C’mon, Don! Light that single candle yourself, rather than cursing the darkness from behind your FOIA requests.
shillelaghlawsays
It would be worth it just to see the post-Convention headline in the Herald:
“Dems Toss Saklad”
Christophersays
I have no idea; his posts are a bit hit and run and never say anything about himself. I wouldn’t mind seeing Galvin challenged, but before you ask me the same question you asked Don, I’m in no position to do it, though I would love to some day.
jconwaysays
We have 5 candidates running for Gov, 5 for LG, 4 for Treasurer, and yet nobody wants to stand up to Galvin. Here is a great statewide office that anyone with some statewide name recognition, clout, and /or bread could make a big splash. This McCormack fellow, instead of wasting his time and money as the centrist independent for Gov should instead run for an office like this. It’s tailor made for a centrist, independent technocrat who could really bring it into the 21st century. I’d even be willing to entertain a Republican like a Winslow or Connaughton for this position. But nobody bothers. He must either really have the dirt on people or it’s just that hard to beat an incumbent. I don’t know.
What’s your last name Christopher, I’ll write you in?
Christophersays
…but the offices that have multiple candidates are also open seats. I think the last time Galvin was challenged it was by John Bonifaz who barely made it out of convention and got crushed in the primary.
jconwaysays
He made the mistake of running as a Dem. McCormack with his deep pockets could at least build on the support Jill Stein got as the ‘not galvin’ and might be able to run ads. But of course, he isn’t serious about winning office and would rather crash and burn as an also ran for Gov.
Bonifaz was also focused on changing election law as a single issue, and ran against the Iraq War and hit Galvin on choice, two issues that were totally irrelevant to the campaign. Focusing on the entirety of the offices scope of responsibilities and how we need a non-partisan manager able to take it into the 21st century could be a great campaign.
Did anyone out of left academic circles know who Bonifaz was? Larry Lessig might have the profile, pedigree, and following if you want to use Warren as an analogy. Otherwise you need someone either with deep pockets or prior record as a pol.
Peter K. could do it, he turned around one moribund office he could do it again.
Christophersays
He started to talk about it, but only on the premise that Galvin seek AG which was speculated for awhile. Another good candidate would be Northern Middlesex Register of Deeds Dick Howe.
I really could care less about the party as long as we have a competent and modernizing officer. So long as he doesn’t support voter IS and abusing the office to help the Red Team I really don’t care. Solid experience and good ideas on his website but I’d need to know more.
Christophersays
…that Secretary should be officially a non-partisan office. Certainly there should be prohibitions on chairing a campaign a la Katherine Harris.
ljtmaldensays
…and I’ll try to find out. He’s a Malden City Councillor and I seem to remember that he directed the local Scott Brown campaign, but I’m not that familiar with him or his ideas for the office beyond that article.
sue-kennedysays
I too heard the disdain in peoples voices when saying his name. This attitude is supported by Galvin’s chronic stern expression.
So the first time I met him I was suspicious.
I was with a progressive group that had come down to Faneuil Hall to register voters after the new citizen swearing in ceremony. Almost expected a hassle when we saw Galvin and some staff members there. Instead he directed us to the door they would be exiting and gave us helpful hints. Surprised I looked up later and saw Galvin eating a sandwich from his sack lunch, thoroughly enjoying spending his lunch watching new citizens registering to vote for the first time in their new country.
Yes, I’m a big fan of John Bonifaz, but Bill Galvin worked hard to dramatically increase the number of registered voters, been a national leader in successfully pursuing investment fraud, streamlined paperwork and put more documents online, aggressively investigated lobbyist abuses, and shown a commitment to customer service and elections free from the problems we have seen in other states.
Where’s the problem?
and while Galvin doesn’t write the laws, he sure hasn’t (publicly) been out there advocating for changes like same day registration or no excuse absentee (early) voting.
jconwaysays
Doesn’t he always audibly sigh and predict low turnouts no matter what the race? He doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who gets excited about elections.
