Blue Mass Group

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Susan Passoni running for State Rep

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We’ve been speculating about who will run to replace Sal DiMasi in Boston’s 3rd Suffolk state house district.  Someone mentioned Susan Passoni and I said I hope she runs.  Well, it turns out she is going to run!

I remember Susan Passoni from her 2007 run for Boston City Council, where she came in “surprisingly close” according to Blue Mass Group.  During that race, sco interviewed her for .08 acres.  She focused on education and housing; clearly understood and talked about the fact that education leads to economic growth, something we’ve discussed recently.

Interestingly, the 3rd Suffolk house district overlaps with the city council district she ran for.  About 2/3 of the city council district is in South Boston.  Although she did well enough there to come close to winning overall, her best results were in the smaller South End portion of that district, which overlaps with this House district (which is primarily a North End / South End district, and also includes Chinatown).

Passoni won overwhelmingly in the south end precincts that overlapped with her city council race, where Passoni is president of the Ellis South End Neighborhood Association.  I think this may make her the only candidate in this race who has actually competed for and won votes in this house district – and very recently, too.

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  1. Susan Passoni is running, but Aaron Michlewitz is the one to beat in this race.  Susan did reasonably well in the South End precincts when she ran for City Council, but much of that was an anti-South Boston vote from the South End folks who want better representation on City Council.  Susan can’t count on those votes this time, especially in light of the deep network Aaron has created in the past four plus years working the district for now former Speaker DiMasi.  He is well liked and respected in every neighborhood in the district while Susan is unknown outside the precincts of the city council district she has run in.  

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    • Now seems like an opportune moment to reiterate this aspect of our Rules of the Road:

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      There is one exception to the “anonymity is OK” principle: if you write a post, or leave a comment, about a candidate (or someone who is running against a candidate) with whom you have either a financial or a personal relationship, please disclose it.  It won’t detract from the point you’re making – arguments on the merits stand or fall on their merits, not on the basis of those kinds of relationships.  And it will be a positive step in the direction of establishing the internet as a credible source of information on politics and candidates.  That benefits all of us.  If we determine that you have failed to disclose a financial relationship of this kind, we may disclose it for you.

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      p>Exciting races like this one always engender a raft of new users registering on this site and then commenting in favor of their preferred candidate.  No problem with that — we encourage it.  Just, please, be up front about your relationship with said preferred candidate.  That’s the best way to ensure constructive debate.

      • He’s got signs in 85% of the windows of businesses on Hanover and Salem Streets in the North End. What did he do, promise to never vote in favor of a meals tax or something? How does someone become so popular overnight?  

    • When did 85-90% become “reasonably well?” She completely dominated the South End and she won Chinatown to many people’s surprise.

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      p>My things to watch for:

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      p>- What positions they have that might be different in what should be one of the more progressive districts in the state.

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      p>- Which — if any — candidate wins the battle over who’s the progressive.  

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      p>- Look for Aaron to question what Susan has been doing in the community since that 2007 election.

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      p>- Look for Susan to question why the Speaker of the House didn’t complete the deal on the transliterated ballot issue, and see if the Chinese Progressive Association is with her on that.

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      p>- Will Susan “go negative” and try to tie the former Speaker’s taint to Aaron.

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      p>- Look for Chinatown to be the real battleground in this race. The district appears to lean about 40% North End/Waterfront/Financial District where Aaron will be strong, 35% South End/Bay Village where Susan will be strong, and around 25% Chinatown which could easily go down the middle.

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      p>- Watch to see if any of these other candidates, like Lucy Rivera, find a way to cut into either candidate’s base. It seems like she’d hurt Susan more.

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      p>- See if the three South End precincts of Ward 8 that are in this district actually show up. They usually don’t.

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      p>- See if anyone can catch up to Aaron, who already has an office open and is running, while nobody else has campaign staff or an office ready to go.

