http://www.mass.gov/ocpf/defau…
Donnelly’s out of district campaign donations are concerning. When looking into which candidate I wanted to support I checked Donnelly’s campaign contributions for the special election against Marzilli. (Hurd had no previous campaigns to view)
The Office of Campaign and Political Finance, linked above, provides this information.
It’s kind of fun to look at candidates around the state and see who donates to them and where their money comes from. It’s all public information.
Donnelly raised $134,181 before the special election, which is frankly pretty impressive for a first time state senate candidate. However, when I looked closer I could find very little individual support and even less from people within the district. I went so far as to do the math I was so taken back by the outside donations. Only 6% ($8,075) of Donnelly’s overall donations came from within the 4th Middlesex District.
Some of the more strange donations include;
$5,000 from the “United Food & Commercial Workers General Fund” in Washington, DC
$14,500 from the “Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts” Boston, MA
(this is an unusually high donation from an interest group)
$5,000 From the “Int’l Firefighters Union” in Washington, DC.
$500 from the “Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers Legislative Board” Cleveland, OH
I find these numbers astonishing and it leaves me with no doubt that Donnelly will support unions and special interests at the cost of the taxpaying community members of the 4th Middlesex District.
It’s naive to think candidates won’t take donations from interest groups, I understand that; however, these numbers went above and beyond what I was comfortable with. I have therefore chosen to support Jack Hurd for State Senate. When I looked at Hurd’s resume of public service compared to Donnelly’s any question I had vanished. Hurd has worked on Educational and Economic issues. Whereas Donnelly is pushing them as part of his campaign, but has never worked on either in the interest of the people of Massachusetts.
In there interest of full disclosure I have gone above mere support and have started volunteering for the Hurd campaign.
Information about Hurd’s experience comes from.
http://www.jackhurdforsenate.c…
Info about Ken Donnelly can be found at: http://donnellyforsenate.com/
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p>I see nothing wrong with accepting contributions from Unions and being pro union – I guess you do.
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p>Looking at Hurd’s contributions, I happen to see a pattern of real estate developers – now that concerns ME!
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p>Also, just when did you start volunteering for Hurd and who are you anyway? Inquiring minds want to know.
I assume his first report is not due until next month…becuase I did not see a report filed when I looked at the OCPF–so how did you get to look at Hurd’s contributor list?
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p>(And in the interest of full disclosure, I don’t support any candidate in this race.)
…hope that helps!
Are there no members of those unions in the district? Or are you a sockpuppet for Hurd trying to pass of a hit piece as commentary?
I have no problem with support from these specific unions or unions in general. It does bother me that almost ALL of his donations come from them however.
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p>It’s good to see a candidate with support from a wide variety of contributors, it helps ensure that they will not be tied to a specific cause and won’t be afraid to support issues that are not in line with their union platform. Unions do great work, but their platforms are not always in line with the best interests of the people of the district. They are created as part of the adversarial legislative process, when you remove their adversary the system doesn’t work anymore. When push comes to shove Donnelly has no choice but to toll the union line. If he were to deviate he would lose 94% of his funding. That doesn’t allow him to even consider what is better for the district.
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p>For example, recently there has been a lot of discussion about the drug testing of firefighters. Now I have ultimate respect for individual privacy, but in a public safety position there can be no chance of drug use. There is no reason for the legislature to oppose implementing a measure to this effect; however, while in the best interest of the people of the district the union remains opposed. There is no question Donnelly would have to vote in opposition. The same thing would stand for pension reform etc..
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p>Another reason this worries me.. While Donnelly may be able to get votes through heavy advertising due to his vast funding, he lacks support of the district due to his connections and past experience. If you placed Hurd and Donnelly on an equal funding platform Hurd is much better known in the district for his public service work on many of the important issues. If Donnelly wins it’s not because he has spent time working in the district and gathering support it will be because he was able to garner a lot of special interest money quickly and run a strong advertising campaign.
Want to go negative?
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p>Jack Hurd is an ineffective selectman. He gets nothing done. He is the chair of these little committees, nothing more than a figurehead. There is little energy and little follow-up.
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p>Based on Hurd’s track record as a selectman, he would be an ineffective senator. He doesn’t do the hard work, to follow-up on the nuts and bolts of an issue.
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p>Jack Hurd is a special interest candidate. His wife works for the same real estate firm as his campaign chair (Brian Greeley), who is the brother of another selectman (Kevin Greeley). Jack’s special interest ties are to the real estate developers in town.
