Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Lesser takes it to the bank

Friday, April 1, 2022

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Lesser takes it to the bank

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: LESSER’S LG STOCKPILE — State Sen. Eric Lesser now has more than $1 million in his campaign coffers, far eclipsing his rivals for lieutenant governor.

Lesser will report raising $153,018 in March, his campaign said. He’s raked in $437,412 from 1,188 donors since launching his bid in January. While the Obama alum’s D.C. connections are well documented, his campaign said 70 percent of his donations are from Massachusetts residents.

With $1,006,475 in cash on hand, Lesser has also amassed one of the biggest war chests of any statewide candidate. None of Lesser’s four rivals had more than $300,000 in the bank at the start of March. Only two other statewide candidates, Secretary of State Bill Galvin and state Attorney General Maura Healey, had more than $1 million in their coffers.

The campaign finance reports that trickle in over the next few days will be telling. Candidates benefitted from being able to double-dip donors in January, and the fields in some races remained in flux through February. March numbers will be more of a test of candidates’ staying power. Look to see who puts out their totals as opposed to waiting for them to show up in the OCPF database — that’s typically a sign of a campaign that believes it's doing well on the fundraising front.

WHERE THE POLS POST — Most of us think #mapoli lives and breathes on Twitter. But lawmakers are still using Facebook.

All of the state’s senators and representatives have a Facebook page, while most — but at 184, not all — have a Twitter account. Just 78 have websites that appear to provide regular updates for constituents, according to analysis from Legislata, a productivity software for politicians.

Beyond live-streaming events and broadcasting their policy wins, how are elected officials using Facebook? Not for getting their news, apparently. State House News Service, for instance, is only followed by 3 percent of pols’ Facebook accounts, compared to 92 percent on Twitter.

Former state Rep. Lori Ehrlich, now FEMA’s regional administrator in New England, has the most-followed Facebook page, followed by Healey, state Rep. Dave Rogers, state Sen. Paul Feeney and Gov. Charlie Baker.

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Happy April Fools! I was going to make a joke about Baker having a Tom Brady-esque change of heart about not running for a third term, but I worried some of you might believe it.

TODAY — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at the Boston Fair Housing Commission’s Fair Housing Month Kick Off Breakfast at 10 a.m. at City Hall. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) visits Tufts University for a Solomont Lecture Series event at noon.

THIS WEEKEND — SHNS’ Matt Murphy and Katie Lannan talk all things State House on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Republican governor hopeful Chris Doughty is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Tips? Scoops? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com.

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ON THE STUMP

— GIVE ME A SIGN: GOP governor hopeful Geoff Diehl has collected 12,828 signatures in his quest to get on the primary ballot, his campaign said. Candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general need 10,000 certified signatures to qualify.

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Lezlie Braxton Campbell and Aaron Soroa-Alvarez are now regional organizers for NAACP Boston Branch President Tanisha Sullivan’s campaign for secretary of state. Campbell will focus on communities west of Worcester and Soroa-Alvarez will focus on the Merrimack Valley, her campaign said.

— GETTING IN: Provincetown resident and local Democratic organizer Jack Stanton is running for the 4th Barnstable state House seat currently held by state Rep. Sarah Peake.

— DEBATE DRAMA: State Attorney General Maura Healey has offered to twice debate state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz after the party’s June convention, not before, as Chang-Díaz had requested. But Healey said she would also take part in two gubernatorial candidate forums with media partners in April. Chang-Díaz responded by accusing Healey of “dodging debates.”

— “Standing up campaign promises of auditor candidates,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “It’s great to have ambitious goals, but the statue detailing the duties of the auditor’s office appears to be fairly constrictive. It requires the auditor to audit more than 200 governmental entities at least once every three years. The law is also fairly particular about how the audits should be conducted, which doesn’t leave a lot of time or room for freelancing. As for [state Sen. Diana] DiZoglio’s plan to take a deep dive into the Legislature, that’s unlikely. The statute focuses on the executive branch of government and doesn’t give the auditor the authority to audit the Legislature.”

THE LATEST NUMBERS

— “Massachusetts coronavirus cases keep rising, K-12 schools report 3,245 cases,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “The 1,472 new virus cases in the state was a 36% increase from 1,086 reported cases last Thursday. A total of 3,245 staff and students tested positive in Bay State schools in the past week, significantly up from the previous week’s report.”

— "Town-by-town COVID-19 data in Massachusetts," by Ryan Huddle and Peter Bailey-Wells, Boston Globe.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— ON TO THE GOVERNOR: The Legislature passed a $1.67 billion supplemental budget bill Thursday that allocates $10 million to the state Office of Immigrants and Refugees to help resettle evacuees from Ukraine and elsewhere and authorizes the state to divest any pension funds from companies sanctioned by the federal government or incorporated in Russia. It also extends expanded outdoor dining and to-go beer, wine and cocktails through April 2023.

