It was about nine years ago when I met with Warren Tolman the first time. I had just started a tiny little political blog and he was my first real interview of a Massachusetts political figure. He could not have been more supportive despite the fact I was just starting out. My blogging turned to local activism, which eventually led to my being elected Chair of the Watertown Democratic Town Committee. I called Warren to ask him for his support in that election and we talked for an hour about how important that committee was to him as its former chair and gave me a lot of good advice that I still remember to this day.
Warren supported me at every step as I slowly went from observer to activist. I’m asking you to join me in supporting Warren in his race for Attorney General in tomorrow’s primary.
One of the most important issues we face is the influence of big money in elections. Warren is a candidate who has walked the walk on clean elections. He is the only statewide candidate to ever run on the clean elections law which he helped draft before it was killed by the legislature under Tom Finneran. He has been a leader in the fight for publicly financed elections. From my first conversation with him, it was clear he had a passion for fighting the influence of big money in the political process. That was not just a gimmick for him.
Warren has promised to take on the NRA on day one by using the state’s consumer protection law to require biometric trigger locks on all handguns sold in Massachusetts. This is a huge opportunity for MA to lead on this issue nationally and is especially important since New Jersey has a law that would similarly require them as soon as another state does so first. The technology is available — heck, the new iPhones all have it — but the gun manufacturers won’t put them on guns unless we force them to.
And speaking of guns, my assumption is that Warren is the only candidate in the race who, like many of my Watertown neighbors, has answered his front door to be greeted by a police officer with an assault rifle. While the manhunt in Watertown had a successful resolution, I believe that seeing the militarization of the police in our neighborhoods firsthand will give him a unique perspective on this issue.
His website has a great issues section if you are interested in other positions.
Finally, there are a few people in Massachusetts politics who I would run through a wall for — in particular: State Representative Jon Hecht, former Mass Dem Party Chair John Walsh & Governor Deval Patrick. They are all supporting Warren for Attorney General. If you’re still on the fence, Governor Patrick’s endorsement video or John Walsh’s BMG post from the caucuses.
We have a choice between two good candidates tomorrow. The biggest difference that I see is that Warren has a record as a progressive leader and an activist vision for the Attorney General’s office. I hope you will join me in voting for Warren Tolman for Attorney General on Tuesday.
…and now, Attorney General. It’s nice that his job shopping has finally landed him the job he really wants.
I think you said it well, “activist vision”, that’s exactly what I want from an AG.
Each candidate is a fine liberal and each will, when elected in November, easily surpass the record of their predecessor (a low threshold, I grant you). This race therefore, in my opinion, hinges on the relatively short list of issues that differentiate them.
For me, at or near the top of that list is the AG office’s handling of the execution (I’m tired of beating around the bush) by government authorities of an unarmed witness while in police custody. Florida authorities whitewashed the police and FBI agents involved. The Massachusetts Attorney General accepted the results of that investigation.
When each candidate was asked on-air in June, point blank, by Jim Braude whether they would have investigated further, the answers were starkly different:
Maura Healey: “That’s why I’ve called for the creation — for the first time ever — of a child and youth protection division”.
Warren Tolman: “Yes, I would have investigated”.
I will proudly cast my vote for Warren Tolman about fifteen minutes from now.
Already voted for Warren Tolman this morning
at the voting station. My reason was I wanted that activist AG fighting for the things I believe in. I don’t think it is critical for the AG to be a practiced DA to be effective. That’s what staffs are for. My only hesitation was their opposing positions on the casino question. I am definitely opposed to casinos, but decided the other issues were enough to sway me.