Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: More MassGOP machinations

Monday, November 28, 2022

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: More MassGOP machinations

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WHILE YOU WERE EATING TURKEY — Jim Lyons still hasn’t said whether he’s running for Republican state party chair again, but he is making a preemptive strike against one of his potential opponents.

Lyons is seeking to depose Amy Carnevale and other state committee members as part of his lawsuit against party Treasurer Patrick Crowley over access to the party’s bank account . Carnevale, who's openly mulling a run for chair, received the deposition request the day before Thanksgiving. She’s being asked by Lyons and the state party’s legal counsel, David Carr, to appear at MassGOP headquarters shortly before Christmas to answer questions, according to a copy of the notice reviewed by Playbook.

The legal wrangling over the MassGOP’s finances stems from a dispute over whether Lyons had the necessary quorum at a January state committee meeting to pass the party's budget to pay its bills. The lawsuit has dragged on for most of the year as the two sides squabble over depositions, access to financial records and who has the authority to authorize payments. Lyons this month unsuccessfully attempted to get a restraining order against Crowley over an email . Neither Lyons nor Crowley could be reached for comment on Sunday.

Lyons threatened earlier this month to drag other state committee members into the court battle, alleging that some of them worked with Crowley in a “scheme” to “unlawfully disrupt the operation of the MassGOP." In his email to state committee members, Lyons asked “anyone who participated” to “assist the party in our lawsuit” or face a subpoena.

Carnevale is denouncing Lyons’ legal maneuvering as “an outrageous attempt to try to silence dissension” among state committee members who will soon vote for their next chair after a disastrous election and years of public infighting. Carnevale and other state committee members are also raising concerns that Lyons, as Crowley alleges in court documents , might be drawing on the party’s limited financial resources to support the lawsuit.

The intraparty feuding is boiling over after a general election where Suffolk University pollster David Paleologos said a sizable percentage of Republican primary voters sided with now Gov.-elect Maura Healey, a Democrat. Those defections, Paleologos said in a WBZ “Keller @ Large” interview that aired Sunday, show “total dissatisfaction and a division within the Republican Party — an issue that Republicans are going to have to deal with on a serious level.”

But Massachusetts Republicans aren’t the only ones facing a post-election reckoning, my colleagues and I report . New Hampshire GOP Chair Steve Stepanek is likely to face a leadership challenge after Democrats trampled the party's congressional candidates and pushed control of the state House to recounts .

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. I hope you’ve digested your Thanksgiving leftovers, because I’ve got more news in this digest.

TODAY — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 11 a.m. and speaks at a memorial service marking the 80th anniversary of the Cocoanut Grove fire at 3 p.m. in Bay Village.

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

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TRANSITION TIME

— PARTY PLANNING: Gov.-elect Maura Healey is seeking contributions of up to $25,000 from businesses and individuals for her inaugural events. That's similar to caps set by Gov. Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu for donations to their celebrations. Healey has tapped Bryan Rafanelli, her finance co-chair and party planner for political elites including the Obamas and Bidens, and Barbara Lee of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, as co-chairs of her inaugural committee. Katie Prisco-Buxbaum, a consultant on Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Driscoll’s campaign, is the committee’s director. Rafanelli Events will produce the events. AG-elect Andrea Campbell has also filed paperwork for her inaugural committee with state campaign finance regulators.

— “Maura Healey faces new challenge: saying how she’ll govern,” by Emma Platoff and Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “In the weeks since she decisively won the governor’s race, Healey has danced around specific questions and has yet to give any extended interviews to the media, leaving Democrats to guess — and hope — about how their standard-bearer will govern.”

— “Mass. orgs want Maura Healey to ban single-use plastic, stop new landfills,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “As the incoming Healey-Driscoll administration continues to seek feedback from the public about top needs in the commonwealth, a coalition of environmental and climate change advocacy groups want the future leaders to pave a path to a zero waste Massachusetts.”