— “Massachusetts Senate unanimously passes the CROWN Act, banning discrimination against natural hair,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “The state Senate followed the lead of the House, unanimously passing the CROWN Act, banning discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles often worn by Black women.”

— “State's payroll costs on sharp incline,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Gov. Charlie Baker might be the state’s top elected official, but his pay lags many of those who work for him. More than 1,000 state employees – university administrators, athletic coaches, judges, district attorneys, police officials and professors – earned more than the state’s chief executive who took home $184,999 in 2021, according to newly released payroll figures. All told, the state government’s payroll costs grew by $19 million year-over-year, surging to $8.39 billion, records from the state Comptroller’s Office reveal.”

— “Death and taxes front and center in Massachusetts,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “They say only death and taxes are certain, but in Massachusetts the former doesn’t necessarily stop the latter. That should change, though, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, which issued a brief Thursday in support of Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposal to alter the estate tax.”

— “‘We can’t be erased, so stop trying’: Transgender Day of Visibility event offers love, reassurance,” by Gal Tziperman Lotan, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts state legislators, including members of the LGBTQ Caucus and Senate President Karen Spilka, also spoke at the event and told the crowd they would work on legislation supporting trans people, including a bill to allow an X gender marker to be used on driver’s licenses and other state-issued documents that has been in the works since 2018, but has not been passed.”

FROM THE HUB

— “Boston chief financial officer to depart in April,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “Boston’s chief financial officer is departing, creating another key role for the Wu administration to fill as the city heads into budget season. City CFO Justin Sterritt is departing in mid-April to work for global professional services company Accenture LLP in a senior strategy and consulting role.”

— "Michelle Wu says Boston ‘looking into’ more help for restaurants as citywide restrictions cause blowback," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Mayor Michelle Wu said that the citywide changes to the outdoor dining rules that have some restaurants across the city in a stew are the result of turning 'two years of experiments' into a long-term program and that the city’s 'looking into' what resources to provide."

HEALEY WATCH

— TAKING A STAND: Healey may not be rolling out policy platforms in her gubernatorial campaign just yet, but we are getting a sense of where she stands on certain issues. The AG expressed support for physician-assisted dying and legalized sports betting during her appearance on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” yesterday.

— “Healey now supports a terminally ill patient's ‘right to die’,” by Rebecca Tauber, GBH News: “Thursday, in response to a question by Jim Braude on Boston Public Radio as to whether she supports Massachusetts joining other states that have legalized physician-assisted dying, Healey replied, ‘I think I am.’ ‘I'm certainly open to working with the medical community, patient advisory and advocacy groups and partners in government to consider any changes to state law,’ Healey said.”

— “Healey says she backs legal sports betting in Mass. as lawmakers mull bill,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Attorney General Maura Healey, who once backed repealing the state law legalizing casino gambling, said Thursday she supports legalizing sports betting in Massachusetts and expressed confidence the Legislature would pass legislation that has stalled in the state Senate.”

— “Mass. AG Maura Healey says Justice Clarence Thomas ‘needs to think about stepping down’,” by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: “Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey on Thursday said U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas should consider resigning after the texts his wife sent to Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows urging him to overturn the 2020 election results surfaced last week.”

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DAY IN COURT

— "William Allen makes his case for parole after Baker grants him clemency," by Deborah Becker, WBUR: "The Massachusetts parole board reviewed plans to release William Allen from prison on Thursday, weeks after Gov. Charlie Baker commuted his life sentence. ... If he is granted parole, Allen said he would like to live with his father in Brockton. He also has a job offer at a local car dealership. Eventually, he said, he wants to work with young people and serve as a 'peer mentor for those in recovery from trauma, mental health and addiction.'"

— “Local immigration attorney faces first-of-its-kind penalty for defrauding Brazilian immigrants, putting them at deportation risk,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “A state judge recently ordered a Woburn attorney to pay $240,000 for filing false asylum claims on behalf of unknowing Brazilian immigrants in what Attorney General Maura Healey’s office calls the first decision of its kind.”

— “DAs favor new legislation to address possible felony murder injustices,” by Mark Arsenault and Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: “Several district attorneys said Thursday that a new law would be the best way to address potential injustices in which people who never killed anyone are serving lifetime sentences under ‘felony murder’ rules that have since been abolished.”

FROM THE DELEGATION

— "Student Loan Forgiveness: Top Lawmakers Urge Biden To Cancel ‘Meaningful’ Amount Of Debt And Extend Payment Pause As Polls Show Support," by Adam S. Minsky, Forbes: "With millions of borrowers on track to resume repayment on their student loans in just over 30 days, top lawmakers in Congress [including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley] wrote to President Biden on Thursday urging him to extend the payment pause to the end of the year and enact broad student loan forgiveness through executive action."

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

— “As the state investigates the future of gas, climate advocates say they’re being shut out,” by Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts won’t be able to achieve its climate goal of zero net carbon emissions without fundamentally changing or ending its use of natural gas. But climate advocates say they are repeatedly being shut out of a state-run process that will determine the future of natural gas in the state — a process that so far has been led by the industry itself.”

