Deval Patrick was a breath of fresh air three years ago but in recent decades we have had very few new and unique voices enter the political fray. And once Patrick got to Beacon Hill he became attached to all that happened there – whether it was Sal’s arrest or Dianne Wilkerson – because he was Democrat. Republican Governors always could use the legislature as a foil. Patrick couldn’t. To pass bills he had to compromise with a legislature that as an institution is quite unpopular. He of course has made his own share of missteps, squandering a lot of his political capital on non-policy matters. But the legislature has done him few favors. Promising a new kind of politics is good politics but Beacon Hill has proven highly immune to recognisable reform. The public sees in Beacon Hill a set of institutions controlled by Democrats and unchanged despite Patrick – even after the real reforms he passed.
What I do think we could use then is some new blood in the legislature. Let’s refresh its ranks with folks who will prove more independent. We have had some fresh voices run at the statewide level. The Senate campaign attracted two newcomers – Khazei and Pagliuca. They were both articulate and offered new perspectives. But why start with U.S. Senate? How about State Senate or State Rep? While it may seem a backwater, big names with good ideas and skills could really shake that place up. They would get media attention in a way few legislators today can command it. And, the legislature is great practice for making the leap to higher office – see Obama, Barack and Brown, Scott if you don’t believe me.
And of course we can look forward to races for Auditor and Treasurer this year. Let’s make sure we pick great candidates for those offices as they are important and could produce a Governor or Senate candidate for the Party someday. We still could have an AG’s race too. Unclear what Coakley’s plans will be – but if I were someone who wanted that office I wouldn’t be too scared to take her on if she is minded to run for re-election.
Maybe there is also something about AG’s and those who hold that office that doesn’t make them best suited for winning one of the bigger State offices. Harshbarger, Reilly and Coakley have all looked favorites in their races coming into them. All of them proved poor candidates. Middlesex DA to AG and then to defeat in what seemed winnable contests. Not sure what DA Leone has in mind but maybe Governor shouldn’t be his ambition.
Of course we have to redouble our efforts to elect Governor Patrick. He faces a tough fight and clearly a pissed off electorate ready to send a message. But he and we have time to develop a strategy to win this year. A big piece of that has to be setting out a compelling vision of what another four years will offer and how Beacon Hill really can be changed.
So we can mope about this or start looking ahead and getting ready to work harder than the other guys. We also should be looking to increase our talent pool and attract a wider range of people into political office over the long-term. We Dems could use a refresh and it should start at the bottom and not the top.
A list of Democrats who shot for a big-name office and lost. These are four people I’d love to put in the legislature:
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p>Phil Dunkelberger (ran against Lynch in…2004?)
Jon Bonifaz (ran against Galvin in 2006)
Ed O’Reilly (ran against Kerry in 2008)
Alan Khazei (obviously)
Andrea Silbert (ran for LG in 2006)
Deb Goldberg (ditto)
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p>Where did these people go?
To take on Rep Nangle (the worst conservative hack there is). He is useless on issues, and even more useless in the manner of conducting himself. Hack hack hack hack hack!
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p>Still trying to beg on knees for Donoghue to jump in! She’d be really awesome as a legislator.
…put Ed O’Reilly in Bruce Tarr’s state Senate seat.
are not going to run for the legislature. They think it’s beneath them. Why do you think you never heard of Pagliuca politically before the Senate primary? These people are interested in nothing below Governor or US Senator. This has to be done through a minor league system where newcomers come up through the ranks. Republicans have been unwilling to do that, and it’s probably the reason why their representation in the legislature has been so poor.
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if what makes a career prosecutor, DA, or successful AG, also makes them poor candidates, in every sense, for other elective offices. Is it something in their personalities, or their outlook as a result of their work histories that makes them constitutionally unsuited for the rough and tumble of a campaign for other offices? I think that having come up as staff lawyers, then ADAs, hiired positions, gives them a leg up to run for DA in an almost ‘promote from within’ scenario. If they happen to serve in high profile districts such as Midedlesex or Suffolk Counties, then the same dynamic might give them an advantage for the AG seat, but it doesn’t seem to translate to other offices. I didn’t know until late in this campaign that Coakley had run and lost for a House seat in the state Legislature not too many years ago. That may illustrate my point. Any thoughts out there?
Ed Brooke was AG and then won for Senate. None since have been able to turn the trick.