POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Two Kraft campaign advisers exit

 

Two Kraft campaign advisers exit

By KELLY GARRITY 

 

07/28/2025 07:26 AM EDT

****NEWTON NEBBISH LOSING CAMPAIGN STAFF? WHAT WILL BOSTON DO WITHOUT HIS NONSENSICAL SOLUTIONS?***

CAMPAIGN SHAKEUP — Two of the four Boston-based strategists who joined Josh Kraft’s mayoral campaign in its early days exited the operation earlier this month.

Chanda Smart, the co-founder of OnyxGroup Development and Realty and Ann Chinchilla DeGeorge, who previously worked on former District Attorney Rachel Rollins’ campaign and for City Councilor Julia Mejia, confirmed they are no longer working with Kraft’s campaign as of earlier this month. Smart declined to comment further. Chinchilla DeGeorge said she wishes Kraft the best.

Eileen O’Connor, a spokesperson for Kraft’s campaign, said in a statement that the “campaign decided to honor earlier agreements to pay them each through November 4, and wish them the best.”

In a post on Facebook last week, Chinchilla DeGeorge wrote that Kraft is “a great guy and a friend,” but added that she does “not agree with his campaign leadership team’s direction and strategy.”

Kraft’s campaign announced on Feb. 7 that Chinchilla DeGeorge and Smart would be joining the operation, shortly after Kraft officially launched his campaign.

“I’m thrilled that Chanda, Jacquetta, Ann, and Michael have agreed to join the campaign,” Kraft said in the February announcement. “We are assembling a team that have deep and meaningful connections in the communities throughout the city and are as good at listening as they are at talking.”

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. As members of Massachusetts’ all-Democratic congressional delegation are home in their districts for their summer recess, expect to hear a whole lot of criticism of the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill — and probably a little about the Epstein files fracas that’s dogged the White House for the past few weeks.

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark laid out Democrats' plan of action for the next few weeks during an interview on WCVB’s “On the Record” that aired Sunday.

“Our focus is going to be on what this bill is going to do to the American people … and our view for the future,” Clark said. Expect to see Democrats holding town halls warning about changes to Medicaid and Social Security.

Epstein, Clark said, won’t be “the focus of our days of action.” But “it is part of the story of choosing to make the winner's circle in this country very small.”

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll attend the 50th anniversary Cabo Verdean Independence Celebration at 11:30 a.m. and meet with Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano at 2 p.m. at the State House. Driscoll attends the groundbreaking of the Residences at East Milton at 9:30 a.m. in Milton. Rep. Richard Neal celebrates the 60th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing the Medicare and Medicaid Act into law at 11 a.m. in Wilbraham. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announces grant funding that will be awarded to four community-led organizations at 10:30 a.m. in Dorchester.

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— Healey makes waves naming hospital lobbyist to HPC board by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: “After several days of fielding criticism about the move behind the scenes, Gov. Maura Healey on Friday named the state's top hospital lobbyist to a position at the regulatory agency that oversees virtually all major health care decisions — including those directly affecting his clients — in Massachusetts. Healey appointed six people to the Health Policy Commission's board of directors, including Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association President Steve Walsh, punctuating a flood of hand-wringing from business leaders, health care advocates and other segments of the industry worried about a potential conflict of interest. The Healey administration defended the selection of Walsh, saying he fulfills a statutory requirement for a member of the HPC's board to come from a hospital background.”

***I HAD SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENDURE BRUCE TARR'S PERFORMANCES DURING HEARINGS...HIS CONSTITUENTS SHOULD WATCH HIS CLOWN SHOW!****

— Tarr seeks expanded background checks for child care workers by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “A group of Republican lawmakers are pushing for "expanded" criminal background checks of people working for licensed daycare and early education providers, saying the Healey administration isn't doing enough to screen foreign workers. The legislation, filed by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and four other GOP lawmakers, would require the state Department of Early Education and Care to expand background checks for job applicants who have lived outside of the United States in the previous five years, and gather "to the maximum feasible extent" criminal record information from other countries.”


PAY WALL

FROM THE HUB

— Fenway Park workers strike for third day amid contract dispute with Aramark by Maria Probert, The Boston Globe: “As Boston Red Sox fans, wearing bright red ponchos and raincoats, crowded Fenway Park on Sunday for the third game in a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, chants from a nearby strike by Fenway concession workers could be heard from inside. … On the third day of the strike Sunday, some visitors obliged, stopping to buy and eat hot dogs outside, or eating lunch at a restaurant before heading to the game. But inside the park, it was business as usual as others opted to buy Fenway Franks at concession stands ran by replacement workers.”

****THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT SOLUTIONS OFFERED!****

— South End neighborhood group calls for greater Mass and Cass policing, propose National Guard deployment by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald: “South End residents upped calls for a greater response to drug use stemming from the Mass and Cass area in a regular neighborhood group meeting, with proposing the deployment of the National Guard and decentralizing needle exchanges.”