I will say he is personally a very gracious fellow. I had a brief conversation with him when he was waiting to see if he could get a pass to see Kerry speak at the 2004 DNC when I was checking passes at the delegate gate. Made a point of saying he had to wait in line like everyone else, and was one of the more gracious public officials I interacted with. I like the argument that more could be done with the office, and it always seemed like he was ambitious for higher office but only if he didn’t need to get elected to it (Acting Governor when Swift was out of town and on maternity leave, his hope to get AG by the leg if Coakley got elected), but he isn’t a bad person. I just think we could do better.
sue-kennedysays
but not adept in the flashy smile and glad handing. Failures some may have expected to see us folks on this site showing more sympathy.
but I’m not following on the claim of “leadership.” Please elaborate.
Christophersays
Competent, sure, but not innovative and after 20 year I think a new perspective and energy wouldn’t hurt.
mike_cotesays
or is this more of a simple manager’s type office? Also, would there be much traction in running on a sunshine platform, as in actually responding to all the various Freedom of Information requests from the Globe?
Christophersays
The Secretary administers elections, maintains public records, facilitates historic preservation, and regulates securities and corporations. I’m not sure which sunshine requests you are refering to, nor do I know what laws there are at the state level to facilitate that.
Christophersays
I could probably spend a good chunk of my day browsing it. I did look through the Governor’s races going back to 1970 and I noticed a couple of things. In 1978 when Ed King took the Dem nomination away from Dukakis, there was also an Edward F. King, Jr. seeking the GOP nomination. That would have been interesting to have both nominees with essentially the same name. In 1986, the site lists a write-in candidate coming in third for the GOP nomination, but then that candidate is listed as being the GOP candidate in the general against Dukakis. Can anyone here who has been around long enough confirm that is accurate and if so explain how it happened?
I guess no matter how desperate the GOP looks in terms of fielding candidates or organization, they can always comfort themselves by saying at least this isn’t 1986!
fenway49says
It was a riot.
Just one thing to add: Royall Switzer, who came in first at the convention but withdrew after he was shown to have lied about his military record in Vietnam. In 2012 the same Royall Switzer showed up at the congressional debate in Wellesley to ask Joe Kennedy, as Ted Kennedy was asked in 1962, if his candidacy would be a joke if he weren’t named Kennedy. Nice guy, Royall.
jconwaysays
That guy must be the Harold Stassen of MA GOP politics.
fenway49says
for years. Put at the head of the MDC by that disgrace Ed King, but repaid that debt by announcing for Gov. in the GOP while King was still in office, and a year before King was bounced in the Democratic primary by Dukakis.
Ok, our voter laws are behind the times. But even there, Galvin walks a fine line of BREAKING THE LAW TO ENCOURAGE MORE VOTING. He’s run ads and I’ve heard him speak encouraging more absentee voting. He’s tilling everyone to vote absentee, with technically is a no-no under state law (that’s how antiquated the law is–you basically have to be out of town on election day to vote absentee).
Also Galvin is old school, so he respects the role of the legislative branch in writing the laws. Is anyone aware of him opposing election law reforms? I don’t know, I’d like to know if he has.
But the real point I wanted to make is the Sec of State’s Office is more than elections…it also is our enforcer of the financial industry and you’ve got to give hims tip of the hit in that role. Don’t have the time to provide the links, but he’s been a leader on the state level hounding the Citibank and others on all the crap they’ve been playing.
Another thing, while we lost a congressional seat in the last census, we should have lost it in 2000, but as Sec of State he oversees the Census also and in 2010 and 2000 his office looked in every corner of the state to count people–it saved a seat in 2000, but nothing could have us in 2010.
So ya, he gets a C on elections–he could be more proactive in advocating for reforms. In security regulations he gets a strong A-. An A for trying to make lobbyist more transparent and a B+ in managing the census.
Frankly I think there is a strong bias on BMG against wrinkly faced white guys that NEVER smile. That would be Bill Galvin.
pogosays
…or have an edit feature with comments…
jconwaysays
Frankly I think there is a strong bias on BMG against wrinkly faced white guys that NEVER smile. That would be Bill Galvin.
