POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: The bombshell that could shift Boston’s council race

 

By Kelly Garrity SPECIAL INTEREST — Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson plans to step down from the council, she announced Tuesday, after agreeing to plead guilty to criminal corruption charges . That means candidates in Boston’s District 7 City Council race could have to hit the campaign trail sooner than they expected.  The city's charter calls for a special election to fill an open district council seat if there’s more than 180 days until the election. It’s unclear exactly when Fernandes Anderson's resignation will become official, but May 8 marks 180 days until the election. But the body could also decide to tweak the rules to avoid the cost and hassle of a mid-year vote. In 2021, councilors passed a home rule petition to eliminate the need for a special mayoral election when the news broke that then-Mayor Marty Walsh would be heading to D.C. to serve as Joe Biden’s labor secretary (Council President Kim Janey served as acting mayor in the interim.). They could do something similar this time around. But that would mean leaving some of Boston’s poorest neighborhoods without representation for several months. And it would raise some awkward questions about why the city went forward with a special election under a very similar timeline two years ago, when Councilor Kenzie Bok stepped down from her District 8 seat in late April to head up the Boston Housing Authority, setting up Councilor Sharon Durakn to fill the seat. For those eyeing the race, it means a condensed timeline to get their message out. A preliminary has to happen “on a Tuesday between 62 and 76 days” after the council meets to call the election, and a general election has to take place 28 days after that. A handful of candidates have already announced their plans to run: Said Ahmed, the founder of Boston United, a free youth track program in the city; Said Abdikarim, who previously ran for an at-large seat on the council; and Mavrick Afonso, a City Hall alum who currently serves as director of external affairs for the state’s Office of Housing and Livable Communities. They all publicly laid out their plans before Fernandes Anderson’s plea became public Tuesday, though others have also filed paperwork with the state’s Office of Campaign and Political Finance. At least one D7 hopeful wants to see the seat filled ASAP. “I don't know how that's going to play out, but the community needs someone to call, someone to advocate for us,” Ahmed told Playbook. “I don't think this seat should be empty.” GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Tips, scoops, special election takes? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com .  TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey hosts a press conference on President Donald Trump’s tariffs at 2:15 p.m. at the State House and speaks at the annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards at 6:15 p.m. in Boston. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll attends the National Lieutenant Governors Association spring business meeting in Rhode Island. Auditor Diana DiZoglio is a guest on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at 1:30 p.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu presents her proposed budget at 9 a.m. downtown. DATELINE BEACON HILL ***BOSTON HERALD PROPAGANDA RAG IGNORED THAT AS REQUIRED BY STATUTE, DISCLOSURE WAS FILED WITH THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION...MUCH ADIEU ABOUT NOTHING!****  — Canadian utility company paid for parts of Mass. lawmakers’ trip to hydroelectric facility by, Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “A group of Massachusetts lawmakers who visited Canadian hydroelectric facilities in March were ferried there on the dime of a public utility company that runs a power line between Quebec and Ayer, according to documents obtained by the Herald. … A spokesperson for Senate budget writer Michael Rodrigues initially told the Herald that senators were responsible for paying for their transportation, lodging, and expenses. But a batch of ethics disclosures show part of the trip’s tab, including flights to and from and meals at various sites, was picked up by Hydro-Quebec Energy Services, a U.S. affiliate of the public utility company Hydro-Quebec that runs a power line between Canada and Ayer.” excerpt:  Rodrigues, along with Sen. Jacob Oliveira, a Ludlow Democrat, and Sen. John Cronin, a Fitchburg Democrat, disclosed in respective ethics filings that Hydro-Quebec Energy Services covered $1,050 in airfare between Montreal and Radisson, $103 for ground transportation, and $155 for meals. The spokesperson for Rodirgues — who also told the State House News Service in March that senators were paying for transportation, lodging, and expenses — said the senator’s ethics disclosure filed ahead of the trip “is correct and contains a full account of the trip’s expenses and how they were paid.” “This disclosure was filed with the State Ethics Commission before the start of