Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Special-election season continues

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Special-election season continues

STATE HOUSE SHUFFLE — Gov. Maura Healey may have just handed Republicans a state Senate seat. Not that it would change the Democratic-run chamber's dynamic.

Democratic state Sen. Anne Gobi is heading to the Healey administration next month to serve as the governor’s rural affairs director , capping a two-decade run as a state lawmaker and opening up a competitive district in the central part of the state.

The pool of potential replacements runs deep in the House . Three Republicans — state Reps. Kimberly Ferguson of Holden and Donald Berthiaume and Peter Durant of Spencer — live in Gobi’s Worcester and Hampshire district. So does Democratic state Rep. Jon Zlotnik of Gardner.

Zlotnik is in. The 33-year-old six-term state representative — who overlapped with Gobi in the House and remains close to her — told Playbook he’s running for her Senate seat with a continued focus on “bread-and-butter issues” like education and economic development.

Kate Campanale, a former GOP state representative who ran for lieutenant governor last year alongside gubernatorial hopeful Chris Doughty , is considering jumping in, according to a person familiar with her thinking. She is Durant’s wife.

Ferguson is out, telling Playbook that while she’s “truly honored by the outpouring of support I have received encouraging me to run” she believes she has “much work to do in the House, and I am happy to remain there.”

A GOP victory would grow Republicans’ ranks in the Senate to four. Democrats' supermajority in the 40-member chamber would remain intact. And even if her party loses a seat, Healey benefits from adding a respected advocate for rural communities to her team.

Still, the coming special election will test the new heads of the state Democratic and Republican parties. And both of them are bullish on their chances (not that they would publicly say otherwise).

“This is a very winnable seat for Republicans,” MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale told Playbook, citing how the district voted for former President Donald Trump in 2020.

But Democrats don’t appear to be sweating it. Gobi shed more than half a dozen Trump towns and picked up several communities — including Zlotnik’s home of Gardner — that voted for President Joe Biden in 2020 as part of the Legislature's 2021 redistricting process.

“The way that the seat is right now , having [a slice of] Worcester, Gardner, Holden — which are the three largest population-wise" and that voted "very heavy Democratic" in the last election presents "a good opportunity for Democrats to retain the seat," Gobi told reporters at the State House yesterday.

New MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan is similarly keen on Democrats’ chances, telling Playbook that the district has “been represented by great Democrats for decades now” and that the party will make sure its eventual nominee is “fully prepared and resourced” for the general election.

But first, Gobi has to resign so the special election can be scheduled. She told reporters that her last day will be June 4. She starts her new gig the next day.

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. This is the second special election Healey has triggered by plucking a lawmaker from their chamber.

The special general election to fill now-Veterans Secretary Jon Santiago 's 9th Suffolk state House seat is next Tuesday, as is the one to fill the 10th Suffolk representative seat Ed Coppinger vacated for MassBio. The remaining contest is a formality for Democrats John Moran and Bill MacGregor , who are unopposed after winning their respective 9th and 10th district primaries earlier this month.

TODAY — The Senate budget debate begins in earnest. Healey is at the Democratic Governors Association’s spring policy conference in Michigan through the afternoon and attends the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys dinner at 7 p.m. in Framingham. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at a Military Friends Foundation event at 9:30 a.m. at the State House, the Massachusetts Ambulance Association’s “Convoy of Champions” event at noon at Gillette Stadium and Health Care for All’s annual event at 7:30 p.m. in Boston.

Sen. Ed Markey headlines a New England Council climate change program at 10 a.m. at the New England Aquarium. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu honors local veterans at 11 a.m. at City Hall Plaza. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark holds a press conference on the debt ceiling at 11:30 a.m. at the U.S. Capitol.

Tips? Scoops? Running for Gobi's seat? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— RURAL OMBUDSMAN: State Sen. Anne Gobi ’s “fierce advocacy of rural equity, agricultural and small businesses, and conservation initiatives” made her the “ideal candidate” to serve as Maura Healey ’s first rural affairs director, the governor said in a statement yesterday.

Gobi, a Spencer Democrat whose numerous leadership positions include co-chairing the Legislature’s agriculture committee and co-founding the Sportsmen’s Caucus, told reporters that she relishes the new opportunity “be a conduit between our small towns, Legislature and the governor’s office.” She’ll also serve on the state’s rural policy commission.

— “'I don't hear her talking about it': Opioid crisis stakeholders hope Healey keeps campaign promises,” by Karen Brown, GBH News: “As Massachusetts attorney general, Maura Healey earned a reputation for being tough on opioid manufacturers. During her campaign for governor, Healey promised she would continue to address opioid addiction and overdoses. Statewide, the overdose rate fell slightly in 2022 but still kills around 2,000 people a year — and is up around 10% from 2020. Now that Healey’s in the state’s top job, some stakeholders say they are still waiting to learn her plans for addressing the crisis.”

FROM THE HUB

— “Boston City Council compromises on new redistricting map,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “A marathon session marked by disagreement and lengthy recesses concluded Monday with a map built from a proposal put forward by Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune that incorporated input and changes suggested by her colleagues. … While the tentative agreement was reached, the map wasn’t finalized. Louijeune, who chaired the day’s civil rights committee meeting, said there is still work that needs to be done to resolve the conflict that took place Monday over changes made in districts 4 and 5.”