John Kerry and Bill Delahunt had a lot of support here.
I think a big problem with Galvin defenders is, he doesn’t really go out of his way to talk about what he is doing or to be transparent, he ducked the debates with Bonifaz and generally doesn’t seem too enthusiastic with the job. And he also runs the DMV-not a great agency.
Christophersays
…as in the Department of Motor Vehicles? I think Rachel Kaprelian is still the Registar and it is now within MassDOT, which I assume is within the purview of the Governor’s Secretary of Transportation.
katesays
In January Rachel was appointed by Governor Patrick to become Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development
Christophersays
I think my point about which agencies fall under what is still valid though, right?
pogosays
…Joe Kennedy did a pretty good job at that last election, he may have had a couple of non-televised forums, but he pretty much avoided serious debates in the primary and the general. I’m not defending it, it is just the way campaigns work…if you’re the front runner and you can avoid a debate, you avoid it.
I really don’t think you’re being even handed here. Yes, as I point out, Galvin ain’t perfect. But you slam him (rightfully) about avoiding a Bonifaz debate. Yet you give Bonifaz a pass when his campaign attacked Galvin for being an absentee Sec of St when he wasn’t in the office for a week…only to learn later his dad died that week.
Christophersays
…the custodian of our historical records and sites.
So Secretary Galvin has been elected repeatedly by the voters and has held office for twenty years. Apparently on BMG that earns you the call for an opponent. By that logic, BMG should have been posting repeated calls for opposition to Ted Kennedy, Congressman Neal, Congressman Olver. Doing the job you were elected to do, doing it without scandal, without flash is grounds for defeat?
Secretary Galvin doesn’t make the voting laws, the Legislature does and I’m trying to remember the last time incumbent legislators encouraged voter turnout (of voters they didn’t know). He’s been an advocate on exposing lobbyists, on lenders and financial scams against seniors, enforced freedom of info requirements and supported workers.
I’ll be supporting him for re-elected . . . proudly.
Christophersays
…and no I didn’t advocate for the others you mention to be primaries nor do I believe in term limits. Like I said above I think he’s competent, but not innovative.
C’mon, Don! Light that single candle yourself, rather than cursing the darkness from behind your FOIA requests.
It would be worth it just to see the post-Convention headline in the Herald:
“Dems Toss Saklad”
I have no idea; his posts are a bit hit and run and never say anything about himself. I wouldn’t mind seeing Galvin challenged, but before you ask me the same question you asked Don, I’m in no position to do it, though I would love to some day.
We have 5 candidates running for Gov, 5 for LG, 4 for Treasurer, and yet nobody wants to stand up to Galvin. Here is a great statewide office that anyone with some statewide name recognition, clout, and /or bread could make a big splash. This McCormack fellow, instead of wasting his time and money as the centrist independent for Gov should instead run for an office like this. It’s tailor made for a centrist, independent technocrat who could really bring it into the 21st century. I’d even be willing to entertain a Republican like a Winslow or Connaughton for this position. But nobody bothers. He must either really have the dirt on people or it’s just that hard to beat an incumbent. I don’t know.
What’s your last name Christopher, I’ll write you in?
…but the offices that have multiple candidates are also open seats. I think the last time Galvin was challenged it was by John Bonifaz who barely made it out of convention and got crushed in the primary.
He made the mistake of running as a Dem. McCormack with his deep pockets could at least build on the support Jill Stein got as the ‘not galvin’ and might be able to run ads. But of course, he isn’t serious about winning office and would rather crash and burn as an also ran for Gov.
Bonifaz was also focused on changing election law as a single issue, and ran against the Iraq War and hit Galvin on choice, two issues that were totally irrelevant to the campaign. Focusing on the entirety of the offices scope of responsibilities and how we need a non-partisan manager able to take it into the 21st century could be a great campaign.
Did anyone out of left academic circles know who Bonifaz was? Larry Lessig might have the profile, pedigree, and following if you want to use Warren as an analogy. Otherwise you need someone either with deep pockets or prior record as a pol.
Peter K. could do it, he turned around one moribund office he could do it again.