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “With term drawing to close, Baker reappointed chief medical examiner, his administration’s highest-paid employee,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Governor Charlie Baker last month quietly reappointed the state’s chief medical examiner to a new five-year term, a move that could keep the executive branch’s highest-paid employee in place through his successor’s upcoming term.”

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FROM THE HUB

— THE BRITISH ARE COMING: “Prince and Princess of Wales to visit Boston for Earthshot Prize Awards, ” by Mary Saladna, WCVB: “The city of Boston is preparing to welcome the Prince and Princess of Wales this week, as Prince William and Kate Middleton will be in the Massachusetts capital for the second annual Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony. The British Royals will arrive Wednesday and will be in Boston through Friday when the awards ceremony is scheduled to be held at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway. … During their trip, the prince and princess will attend a special event with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, visit Greentown Labs in Somerville, visit the Chelsea nonprofit organization Roca and visit the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Prince William will also visit the JFK Presidential Library and Museum with Ambassador Caroline Kennedy.”

— “Anti-vaccine-mandate protesters have dogged Michelle Wu’s first year as Boston mayor,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “There it was again: the bullhorn-amplified chants of ‘shame on Wu’ wafting through the breeze. A small handful of protesters initially incensed by vaccine rules who have adopted that as one of their favorite refrains provide something of a through line in protests that have dogged Mayor Michelle Wu, and the progressive movement in Boston, over the course of her first year in office. … Wu’s repeatedly tied the anti-vax-mandate criticism to what she’s characterized as broader right-wing movements. In a recent interview, when asked about this pattern, she talked about a ‘normalization of hate.’”

— “Boston redistricting lawsuit now seeking to get map thrown out,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “The array of South Boston groups opposing the newly approved council redistricting map have sharpened their attack in a new civil complaint, trying to get the final product thrown out on voting-rights grounds as several councilors and other well-known Boston names throw support behind the suit.”

BALLOT BATTLES

— “Question 1 out-raised, outspent all other statewide campaigns combined,” by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “According to data provided by the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, the campaign to pass question 1, which passed by about 4 points, raised over $32.2 million and spent about $28.5 million in 2022 to convince residents taxing incomes over $1 million would result in better roads and more successful schools. The general election campaigns of candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, state treasurer, attorney general, secretary of the commonwealth and state auditor from the Republican and Democratic parties raised, between the 11 of them, just $11.6 million in 2022, according to OCPF. The campaign against question 1 raised $14.4 million, according to OCPF, also out-raising and outspending all of the general election candidates.”

A message from Sense Labs:

DAY IN COURT

— “Breathalyzer scandal could reopen 27,000 drunk driving cases,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “In a case that has echoes of the notorious drug lab scandals, the state’s highest court will consider whether to make up to 27,000 defendants in drunk driving cases eligible for new trials because of problems with the state’s use of breathalyzer tests. The Supreme Judicial Court is scheduled to hear arguments December 7 in Commonwealth v. Lindsay Hallinan. The case is a capstone to seven years of litigation over the validity of breathalyzer tests and hinges on whether the misconduct of a state agency that hid documents related to the alcohol tests was egregious enough that it merits the reopening of thousands of guilty pleas and convictions."

FROM THE DELEGATION

— MARKEY VS. MUSK, CONTINUED: Elon Musk declined to answer Ed Markey’s letter demanding information about Twitter’s paid verification service by the senator’s Friday deadline, prompting the Malden Democrat to tweet that Congress “must end the era of failed Big Tech self-regulation and pass laws that put user safety over the whims of billionaires.” Musk intends to relaunch Twitter’s paid verification system later this week. Markey, in a WCVB “On the Record” interview taped ahead of Thanksgiving and aired Sunday, said he’s waiting to see what “safeguards” will come with it before deciding whether he’ll stay on the site.

— WARREN REPORT: Sen. Elizabeth Warren wants the Department of Justice to investigate the FTX collapse .