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      p>- Endorsements, and whether they mean anything. As people gear up for a mayoral race, will networks stay deactivated and rested for September, or will they want to “practice” with this race, as a tune up for the fall?

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      p>- Will Aaron run the typical insider campaign, both on style and substance? Or will he try to ‘outgrassroots’ Susan?

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      p>I’m sure there are more.

  2. his analysis of the race is dead on.  And anyone who has ever been in the North End during a political campaign knows that signs always go up in the businesses.  

    • but I do.

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      p>Anyway, I’m not questioning the point made in the comment.  I’m just saying that we should strive for transparency here in the internets.

  3. BTW, I usually link to a map of the district when I post about a legislative race, but for some reason the Secretary of State’s web site seems to be missing the maps for the 1st Suffolk through 7th Suffolk districts.  All the other maps seem to be there.  I called on Friday around noon to ask about it, and someone said she’d report the problem, but they don’t seem to have fixed it yet.

  4. Here’s the email I received earlier today from Susan Passoni, announcing her candidacy.

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    p>I guess there’s no law against using an email from an earlier campaign for your next campaign?

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    Dear Friend,

    I am writing to let you know that I have decided to run for the Third Suffolk seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives that was recently vacated by former Speaker Sal DiMasi.

    I have given this considerable thought and my decision is a result of my continued desire and passion to help affect change in the areas that are of greatest interest to me and are critical to the future of Massachusetts: education, affordable housing and economic growth.   These are of course all related; as a Commonwealth we cannot possibly have economic expansion without industry; we can not attract industry without a growing, well educated population, and we can not keep smart and talented residents, college graduates and professionals if there is no affordable housing.

    More important, it is about going back to the basics and understanding the money flows in and out of the State’s coffers.  For 20 years, I worked with major corporations on financing strategies and strategic opportunities.  I analyzed and advised these companies on opportunities to build revenues and cut costs.  There is no better time for our state than now to have a person with a strong financial background and skill set in the legislature.

    For the past seven years, I have channeled my strengths into the non-profit sector.  I have worked with several pubic school-related organizations on budget and fundraising challenges.  I have advised on grant awards to public schools and related programs in Boston and Lowell.  I am working with a group of neighbors on the design of and to secure funding for the restoration and renovation of a public park in the South End.   I am the President of the Ellis South End Neighborhood Association and have actively engaged other neighborhood organizations and associations to work hand in hand in the best interest of the community.  I have also co-hosted several fundraisers for local organizations.  It is my commitment and dedication to my community that has propelled me to seek public service once again.  

    I am very appreciative and grateful for your support during my campaign in 2007 and am asking for your support again.  The Special Primary Election will be on Tuesday, May 19 and the Special Election is on Tuesday, June 16th.

    Time is of the essence and we need to get our campaign off the ground as soon as possible.  If you are interested in volunteering your time please let me know at your earliest convenience.  Moreover, if you would like to make a contribution we would greatly appreciate your help since every dollar will make a difference (please see the attached sheet for more information).

    Your support is critical to winning this seat and I cannot do this without you.  I hope that you will join me in my race for the State Rep seat.

    Sincerely,

    Susan

    • Hi.

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      p>Yes, I realize I’ve never posted a comment on this website, but I read it all the time.

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      p>One thing I found very surprising is that dates for the primary and special election have already been set.  As of just a couple days ago, it seems people were saying it hadn’t been set.  Yet, if you look on the Sec’y of State’s website, it shows January 19 as the deadline to change or add a party affiliation.

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      p>How can the deadline for something related to the election be a date that has already passed??

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      p>It’s the law that your party affiliation must be set 90 days prior to the deadline for filing papers.  The deadline for filing papers is April 19; the primary is May 19.

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      p>Am I reading that right??

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      p>So, as far as I can see, we’ll have a primary where at least three candidates will be running for the Democrat candidate and … no candidates will be running for the Republican candidate.

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      p>I’m not saying there would be a Republican candidate, regardless, but … DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE??

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