He started to talk about it, but only on the premise that Galvin seek AG which was speculated for awhile. Another good candidate would be Northern Middlesex Register of Deeds Dick Howe.
I’m not advocating here, but just FYI there is another candidate who announced on the Republican side about a month ago. http://malden.wickedlocal.com/article/20140204/News/140208915
I really could care less about the party as long as we have a competent and modernizing officer. So long as he doesn’t support voter IS and abusing the office to help the Red Team I really don’t care. Solid experience and good ideas on his website but I’d need to know more.
…that Secretary should be officially a non-partisan office. Certainly there should be prohibitions on chairing a campaign a la Katherine Harris.
…and I’ll try to find out. He’s a Malden City Councillor and I seem to remember that he directed the local Scott Brown campaign, but I’m not that familiar with him or his ideas for the office beyond that article.
I too heard the disdain in peoples voices when saying his name. This attitude is supported by Galvin’s chronic stern expression.
So the first time I met him I was suspicious.
I was with a progressive group that had come down to Faneuil Hall to register voters after the new citizen swearing in ceremony. Almost expected a hassle when we saw Galvin and some staff members there. Instead he directed us to the door they would be exiting and gave us helpful hints. Surprised I looked up later and saw Galvin eating a sandwich from his sack lunch, thoroughly enjoying spending his lunch watching new citizens registering to vote for the first time in their new country.
Yes, I’m a big fan of John Bonifaz, but Bill Galvin worked hard to dramatically increase the number of registered voters, been a national leader in successfully pursuing investment fraud, streamlined paperwork and put more documents online, aggressively investigated lobbyist abuses, and shown a commitment to customer service and elections free from the problems we have seen in other states.
Where’s the problem?
and while Galvin doesn’t write the laws, he sure hasn’t (publicly) been out there advocating for changes like same day registration or no excuse absentee (early) voting.
Doesn’t he always audibly sigh and predict low turnouts no matter what the race? He doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who gets excited about elections.
I will say he is personally a very gracious fellow. I had a brief conversation with him when he was waiting to see if he could get a pass to see Kerry speak at the 2004 DNC when I was checking passes at the delegate gate. Made a point of saying he had to wait in line like everyone else, and was one of the more gracious public officials I interacted with. I like the argument that more could be done with the office, and it always seemed like he was ambitious for higher office but only if he didn’t need to get elected to it (Acting Governor when Swift was out of town and on maternity leave, his hope to get AG by the leg if Coakley got elected), but he isn’t a bad person. I just think we could do better.
but not adept in the flashy smile and glad handing. Failures some may have expected to see us folks on this site showing more sympathy.
but I’m not following on the claim of “leadership.” Please elaborate.
Competent, sure, but not innovative and after 20 year I think a new perspective and energy wouldn’t hurt.
or is this more of a simple manager’s type office? Also, would there be much traction in running on a sunshine platform, as in actually responding to all the various Freedom of Information requests from the Globe?
The Secretary administers elections, maintains public records, facilitates historic preservation, and regulates securities and corporations. I’m not sure which sunshine requests you are refering to, nor do I know what laws there are at the state level to facilitate that.
I could probably spend a good chunk of my day browsing it. I did look through the Governor’s races going back to 1970 and I noticed a couple of things. In 1978 when Ed King took the Dem nomination away from Dukakis, there was also an Edward F. King, Jr. seeking the GOP nomination. That would have been interesting to have both nominees with essentially the same name. In 1986, the site lists a write-in candidate coming in third for the GOP nomination, but then that candidate is listed as being the GOP candidate in the general against Dukakis. Can anyone here who has been around long enough confirm that is accurate and if so explain how it happened?
It seems to be a pretty interesting story.
I guess no matter how desperate the GOP looks in terms of fielding candidates or organization, they can always comfort themselves by saying at least this isn’t 1986!
It was a riot.
Just one thing to add: Royall Switzer, who came in first at the convention but withdrew after he was shown to have lied about his military record in Vietnam. In 2012 the same Royall Switzer showed up at the congressional debate in Wellesley to ask Joe Kennedy, as Ted Kennedy was asked in 1962, if his candidacy would be a joke if he weren’t named Kennedy. Nice guy, Royall.