the trip, as required by the Ethics Commission’s regulations. The information I provided to the State House News Service on March 14 was incomplete, but this was an unintentional error on my part,” the spokesperson said in a statement to the Herald. FROM THE HUB — DOJ antisemitism task force to meet Boston officials by Simón Rios, WBUR: “Representatives of the Trump administration's task force on antisemitism will be in Boston to meet with city officials Wednesday. The group announced last month that it planned to probe how the city has dealt with alleged antisemitic incidents. New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles received similar notices from the task force, which also has taken aim at Harvard and nine other universities.” PLANNING FOR THE UNPLANNABLE — Boston may be keeping its budget tight this cycle in an effort, Mayor Michelle Wu said Tuesday, to plan for the “unplannable” changes coming out of Washington. That means bracing for the possibility of layoffs or a hiring freeze (the latter of which some councilors called for last year amid concerns about a dip in tax revenue.) “We are not there yet right now,” Wu said during an interview on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” Tuesday. “But I am going to manage as hard as I possibly can for Boston to avoid that because these are really critical services that underpin what makes our community healthy and safe and thriving.” Wu sent her proposed $4.8 billion budge t to the City Council on Monday, and she’s set to present the spending bill in a couple hours. THE RACE FOR CITY HALL THE NEWTON NEBBISH IS PROPOSING AN EXPENSIVE  REGIONAL APPROACH THAT IS NOT WITHIN THE REASONABLE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MAYOR OF BOSTON! IT WOULD SEEM THAT IF KRAFT HAS THIS BRAIN FART, HE SHOULD CREATE AN ORGANIZATION PERSONALLY & SOLVE THE PROBLEMS!  HOMELESSNESS & DRUG ADDICTION IS RAMPANT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH!  — Josh Kraft has a plan to clean up Boston’s Downtown Crossing. He has an ally by John L. Micek, MassLive. excerpts:  Asked Tuesday how he’d pay for his plan, Kraft said he’d seek regional solutions and philanthropic support. “We know this is a regional problem. It’s not a Boston problem. We will work with our partners in the state, regional and municipal governments and community organizations to find the money,” he said. During an appearance on GBH News’ “Boston Public Radio” program on Tuesday, Wu defended her management of Mass and Cass and the challenges that have faced other neighborhoods as a result. She also dinged Kraft, noting that “some of what has been put forward in this so-called ‘plan’ are items that already have been in progress, and that the [Boston] police department and our Public Health Commission and the city have already implemented. Some are points that we have evaluated and do not believe would move us in the right direction.” “But overall, I think what’s concerning here is that there’s, you know, this isn’t a new issue, and we’re not parachuting into a conversation,” she continued. “I’ve had the chance as a city councilor and now as mayor, to be involved from day one and within the first two months of our administration.” — North Adams incumbent Mayor Jennifer Macksey intends to run for third term Sten Spinella, The Berkshire Eagle: “The two-term North Adams mayor pulled her nomination papers last week, making official her decision to run for reelection. Her choice was not difficult to make, she said Monday.” CHALLENGE ALERT — Taunton City Councilor Estele Borges is running for mayor, looking to unseat Mayor Shaunna O’Connell this fall. The Taunton Gazette has more on the campaign. MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS ****THOSE WHO COMPLIED WITH THE LAW, PAID THEIR TAXES & COMMITTED NO CRIMES ARE AT RISK FROM THE ICE GESTAPO LUNACY! ***** — Immigrant taxpayers hesitate, delay filing amid fears of deportation by Sarah Betancourt, GBH News: “Elgardo, an undocumented immigrant in Boston, has paid taxes like clockwork for the past seven years with an individual taxpayer identification number, or ITIN. The nine-digit tax processing number is available to some immigrants who want to comply with tax law but can’t access a social security number. The Trump administration has been seeking access to this information from the Internal Revenue Service for weeks. Specifically, it’s seeking the information of at least 700,000 people using an ITIN to file taxes who are subject to final removal orders. Immigrants are now afraid the information they shared to contribute to the nation’s economy will be used to remove them from this country — and some are hesitating to file their taxes as a result.” FROM THE DELEGATION ***THANK YOU SENATOR WARREN & OTHERS! ASSESSING TARIFFS ON PENGUINS DEFINES THE LUNACY OF TRUMP'S PROCESS!