Blue Mass Group

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Havern’s out — and another scramble to move up begins

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It’s now official (AmberPaw had the early rumors): Arlington state senator Robert Havern is leaving the legislature for a lobbyist position at ML Strategies.

Here’s what he’ll be up to:

Havern will head the government relations office for ML Strategies, which will involve lobbying on issues he has dealt with in the Legislature, such as transportation, health care and real estate development.

Charley, that’s your cue.

Meanwhile, David Bernstein reports (citing SHNS) avid BMG readers already know (guess I should read my own blog more carefully! heh) that Arlington/W. Medford Rep. Jim Marzilli will throw his hat into the ring to replace Havern in the Senate.  (David Bernstein also mentions a rep called “Robert Murphy,” but I couldn’t find anyone by that name — perhaps he meant Charles Murphy, who represents Burlington in Havern’s Senate district).  No doubt there will be more to come in that race, which should be a good one.

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    • Also, Charles Murphy’s name was right in my post on 8/17/07 on this, as well as some other interesting stuff.  It should be an lively, to be sure.

  2. ML Strategies is a subsidiary of Mintz Levin Cohn. Their CEO, interestingly, is Steven Tocco, chair of the UMass board of trustees.

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    I think it’s really nice that after years of public service, our legislators can be rewarded in the private sector. Yay everybody!

  4. (crossposted at progressive mass)

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    http://www.townonlin…

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    Note the speculation that Jay Kaufman might run. He would have to move over a precinct (he’s in Fargo’s district). I don’t know, though: I’m skeptical that a Kaufman-Marzilli race could actually happen, when they’re both such good progressives. But I could be wrong. If it does happen, though, that could leave an opening for somebody from the northern part of the district to jump in. Kaufman’s quite popular in his district.

    • However, every newspaper account of the race will include the key line, “Kaufman, who moved into the district to run for the seat…”

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      That phrase never plays well with voters.

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      Kaufman is popular in his four Arlington precincts, but there’s lots of long time loyalty to Marzilli there.

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      Kaufman also has a problem with his Lexington base.  He would be missing one third of the Lexington precincts, which are in Fargo’s senate district. 

  5. What happens in Billerica, also in the fifth congressional district, when they are faced with ANOTHER special election.

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    Let’s go down the list of elections in the next 13 months:

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    Fifth Congressional Primary
    Fifth Congressional General Election
    Fourth Middlesex Primary
    Fourth Middlesex General Election
    Presidential Primary
    Annual Town Election
    State Primary

  6. …look at the results from the last primary in 2006…not long ago at all. Joanna Gonsalves, an Alderman from Woburn, garnered roughly 40% of the vote against Sen. Havern as the conservative candidate and carried Woburn, Burlington and Billerica. She wins a multi way race if its two liberals and I am guessing she is drafting her press release already.

    • The 2006 primary had a hot governor’s race.

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      Standalone Democratic primary?  Arlington turns out 50% of the vote.

  7. Is it just me, or are others getting tired with this rash of recently re-elected legislators jumping ship mid-term for better jobs (usually of the lobbying variety) and saddling the taxpayers with a bill for the special primary and election that ensues?

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    While I support Bob Havern’s right to make a living and do what he can to maximize his earning potential, he made a two year commitment to the people of Arlington when he asked them to return him to the Senate last November. Besides, I have a hard time believing that this job (or one similar to it) wouldn’t have been there for him in sixteen months when his term expires.

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    Should he (or Jarrett Barrios and Bob Travaglini) decide to run for public office in the future, I’d be very reluctant to support them.

    • First we complain about entrenched incumbents.
      Then we complain when entrenched incumbents resign their seat, creating this big, huge, wide-open primary.

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      What would make us happy?

      • …resigning at the end of their term, so that we don’t have to pay for special elections?  just a guess.

        • Havern (and certainly Barrios) didn’t suddenly decide to leave. The election calendar ought to mean something. Obviously things come up, but Mintz Levin doesn’t just call you and offer you a job.

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      • Well, in a perfect world, entrenched incumbents defeated by grassroots progressives who thereby win a mandate for positive changes.

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        But I’ll take what I can get.

        • Havern was an entrenched liberal incumbent.  (Havern wouldn’t use the word progressive, he embrased being an old fashioned liberal.)  You couldn’t replace him with a more progressive legislator.

  8. I am sorry to inform you that my mother passed away
    this afternoon. I am temporarily suspending all
    activities around my campaign for the Massachusetts
    State Senate and the legislature during this time of
    deep family grief. I will be returning to my home to
    rejoin my family as soon as I can arrange a flight.

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    Jim Marzilli

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