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p>If I have a choice between someone who stands up for the working man, or who does the bidding of the real estate interests of real estate developers, I will choose the working man every day.
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p>Care to continue going negative? There’s plenty more to write.
No wonder why the only houses in Burlington with Hurd signs are foreclosures.
…on his races for Selectmen there would be reports at Town Hall Arlington. But mrdem819 probably couldn’t be bothered to check that out. The idea that a Democrat getting money from the unions is “unusual” is truly laughable.
Unions love Donnelly.
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p>Okay.
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p>That’s all, and I mean all, that your post proves. So you have a problem with this. That’s fine. I don’t.
You should be ashamed.
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p>I listened to Joe Biden’s speech to the International Association of Fire Fighters. Perhaps you should too.
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p>Biden said that he never met a firefighter who got in it for the money. He stood up in front of the fire fighters union, and made some very simple points.
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p>Of course the union fights for a living wage. The union also fights for adequate staffing, so they have support when they run into a burning building. The union fights for health benefits, for the care of the community for injuries suffered in the line of duty.
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p>I believe in unions, and the important place they play at the table. They are the only way that workers can counteract the power of large, powerful employers. Unions are a powerful force for good.
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p>Steve Tolman is a former union leader, and you don’t see him catering to union interests. He is an effective senator, because he developed the leadership skills he needed to succeed in the legislature as a union officer. That’s why Ken Donnelly has some remarkable qualifications to be our senator.
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p>Ken Donnelly knows his way around Beacon Hill. He knows how the game is played. He isn’t just saying, “I want more local aid.” He knows the mechanics of getting things done. He knows how to work with boards and commissions, how to look at funding formulas and bureaucratic process, and how to use them to benefit the community.
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p>And let’s be honest. When I looked at the World Trade Center on 9/11, the scenes were of union firefighters and union police officers and union EMTs who ran into a doomed building to fight for the lives of others. These are the kind of folks who look to Ken Donnelly for leadership. So do I.
Politics wouldn’t be any fun if we all agreed. One of the unfortunate parts of politics is; however, people only taking what they wish out of the words of others.
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p>I’m loving this debate and I will attempt to hit everyones criticism individually. I thoroughly enjoy the debate and could very well be wrong. It happens. I just enjoy sharing my thoughts and hearing yours.
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p>Deborah – This “I guess you do” statement is putting words in my mouth. I said it’s naive to believe candidates won’t take union donations. As a matter of fact I never suggest its a bad thing. What is worrisome is that it leaves Ken Donnelly with no connection to the non-union/firefighter constituents within the district. Politicians work for the money to continue campaigning, its a natural part of the system. They vote with their donations. Donnelly’s donations are from outside the district and almost entirely from special interests, that is where his vote will go. Hurd’s donations are from almost entirely individuals within the district, that is where his vote will go. I prefer the candidate who will vote with the individuals within his district. That is all – no more – no less. Don’t make assumptions.
As for the real estate developers, Hurd’s campaign donations average a very small amount, much smaller amounts than Donnelly. Meaning he has thousands of donors; thats a lot of real estate developers. There has to be a few other people mixed in there don’t you think. Honestly, you are right any interest donations are concerning, but Donnelly’s special interest donations outnumber Hurd’s significantly. With Donnelly less than 5% of his donations are from individuals within the district. Incidentally, I like Obama for the same reason. His average donation is $47 showing a real commitment to him from individual voters over interest groups and providing him with a significant tie to the voting base.
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p>Why is everyone getting all defensive? It sounds like you are all a little closer to Donnelly than you’re letting on. This discussion has turned from academic political debate to personal attacks. Don’t think personally, that is where the political system fails and none of us win.
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p>JohnT – umm nope.
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p>ArlingtonDem – Hurd was a manager at the Polaroid factory in Waltham. I think that exemplifies the working man as well as a commitment to firefighting. We’re not talking elite lawyer vs. fireman here, lets be honest. They have both worked hard in blue collar jobs for a long time.
As for negativity. How negative you “go” is a reflection on you, not me. I wasn’t being negative, just pointing to facts which helped me chose the candidate I wish to support. You are welcome to do the same.