That guy must be the Harold Stassen of MA GOP politics.
for years. Put at the head of the MDC by that disgrace Ed King, but repaid that debt by announcing for Gov. in the GOP while King was still in office, and a year before King was bounced in the Democratic primary by Dukakis.
The other John F. Kennedy
Ok, our voter laws are behind the times. But even there, Galvin walks a fine line of BREAKING THE LAW TO ENCOURAGE MORE VOTING. He’s run ads and I’ve heard him speak encouraging more absentee voting. He’s tilling everyone to vote absentee, with technically is a no-no under state law (that’s how antiquated the law is–you basically have to be out of town on election day to vote absentee).
Also Galvin is old school, so he respects the role of the legislative branch in writing the laws. Is anyone aware of him opposing election law reforms? I don’t know, I’d like to know if he has.
But the real point I wanted to make is the Sec of State’s Office is more than elections…it also is our enforcer of the financial industry and you’ve got to give hims tip of the hit in that role. Don’t have the time to provide the links, but he’s been a leader on the state level hounding the Citibank and others on all the crap they’ve been playing.
Another thing, while we lost a congressional seat in the last census, we should have lost it in 2000, but as Sec of State he oversees the Census also and in 2010 and 2000 his office looked in every corner of the state to count people–it saved a seat in 2000, but nothing could have us in 2010.
Nor are people giving him credit for trying to make the lives of lobbyist more accountable. But the SJC thought he was being to tough on lobbyists. Gee, I didn’t see a BMG post praising Galvin for being tough on lobbyist.
So ya, he gets a C on elections–he could be more proactive in advocating for reforms. In security regulations he gets a strong A-. An A for trying to make lobbyist more transparent and a B+ in managing the census.
Frankly I think there is a strong bias on BMG against wrinkly faced white guys that NEVER smile. That would be Bill Galvin.
…or have an edit feature with comments…
John Kerry and Bill Delahunt had a lot of support here.
I think a big problem with Galvin defenders is, he doesn’t really go out of his way to talk about what he is doing or to be transparent, he ducked the debates with Bonifaz and generally doesn’t seem too enthusiastic with the job. And he also runs the DMV-not a great agency.
…as in the Department of Motor Vehicles? I think Rachel Kaprelian is still the Registar and it is now within MassDOT, which I assume is within the purview of the Governor’s Secretary of Transportation.
In January Rachel was appointed by Governor Patrick to become Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development
I think my point about which agencies fall under what is still valid though, right?
…Joe Kennedy did a pretty good job at that last election, he may have had a couple of non-televised forums, but he pretty much avoided serious debates in the primary and the general. I’m not defending it, it is just the way campaigns work…if you’re the front runner and you can avoid a debate, you avoid it.
I really don’t think you’re being even handed here. Yes, as I point out, Galvin ain’t perfect. But you slam him (rightfully) about avoiding a Bonifaz debate. Yet you give Bonifaz a pass when his campaign attacked Galvin for being an absentee Sec of St when he wasn’t in the office for a week…only to learn later his dad died that week.
…the custodian of our historical records and sites.
So Secretary Galvin has been elected repeatedly by the voters and has held office for twenty years. Apparently on BMG that earns you the call for an opponent. By that logic, BMG should have been posting repeated calls for opposition to Ted Kennedy, Congressman Neal, Congressman Olver. Doing the job you were elected to do, doing it without scandal, without flash is grounds for defeat?
Secretary Galvin doesn’t make the voting laws, the Legislature does and I’m trying to remember the last time incumbent legislators encouraged voter turnout (of voters they didn’t know). He’s been an advocate on exposing lobbyists, on lenders and financial scams against seniors, enforced freedom of info requirements and supported workers.
I’ll be supporting him for re-elected . . . proudly.
…and no I didn’t advocate for the others you mention to be primaries nor do I believe in term limits. Like I said above I think he’s competent, but not innovative.