The candidates will answer questions submitted by the audience and posed by the moderator, as well as ask questions to, and answer questions from, each other. From 7 to 7:30 p.m., the audience will be able to meet the candidates. The debate will begin promptly at 7:30 and end at 9 p.m.
What kind of questions would you ask a future state senator? Are you interested in pending legislation like the Municipal Partnership Act? Or are you interested in what they could do for the district in spurring economic development? Or would you prefer to hear the candidate’s thoughts on upcoming state issues like charter schools or casino gambling?
Are you interested in their approach to being a legislator—how they deal with the Senate President and her team? How much energy is focused on constituent services? Whether they explore creative but untested legislative solutions? There are many effective styles out there—what would these four be like? And is that what we, in the state and in the district, want?
Please feel free to post your thoughts and questions to this diary. I, and probably others from the Cambridge Dems, will be checking in over the next couple of days to respond to any comments you may have.
I was a strong supporter of Tim when he ran for DA of Middlesex County in 1998.
He had by far the most enlightened positions on criminal justice issues, was strongly committed to working to reduce the crime rate by addressing the underlying conditions that drive people to crime in the first place.
His father, Charlie Flaherty, played a major role in keeping the death penalty out of Massachusetts.
Does anyone know of any other endorsements in the race either from the local papers or civic groups? Did the Herald endorse anyone?
Do you think the Globe endorsement will swing a lot of votes in this race? Do newspaper endorsements matter more in low-impact races like this one, particularly races where there isn't a lot of television coverage or advertising?
In addition to the Globe, Tim Flaherty has won the following endorsements:
Teamsters Local 25
Boston Carmen’s Union
Boston Police Superior Officers
Massachusetts Correctional Officers Federated Union
Boston Police Patrolman’s Association
Massachusetts State Police Association
Suffolk County Corrections Officers
This is what the candidates list on their websites, in addition to the ones listed for Tim Flaherty above, does anyone know of any others?
Anthony Galluccio
American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, AFL-CIO
Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Local No. 3
Boston Building Trades Council
Boston Plasters & Cement Masons Local No. 534
Cambridge Firefighters Local No. 30
Cambridge Police Patrolmen's Association
Carpenters Local Union No. 40
Carpenters Local Union 218
Coalition of New Voters
Hotel and Restaurant Workers Local No. 28
IBEW Local No. 103 (electricians)
IBEW Local No. 123 (racetrack workers)
IBEW Local No. 2222 (telephone workers)
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental & Reinforcing Ironworkers Local No. 7
International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers Unoon Local No. 6
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 123
International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 4
International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 877
Laborers International Union of North America Local No. 88
Laborer's International Union of North America General Construction Local No. 151
Mass Alliance
Massachusetts AFL-CIO
Massachusetts Nurses Association
Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists (MOSES)
National Association of Social Workers-MA PACE
New England Gas Workers Association
SEIU Local No. 3, National Conference of Fireman & Oilers
SEIU Local No. 509
SEIU Local No. 615
1199 SEIU United Health Care Workers East
Pipefitters' Assoication Local No. 537
Plumbers & Gasfitters Local Union No. 12
Progressive Democrats of Cambridge
Roofers & Waterproofers Local No. 33
UAW (International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America) Region 9A
Unite Here Local No. 26
Utility Workers of America Local No. 369
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local No. 218
Paul Nowicki
State Representative Kathi-Anne Reinstein
Charlestown Resident Anne McCarron
Jeff Ross
Gay and Lesbian Labor Action Network (GLAAN)
Air Transport Local Lodge 1726
I congratulate Tim Flaherty on his endorsement from the Globe, but I think we will soon see that this was not Tim's race to win. There are two big differences between Galluccio and Tim: (1) he doesn't have a DUI and (2) but he also doesn't have any sort or record in the public arena (as Anthony and Paul Nowicki both do). The vanilla endorsement from the Globe clearly proved that.
The Mass AFL-CIO does not generally endorse in Democratic primaries and unlike the Boston Globe, they bring an unrivaled field organization to the table that is pounding the pavement for Galluccio. And in terms of the “progressive groups”, Mass Alliance, the SEIUs, PDC have all also lined up behind Galluccio. Maybe Galluccio's record on the issues matters may make a difference in this race…the most important progressive groups and labor unions have made this clear.
Unless Renee Loth, Adrian Walker and Gordon Edes are knocking doors in Cambridge next Tuesday with every member of the Globe staff, I think we will see that this was quite the over-hyped endorsement.
I was at the AFL-CIO Labor day breakfast and even though Galluccio got the AFL-CIO “endorsement” many of the attendees were wearing Tim Flaherty buttons and Tim was there working the crowd more than any other politician. In addition as you approached the building there had to be at least 40 people out front holding signs. Inside I met firefighters, police officers and pipefitters who were all working the crowd on behalf of Tim. I don't know how the endorsement process works at the AFL-CIO but there is obviously a split between what the state leadership voted in their endorsement process and what many of their rank and file apparently intend to do in this election. The Teamsters have been really out fighting for him in the past week.
We shall see on election day whether these endorsements really mean anything.