DAY IN COURT

— “Judge finds ‘overwhelming evidence to support’ award of damages to Watertown’s first female detective,” by Tonya Alanez, Boston Globe: “A Middlesex Superior Court judge rejected the town of Watertown’s request for a new trial in the case of a former police detective who won a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and retaliation after she complained. The judge then awarded new legal fees and reimbursements for costs, boosting former detective Kathleen E. Donohue’s total judgment from $4.3 million to $5.7 million.”

— “Archdiocese of Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley is sued by 3 alleged sexual abuse victims who claim Arlington Catholic’s former vice principal assaulted them,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald.

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

— “Healey administration seeks $250 million in federal funds to boost grid for offshore wind,” by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey’s administration on Monday announced it has applied for up to $250 million in federal funds to bolster the electricity infrastructure in Southeastern Massachusetts, where much of this wind energy is expected to come ashore.”

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

— “State cannabis commission scraps pilot program for social consumption,” by Cassie McGrath, Boston Business Journal: “The state Cannabis Control Commission voted Monday to scrap a pilot program from the regulations on social consumption, which would effectively speed up the process by which cannabis cafes could come to Massachusetts. Social consumption is a license type that would allow for businesses to sell cannabis on the same premise that it is consumed, like a bar for weed. It was legalized with the 2016 ballot initiative, but due to conflicting regulations, it was not permitted until the Massachusetts Legislature passed Chapter 180 last summer.”

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FROM THE 413

— “MGM Springfield fined $45k for letting children get too close to slots, table games,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “MGM Springfield is installing more railings and a security station near its South End Market food court in a continuing battle to keep anyone under the age of 21 off the casino floor. The casino might also make more changes to the wide-open layout, with its many access points to downtown, executives told state gaming regulators Monday.”

— “Amherst assistant superintendent Cunningham on leave pending outcome of Title IX investigation,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “In the wake of allegations of transphobic actions by counselors at Amherst Regional Middle School, Assistant Superintendent Doreen Cunningham is on administrative leave, pending the outcome of an ongoing Title IX investigation, according to a message from Acting Superintendent Douglas Slaughter.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “ACLU calls for Ludlow school leaders to reject proposed library policy,” by Adria Watson, Boston Globe: “The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts has urged Ludlow Public Schools leaders to reject a policy proposal that could determine how and which materials are allowed to be kept in school libraries, saying the proposal is a form of censorship.”

— “Worcester's lawyer: City manager cannot stop out-of-towners from serving evictions,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette: “Following requests from a group of city activists and a city councilor for the city manager to stop outside constables from carrying out evictions, City Solicitor Michael Traynor wrote in a legal opinion attached to the City Council agenda released Friday that the city manager does not have legal authority to prevent a court-appointed special process server from carrying out what the court has empowered them to do.”

— “Quincy mayor renews pushback on Boston's controversial Long Island Bridge proposal,” by WCVB: “The mayor of Quincy is holding firm on his long-standing opposition to the Long Island Bridge project after Mayor Michelle Wu said Boston is moving forward with a plan to rebuild the controversial span. … ‘I know there is still a number of hurdles through that process, one of which is the Coast Guard permits,’ [Mayor Thomas Koch] said.”

— "Hate crimes in Mass. grew by 1/3 in 2022, ADL report finds," by Nick Stoico, Boston Globe: "The ADL’s 'Hate in the Bay State' report found Massachusetts faced the nation’s second-highest rate of white supremacist propaganda in 2022, often in the form of fliers and banners, while antisemitic incidents rose by 41 percent, and LGBTQ+ events, particularly drag shows, were targeted by extremists throughout the state."

— “5 things to know about acting Massachusetts US Attorney Joshua Levy,” by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News.

— IN MEMORIAM: “Rick Hoyt, who pioneered duo wheelchair road racing to ‘motivate people and inspire them,’ dies at 61,” by Bryan Marquard, Boston Globe.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

SPOTTED — former Gov. Charlie Baker and former Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito at Janet Leombruno ’s Framingham City Council reelection campaign kickoff last night.

TRANSITIONS — Gabrielle (Farrell) Mondestin has been named chief communications officer for the MBTA, a new position in which she’ll be responsible for “developing and transforming the agency’s communications strategy to provide a unified, transparent, effective, and authentic approach to messaging.” Mondestin did comms for Boston Public Schools, Marty Walsh’s mayoral reelection campaign and Elizabeth Warren’s Senate and presidential campaigns.

— Elvira Mora is now campaign manager for Patrick Keefe for Revere mayor. Keefe is acting mayor and the city council president. Mora is an alum of Robert Orthman, Gabriela Coletta and David Halbert’s campaigns.

— Azita Ghahramani has been promoted to senior editor for politics and voter engagement at GBH News.

— James Thompson is now communications director for the NHGOP.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Gerald James Holton , Andrew M. Cable , state Rep. Jim O’Day , Stephanie Slysz and Dorchester Reporter editor and publisher Bill Forry . Happy belated to Michael Schell , retired federal judge Nancy Gertner and Alex Friedman , who celebrated Monday.

REWIND — I joined "This Morning with Gordon Deal" to discuss New Hampshire's Democratic presidential primary problem and the possible solutions.

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