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p>Demredsox – You are almost correct in your interpretation of my post. Where are wrong..I don’t have a problem that unions like Donnelly. I have a problem that he receives almost all of his support from them leaving him no ability to vote outside union interests. It just makes me think he will be a union lobbyist in the state house. His legislative achievements and work to this point have been as a union lobbyist for the firefighter union. I don’t think lobbyists are a bad thing at all. It’s not a four letter word and I don’t mean it as a negative when I say that is what Donnelly has done. He lobbied for pension reform and other issues and that is invaluable legislative experience that would make him qualified to be a state senator. I think many people in similar positions have made the most effective legislators. But, when they run for legislative positions they need to sever (to a point) their ties with the union so they can legislate in the best interests of their constituency. Donnelly has not done this. He remains too attached to union interest for my liking.
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p>Progressiveman – The whole “mrdem819 couldn’t be bothered thing” is unnecessary. Thats personal junk and you’re lucky to even receive a response. Also I never said that dems getting union money is “unusual.” Where did that come from? Your completely making things up at this point. Actually Dem’s get almost 100% of the union legislative donations because Dems support unions the GOP generally doesn’t.
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p>Pablo – Again, name calling? If you want to meet in the playground after school thats fine, but in an educated political forum refrain from the name calling. I’m not sure where you got the idea I don’t respect unions or firefighters because that is completely false. But there are issues where unions and what is best for the taxpayers collide. That is why unions were created. As part of the bargaining process they ask for high wages, the taxpayers/legislators want low wages, they meet in the middle. If the legislators are the unions, there is no longer a middle. Wages which are too high mean less firefighters employed and less safety for the community.
I agree with you completely that as a union officer Donnelly gained much of what is necessary to be an effective state senator. However, he didn’t end his union commitments to become a legislator. He is a union man first and legislator second and I see that as a problem. Also, Donnelly’s biggest legislative achievement, the pension reform act, has become a fiscal problem for the state and the legislature is looking into revamping the system.
As for the mechanics of getting local aid. Hurd has better credentials than Donnelly. Donnelly knows how to work more state money for his special interest. Hurd worked to get money for Arlington as a selectman, the exact same thing he would be doing as a state senator. I think Hurd still has Donnelly in this category too.
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p>I guess we will all have to agree to disagree. Thanks for the comments and feedback. Many points were made that I didn’t consider as much as I should have and I will continue my research in forming my political opinions. I do still believe Hurd is the better candidate.
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As some of you know, before 2003 I was not active in Massachusetts politics at all. My time and energy was totally taken up with both earning a living and being a wife – and mother of two very demanding special needs kids. When I did wake up to the political world it was because Mitt Romney made me so angry in his attacks on the right to counsel, mental health care, treatment for addiction and more.
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p>While I had been an assistant girl scout leader and also helped found Arlington Children’s Theater in those years, I was not born in Arlington, my kids did not do sports here, and we had a pretty awful educational experience – and no, no one every reached out and included my kids in sports here nor did I know Hurd or any of the select people except Charlie Lyons who also was active in Arlington Children’s Theatetr ’cause of his kids.
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p>So my issues were statewide, and I came to townwide or district wide. I note that of our current selectmen and women, most seem to be supporting Donnelly, ditto current school committee and many former ones.
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p>I am not in a position to know if Mr. Hurd was or is an effective selectman, really. I haven’t followed that. I note, however the majority of the current selectman are NOT supporting Hurd. Doesn’t that make you wonder?
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p>As it happens, when I try to discuss issues like the sixth amendment right to counsel, the Rosie D. case and adolescent mental health, and the over haul of DSS into DCF with Mr. Hurd, it felt to me personally like his eyes just glazed over and he did not know about the issues I care about.
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p>When I talked about the same issues with Mr. Donnelly, he got it, understood and had a plan I liked with regard to dual placement for addiction treatment beds [for new mothers in treatment & teen parents] that resonated with me.
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p>So I am more attuned to issues then I am to local town politics, still. And, therefore, on my issues, Donnelly remains my candidate by a large measure.
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p>I am not a union member nor have I been in this state [I was in Michigan and I must say, unions do a lot to keep oligarchy in check] – and that is because I am a self employed professional as well as a parent.
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p>Frankly, the number of days spent coaching by each of these men doesn’t mean much if anything to me – nor do I know what those numbers may be. The number of days spent on the second floor of Town Hall do not sway me, either. However, understanding of policy, legislative drafting and support, and the big issues that brought me into political life, that matters.
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p>So for me, my choice is clear not because I am a buddy of either candidate, or either candidate paid their dues in local politics, but because I find on the big issues that make politics matter to me I agree more with Ken Donnelly. I see him as the better candidate for the level of policy set and created in our State Senate, and about more than local pork.
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p>Deb Sirotkin ButlerI