**** — ‘Economic sabotage’: Mass. Sen. Warren rolls out bipartisan plan to repeal Trump’s tariffs by John L. Micek, MassLive: “Calling them an act of ‘economic sabotage,’ U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday released a bipartisan resolution repealing President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. If approved, the measure would terminate the emergency declaration the Republican White House used to impose the trade sanctions that have roiled the markets, rattled business owners, and shook leaders worldwide.” excerpts:  Warren, D-Mass., was joined on the resolution by Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democratic U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Peter Welch of Vermont, and Tim Kaine of Virginia, along with Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. The measure is what’s known as a “privileged” resolution, which means it must receive a vote by the full Senate, circumventing the upper chamber’s usually rigid voting rules. “Donald Trump’s reckless agenda will hurt American families, small businesses, and manufacturers,” Warren, the ranking Democrat on the Senate’s Banking Committee, said in a statement. “The Trump tariffs are economic sabotage, and Congress has the power to stop them. Republicans can join Democrats and end this today.” Rather than retreat from a hardline that is seeing mounting pushback from Republican lawmakers and GOP mega-donors, the White House has doubled down, announcing that it will impose a 104% tariff on China starting at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, CBS News reported. FROM THE 413 — Northampton takes aim at renter-paid broker’s fees by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The city may soon again ask the state Legislature for permission to prohibit landlords and real estate brokers from charging prospective tenants a broker’s fee to move into a residential unit.” THE LOCAL ANGLE ****MAGA GOP SLASHING HEALTH CARE TO FUND TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY ON THE BACKS OF THE POOR!**** — For seniors on MassHealth, budget battles in D.C. are personal by Stephanie Brown and Tiziana Dearing, WBUR. excerpt:  The Senate's budget plan passed over the weekend includes an amendment to protect Medicaid. But the House wants to cut the health care program. Based on a report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, it seems unlikely Republicans can reach their budget goals without slashing some Medicaid funding. In Massachusetts, about 2 million people rely on Medicaid, including 67-year-old Fran Hutchinson of New Bedford. She's enrolled in Massachusetts' Medicaid program called MassHealth, and she's on Social Security. Hutchinson joins WBUR's Morning Edition to share what it's like to be senior who depends on MassHealth amid funding threats. ****A MUST READ FOR MAPS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION!**** — What’s new with wind projects off Massachusetts and beyond? by Anastasia E. Lennon, The New Bedford Light. — State faces deadline on Trump's DEI mandate by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “Massachusetts is facing a looming deadline from the Trump administration to stamp out diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public schools and colleges or face a loss of federal funding. The U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Office sent a letter to Massachusetts and other states on April 3, giving them 10 days to ‘certify’ that DEI programs deemed ‘illegal’ by the Trump administration have been eliminated. States that don’t comply risk losing federal funding, the agency said.” PAY WALL MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SUNU-NO — Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu is sitting out this Senate cycle, he told The Pulse of NH ’s Jack Health Tuesday. “No, I’m not going to run,” Sununu said. “For me and my family, it’s just not right.” Sununu initially downplayed the idea of a Senate campaign after he wrapped up his time in the governor’s office, but he appeared open to a bid in recent weeks after Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, announced her plans to retire at the end of her term. President Donald Trump even lent Sununu his support, telling reporters over the weekend that he hoped the former moderate governor would join the race. Sununu spoke with the White House and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, before making his plans public Tuesday morning, he said. CARPETBAGGER & KOCH SOCK PUPPET SCOOTER BROWN DEFINES HOW BEREFT THE GOP IS OF CANDIDATES - SCOOTER BROWN MADE HISTORY WHEN HE WAS DEFEATED BY 2 WOMEN IN ELECTIONS! That leaves all the more room for former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown to get in the race on the Republican side. Sununu “and the entire Sununu family are patriots who have made our state a better place - looking forward to seeing what’s next for him and working alongside him for New Hampshire’s future,” Brown posted on X . HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former state Rep. Dan Cullinane and Republican strategist Wendy Wakeman.  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 .   Follow us on Twitter Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters Follow us

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