— "Massachusetts communities are poised for a windfall if Congress can pass a new federal budget soon," by Tal Kopan, Boston Globe: "Members of the state’s all-Democratic delegation have requested more than $200 million in special projects, known as earmarks, many of which already have cleared the important hurdle of being included in drafts of budget bills prepared by the House and Senate."

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MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

— “Cannabis prices plummeting; some predict business shutdowns,” by Henry Schwan, Telegram & Gazette: “Falling prices and steady revenue. On the surface, that’s a positive development for customers and owners in the recreational marijuana industry in Worcester and across Massachusetts. But beneath the surface, some experts say there are cracks in the industry’s foundation and some pot shops could go out of business or get scooped up by better-capitalized competitors. It could happen sooner rather than later. ‘Consolidation is inevitable,’ said Peter DeCaro, owner of Resinate, a recreational and medical marijuana business at 1191 Millbury St.”

FROM THE 413

— “Northampton activists push for reparations panel,” by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Activists in Northampton are calling on the City Council to establish a reparations commission that would examine the city’s historical links to slavery and racism, as well as address current racial inequities in areas like housing and employment. … The push for a reparations committee for the city mirrors successful efforts in Amherst.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Amid civil rights probe, another Everett school administrator files discrimination complaint,” by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: “With the city of Everett embroiled in a sweeping federal discrimination probe and its former school superintendent facing charges of sexual assault, a third top female school administrator has filed a discrimination claim against the city, Everett School Committee, and Mayor Carlo DeMaria. Deputy superintendent Kim Tsai filed the complaint Nov. 18 with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, alleging discrimination based on gender, color, national origin, and retaliation.”

— More from Everett: “Everett contractor fined for excessive donations to Mayor Carlo DeMaria,” by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: “Gregory T. Antonelli, a well-connected contractor and developer in Everett, has been fined $6,000 for illegally funneling excessive campaign contributions to Mayor Carlo DeMaria through family members, according to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.”

— “Immigration advocates welcome new shelter in Mass., but say more help is needed,” by Liz Neisloss, GBH News: “A plan to house migrants in a temporary shelter at a former Army base in Devens, Massachusetts, would provide needed support to a system strained by a recent influx of immigrants, advocates say, but it won't be enough to address the rise in demand.”

— “Book challenges on rise in Mass. amid culture wars,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “Massachusetts librarians are fielding a dramatic uptick in the number of book ‘challenges’ from parents and outside groups who are upset about what they view as inappropriate content on sexuality and racism for younger readers. A recent survey conducted by the Massachusetts Library Association found that informal challenges, disruptions and objections ‘quadrupled’ between 2021 and 2022. More than 100 libraries that responded to the group’s annual survey reported at least 78 book challenges so far this year — up from only 20 last year.”

A message from Sense Labs:

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HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

SPOTTED — Gov. Charlie Baker and UMass President Marty Meehan hanging out with U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin at the official Deerfield Residence ahead of an ice hockey tournament.

TRANSITIONS — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Incoming Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker has picked an executive team with deep North Shore roots. Former Beverly City Councilor Scott Dullea will serve in a senior legal advisory role. Salem Assistant City Solicitor Sharyn Lubas will oversee operational and administrative matters. Glen Johnson, a longtime Massachusetts reporter whose career has spanned Axios, the Boston Globe and the Salem Evening News, will work in external affairs, handling the communications and spokesperson roles, community outreach efforts and working with Tucker, Dullea and Lubas on broader policy goals for the office.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Sarina Tracy and Doug Rubin of Northwind Strategies, Deloitte’s John Kim, former state Rep. Louis Kafka, WaPo's Nicole Dungca, Baker press secretary Terry MacCormack, Erin Forry, Glen Johnson and Louise Coleman. Happy belated to Chris Crane, who celebrated Thursday, and to Mark Wolf, who celebrated Wednesday.

NEW HORSE RACE ALERT — Hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Lisa Kashinsky give thanks to their loyal listeners by serving up a Thanksgiving blooper reel. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and SoundCloud .

Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com .

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