— “Boston Red Sox plan to make games at Fenway Park carbon-neutral through purchase of carbon credits,” by WCVB: “The Boston Red Sox and partners announced this week a plan to neutralize the greenhouse gas emissions of fans attending games at the 110-year-old ballpark. They plan to use a portion of the price of each ticket to purchase carbon credits.”

FROM THE 413

— “With housing options in short supply and rents increasing, Berkshire County is in a housing crisis,” by Scott Stafford, Berkshire Eagle: “The Berkshire County housing market, for sales and rentals, is in ‘a full-blown crisis,’ according to Brad Gordon, executive director of the Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— MAYORAL MEETUP: Nearly 30 mayors attended a Massachusetts Mayors Association meeting on homelessness, housing and federal Covid-19 relief funds earlier this week hosted by Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan and keynoted by state economic development Secretary Mike Kennealy. Sullivan handed out “swag bags” with Brockton-themed gifts including Brockton Beer Co. beer, F.B. Washburn candy and W.B. Mason souvenirs.

— “Council offers, then rejects mayor raise,” by Dustin Luca, Salem News: “Mayor Kim Driscoll almost got a raise. The City Council overwhelmingly rejected the opportunity to give the city’s highest elected position a 2.5% compensation increase, voting only two in favor and nine opposed when it came time to approve the recommended raise.”

— "Mass. teachers increasingly called it quits as pandemic wore on, study shows," by Carrie Jung, WBUR: "Teacher turnover in the state was at least 15% higher over the last two years compared to 2019, according to the analysis by Boston University Wheelock College of Education."

— “Mass. ropes in billions in federal research money,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Massachusetts hospitals, universities and medical and biotech firms are continuing to rope in billions of dollars in federal research money. The state received more than $3.3 billion in federal funding from the National Institutes of Health last year -- the third largest allocation among states -- for biomedical research and projects. The federal research money was divided among more than 5,700 projects statewide.”

— “Harvard’s admit rate shrinks to 3.2 percent,” by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: “Amid a record number of applications, Harvard University admitted just 3.2 percent of undergraduate applicants for the class of 2026; the university also said Thursday it would offer free tuition to a wider pool of lower- and middle-class families in the coming year.”

— “Undergraduate workers at Dartmouth vote to unionize,” by Michael Casey, The Associated Press: “The college announced the successful vote Wednesday involving around 150 students working in the dining hall that provides meals to students living in college housing.”

— “Material costs are inflating price tags for municipal projects like schools and roads,” by Craig LeMoult, GBH News: “A spike in the cost of building materials is swelling the price tags of municipal projects like school construction and road repairs in Massachusetts, and experts say some projects will likely have to be cut back.”

— “Atrius lays off dozens of nurses as COVID needs wane and merger nears,” by Jessica Bartlett, Boston Globe: “The Massachusetts Nurses Association said that 61 nurses — approximately 10 percent of Atrius’ nursing staff — were let go on Wednesday. Most of the employees worked for a special call center set up during the COVID pandemic.”

— "Free gas: After Massachusetts car dealer Ernie Boch Jr. offers 7,000 gallons of free gas, drivers wait 9 hours overnight," by Will Katcher, MassLive: "In a social media post Thursday, [Ernie Boch Jr.] announced an 'April Fuels' celebration."

— BEHIND THE HEADLINE: The Somerville landlord and orthodontist suing two Tufts University student journalists over their coverage of a renters’ protest outside his office in February is the same Mouhab Rizkallah behind a proposed ballot question dealing with dental insurance. "Yes, this is the same Mouhab Rizkallah who is part of a group of dentists supporting a ballot question that would require dental insurance companies to put at least 83 cents of every dollar in fees toward patient care,” spokesperson Chris Keohan said in a statement.

TRANSITIONS — Kristen Lepore is departing as Gov. Charlie Baker’s chief of staff; senior advisor Tim Buckley will be promoted to chief of staff effective April 15, and Elizabeth Mahoney, deputy chief of staff for cabinet affairs and policy director, will be promoted to senior advisor. Lepore was Baker’s budget chief before becoming his second chief of staff.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Matt Szafranski of Western Mass Politics & Insight, photog Dan Little, Dan Lothian, founder of Little Park Media and a CNN alum; and Jacob Spiering.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to state Rep. Frank Moran, Billy Jaffe, and Pete D’Agostino, partner at Tenax Strategies, who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Ed Cash, founder and president of Frontier Security Strategies; UMass Journalism’s Karen List, Niall Murphy, Juan Jaramillo, Greg Honan, Mark Lannigan, and Molly Thomas.

ON THE HORSE RACE: AMORE TALKS AUDITOR RUN — Republican Anthony Amore talks about his priorities if elected state auditor. Producer Libby Gormley talks us through a new survey about why people are leaving their jobs. And hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky debate whether we're all too stressed or not stressed enough. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.

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