galluccio finished dead last in Everett, not first. DeMaria, a local Alderman, narrowly defeated Jarrett Barrios by a couple hundred votes. Both DeMaria and Barrios finished almost a thousand votes ahead of Galluccio in Everett. Also good to note was the Galluccio finished third in parts of Revere and Saugus, too – both of which Barrios won.
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Of course, he may have a better organization this year in these communities, but it doesn’t change the fact that he lost there in 2002.
Here is Tim Flaherty’s bio. He is definitely getting traction in Cambridge and Charlestown based on two events I have seen him at recently. Several influential Boston and Cambridge politicians from the district were at his fundraiser last night. I won’t use their names since they may not be openly endorsing anyone.
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Bio:
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A former Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney, Flaherty, 42, is formally announcing his candidacy today. The expansive district includes parts of Cambridge and Boston (Charlestown and Allston/Brighton), Chelsea, Everett, and portions of Revere (Ward 6), Saugus, and Somerville.
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Flaherty, a life long resident of Cambridge with strong ties to the community and its traditions, attended Cambridge Public Schools before graduating from BC High, Boston College and Boston College Law School. He remains a active member of the Boston College community by serving as an adjunct professor of law in the Carroll School of Management. His wife Suzanne is a special needs teacher in the Newton Public School system.
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The grandson of a union bus driver ? Flaherty says he has had the good fortune to have benefited from a high quality education and the guidance of personal mentors who took an interest in his development. The son of former Speaker of the House, Charlie Flaherty, Timothy was raised in a household defined by public service. ?My upbringing taught me that good government is competent government that understands the needs of all its citizens and works hard every day to give them what they deserve ? opportunity for a better life.?
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After graduating from Law School, he chose to serve as in the Norfolk County District Attorney?s office as an Assistant District Attorney under now-Congressman William Delahunt. Flaherty rose rapidly through the ranks, becoming one of the youngest ADAs to prosecute major felonies including homicide cases. During his tenure Flaherty served as Chief of the Narcotics Unit, Chief of the Career Criminals Unit and member of the Homicide Team. Since 1999, Flaherty has built a successful private law practice where he has developed and enjoys a strong reputation for honesty, integrity and skill.
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Up until today, there has been much speculation about Flaherty?s candidacy for the State Senate. To this he empathically responds, ?I?m all in?. This week, Flaherty will open his campaign headquarters in Charlestown and has scheduled a major kickoff fundraiser event in Boston for July 31.
I’ve enjoyed getting to know Tim Flaherty, and I know he is running a serious race. He has a lot to offer the people of this district. It’s a very diverse district, from some very wealthy families and many middle and working class families in Cambridge, Everett, and Chelsea. I live in here, so I’m paying close attention to the race.
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When Tom Birmingham was my state senator, he had an ability to represent the whole district, combining big ideas and complex, statewide initiatives with and the patience and commitment to do hard, one-on-one constituent services to help people out. He climbed the ranks in the Senate and became Senate President, and then frequently used his authority to do a lot of good, including gaveling down a constitutional convention in order to protect equal rights for gays and lesbians, long before it was a popular thing to do. I think Tim Flaherty might be able to replicate some of Birmingham’s success.