Our own Tommy Vitolo (stomv) was a long time climate activist, systems engineer, and wonk blogger right here at BMG before he got into the state house. Since that time he has accumulated a lot of legislative accomplishments on housing, climate, and LGBT issues by working with House leadership and his more moderate colleagues to get things done. This seems to me to be the mark of a reality based approach to progressive lawmaking.
That record of pragmatic progressivism has apparently invited a primary challenge to his left from Raul Fernandez who, like Tommy, is a Brookline selectman and fellow policy wonk (in this case education policy at my graduate alma mater BU Wheelock). This is the rare primary where I happen to know and like both candidates on a personal level, so by no means is this post a dig against Fernandez. I just question the wisdom, timing, and target of his primary challenge.
To Raul’s credit his critique is mostly substantive and wonky hitting Tommy for specific votes around improving transparency on Beacon Hill. I’ve long been on the record here bemoaning our lax rate of permanent incumbency and uncompetitive elections for the legislature. I’ve even been critical of Tommy for votes I disagreed with him on including voting for DeLeo’s last re-election, yet these are not the disqualifying votes begging for a primary challenger Raul makes them out to be. Particularly one as well financed and staffed as Raul’s.
Tommy does not have a 100% rating from Progressive Mass, which is apparently the main reason the organization is backing this primary which has attracted a lot of outside funding and campaign energy that could be better spent on the Fair Share amendment, protecting undocumented immigrants, and electing a Democrat to the Corner Office. There are also critical elections for Suffolk DA, Auditor, Attorney General, and Lieutenant Governor. Not to mention critical competitive congressional elections in NH, CT, and RI. Any of these efforts would be a better use of time.
At a time when outright anti-democracy candidates are on the ballot in neighboring states and avowed election deniers will win the Republican nominations for constitutional offices in our own state, I question the wisdom of targeting a reliable progressive just because he voted for Ron Mariano. Using that logic previous PM endorsed candidates like Mike Connolly should also be challenged by the organization.
If anything this primary gives truth to the reality that too many progressives cluster in the blue bubbles even within our own state. My own state representative in purple Wakefield is a relatively conservative Republican who is not even getting opposed. His office has yet to get back to me with his abortion stance, although I know from digging he voted against the Roe Act multiple times. I have no idea if PM has even bothered trying to create chapters in districts that routinely send conservative Democrats or Republicans to the statehouse, but this seems like an effort where we are eating one of our own. No offense to PM organizers who are doing important work I largely no longer have time to do, and no offense to Raul Fernandez who is a dedicated educator and activist who should be in the statehouse, but this primary seems really dumb.
I appreciate you writing this diary.
This primary seems dumb because it IS dumb. This exemplifies why I’m out of patience with many groups and candidates who self-identify as “progressive”.
You hit the nail on the head here. Namely: Holier than Thou progressives driven to make perfect the enemy of the good.
The 9th Essex district James and I share as fellow Wakefieldians, has a conservative State Representative Donald Wong (R-Saugus). He has NEVER returned my phone calls. This CON recently voted AGAINST expanding/simplifying voting rights V.O.T.E.S. ACT.
The other half of Wakefield (Precincts 4 – 6) is in the 32nd Middlesex District and is represented by a good, liberal Democrat…Kate Lipper – Garabedian (D-Melrose). I ALWAYS get a call back from Kate’s office.
Don’t get mad at Progressive Mass because Tommy Vitolo interviewed poorly. The scorecard isn’t the determinant factor in getting the endorsement, it’s the membership. And speaking to those who are in Wakefield and Saugus asking why doesn’t Progressive Mass have a chapter in your area…why don’t you start one? We certainly have members in that area, but no one stepping up to start a chapter. Find someone to run against Wong if you don’t like him. Same for any area where you have a rep you don’t like.
This comment exemplifies why I’m done with “Progressive Mass” as an organization.
The complaint isn’t that “Tommy Vitolo interviewed poorly”. The complaint is that the organization is backing a candidate that is demonstrably worse than Tommy in virtually all the issues that matter.
FWIW, the track record of Progressive Mass here in Somerville equally repellent.
The issue is not “scorecords” or interviews. The issue that in the communities and races that I know something about, the organization is disconnected from reality and — frankly — has its collective head in a place where it doesn’t belong.
I was on the interview with Rep Vitolo. He was outwardly dismissive to every woman on the call. We asked if there was any situation where he would stand for his values over what leadership wanted, and he said no. It was unimpressive. And just so you know, HE was the one who asked for the interview. So let’s back up that, “Somerville” Tom.
As I’ve said several times already, the commentary on this thread — specifically including this intemperate overly personal response — exemplifies why I am done with “Progressive Mass”.
I hope that Tommy prevails over his primary opponent in the upcoming primary.
Post the interview online and let voters judge for themselves. This leadership is not the same as DeLeos, it has been markedly more progressive and other PM endorsees like Nika Elguardo and Mike Connolly voted for it.
I have yet to hear a positive case for why Raul Fernandez will be an improvement over the incumbent and what issues he seeks to elevate that are not being addressed.
I dipped my toe into Progressive Mass in the early days (1o years ago…?) and your response reminds me of why I could not tie myself to the organization. Others here have summed it up nicely, wanting the perfect that gets in the way of the good.
While I share the same concern about the black hole of the State House where good ideas go to die, Progressive Mass wants to purge the progressive politicians that are trying to maneuver that flawed system to get results. StormV has been one of the most effective progressives to walk that fine line. But that’s not good enough for Progressive Mass, they want more Erika Uyterhoeven’s who’s dogmatic approach gets her the headlines and applause from progressives, but in the end, get’s nothing done.
There have been four or five attempts to unseat Wong that have consistently fallen 5-10 points short. I do not recall Progressive Mass volunteers or money being a major factor in any of them. I am not sure if I want to start a chapter of an organization that prefers cannibalizing fellow progressives than fighting effective campaigns against Republicans or conservative Democrats.
Tommy Vitolo was directly responsible for the Brookline restrictions on fossil fuel use in new construction in Brookline — that was his idea as a Town Meeting member.
The new budget just signed by the Governor includes a provision to test those provisions in ten Massachusetts towns (see https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/14/science/ten-cities-towns-are-poised-ban-fossil-fuels-new-buildings/) including Brookline.
This exemplifies the benefit of electing progressive legislators who actually accomplish things.
The Boston Globe for 17-Aug-2022 reports (https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/16/science/boston-wants-ban-fossil-fuels-new-buildings/) that the City of Boston seeks state permission to ban fossil fuels in new construction.
Tommy Vitolo is personally responsible for driving this successful and desperately needed progressive legislation.
There is nothing “Progressive” about this organization that is actively trying to unseat Tommy Vitolo.
One progressive in Beacon Hill that Progressive Mass should be looking to focus in is Sen. Rausch’s challenge by Shawn Dooley in November, instead of StormV. It really is short sighted to support progressive challenges in progressive places like Brookline and ignore trying to spread the progressive voice in more purplish suburbs.