Over at Left Ahead today, we used a candidate for an open Governor’s Council seat to talk about both the role and his strategy. As a warden in a Boston polling place, I am no longer surprised that people don’t remember what the Council is, although they voted for it two years before.
Clinton is a youngish public servant, but only now a politician. He work for a full-time pol, as chief of staff to Boston City Councilor Rob Consalvo. As a disclaimer here, I know and like Rob and Brian and I live in the same sub-neighborhood of Hyde Park, although we are not buddies. You can get background on him and his platform at his campaign site.
Co-host Ryan Adams and I got into both Clinton’s campaign and the Council. He didn’t shy from questions about whether the Council should disappear, its controversies, and how transparent its operations are. Click below to hear his detailed responses.
He even answered my odd questions, such as with him being a life-long city kid, did he get pushback from suburban and exurban voters as maybe not representing their views? He said to the contrary that so many in the district 2 were “originally from” types (Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, South Boston) that being a Boston lifer was an advantage for him in a district that stretches out to Ashland.
Clinton also has some innovative concepts. He’d like to offer the Council hearings on public access TV and provide internet transcripts and coverage of the meetings for transparency, for example. He’s a notary public and thinks those and justices of the peace should have their qualifications reviewed by the Council instead of receiving automatic renewal. He’s also like JPs to show they understand and agree to abide by Commonwealth law, such as same-sex marriage. In addition, he thinks Councilors need more advance materials on candidates they’ll rule on to ensure they’ve done their homework.
If you have the slightest interest in the Council’s functioning, Clinton’s show is worth the listen.
~Mike