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

****TAUNTON!****

— Does mayoral candidate Rudy Alves live in Taunton? Elections head wants answers by Emma Rindlisbacher, The Taunton Daily Gazette: “Rude ‘Rudy’ Alves is running for mayor in Taunton, and is registered to vote in Taunton at 68 Tremont St., according to information about candidates from the Taunton website. However, Taunton Elections Director Mark Pacheco raised questions at a Tuesday, July 23, 2025, elections commission meeting regarding whether Alves actually resides in Taunton. Pacheco said that on June 6, 2025, Alves had told elections department staff members: ‘You guys know I never really lived in Taunton, right?’ Pacheco said that he was not in the office when Alves made that comment, but that the comment had been heard by multiple staff members.”

KENNEDY COMPOUND

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK — The New York Times is out with a profile of former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who's been spending his time out of the spotlight building up grassroots resistance in places few Democrats dare venture (deep-red states) through the Groundwork Project, an organization he founded in 2021.

In addition to unpacking his organizing efforts in states like Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma and West Virginia, Kennedy reflected on his past: “Losing sucks,” he told The Times. “But I made the decision to try to build something that keeps you engaged and energized.”

And he ruminated on his political future: “The question is, is what I would get out of going back into elective office worth the sacrifice that I asked my family to go through again?” Kennedy told The Times. “I’m 44. … And at some point down the road, I wouldn’t necessarily rule anything out.”

FROM THE DELEGATION

***WHEN YOU'RE POOR, THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER & HELP YOU TO RISE UP...TRANSPORTATION IS A BIG PART OF THE EQUATION!****

— Ed Markey, Ayanna Pressley renew push for fare-free MBTA, public transit by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley refiled legislation that seeks to make public transportation fare-free for all users. … First introduced in 2020, the Freedom to Move Act would seek to make public transportation, including the MBTA, free by establishing a $5 billion competitive grant program to support state and local fare-free efforts, investing in infrastructure and safety improvements, particularly in low-income communities, and ensuring grant recipients use funds to address equity gaps in transit systems.”

BOSTON HERALD PROPAGANDA RAG PAY WALL!

FROM THE 413

— A personnel action rocks a Springfield councilor … and possibly her reelection bid by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight: “The political ecosystem in Ward 1 in Springfield received a jolt Saturday when the ward’s incumbent city councilor lost her job amid serious, yet cryptic allegations. In a late afternoon press release, the New North Citizens Council (NNCC) announced it had terminated its housing chief, Maria Perez. Perez has served as the Ward 1 City Councilor since 2022. The brusque, shocking release all but accuses Perez of misappropriating NNCC funds, including those it received from the federal government by way of City Hall. More concretely, it alleges Perez had misused the nonprofit’s funds for ‘political purposes.’ The release indicates it came to its conclusions after an internal review and had filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission.”

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WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING

— Will 4th ex-cop implicated in Sandra Birchmore case be decertified? Why he might not be by Amelia Stern, The Brockton Enterprise: “An attorney representing Joshua Heal — an ex-cop accused of having a sexual encounter with Sandra Birchmore when he was the animal control officer in Stoughton and lying about it — said at a Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission hearing that his client has no interest in working again as a police officer. … The Commission, an agency responsible for certifying officers in the state, will determine through its proceedings if Heal should be allowed to voluntarily let his certification expire or if he should be decertified."

****ABSENTEEISM!***

— Absenteeism rates are 50 percent higher than they were pre-pandemic. Here are six ideas to get kids back in class. by Christopher Huffaker, The Boston Globe: “Chronic absenteeism — missing 10 percent or more of school — surged to unheard-of levels in Massachusetts and across the country amid the pandemic. Despite educators’ efforts to get kids back in class, absenteeism rates remain 50 percent higher than pre-pandemic, elevated in districts large and small, rich and poor."

— What happens when a Yankee progressive and Southern conservative team up? More housing, they hope. by John L. Micek, MassLive. 

— Gateway City leaders prepare for federal cuts, changes to Medicaid by Hallie Claflin, CommonWealth Beacon.

— Last year a tax credit helped build 23 workforce rental homes on Nantucket. It's back. by Zane Razzaq, Cape Cod Times.

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

2026 WATCH — Out-of-state politicians swinging through New Hampshire have already sparked some 2028 chatter, but Republican Rep. Nancy Mace indicated Friday she has her sights set on 2026.

***REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE ANY SANE CANDIDATES TO SEND TO NEW HAMPSHIRE?****

At the New England Council's "Politics and Eggs" event Friday, Mace nodded to New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary status, while hinting that she could announce a bid for governor in South Carolina. 

****OMG! BATHROOM MONITOR NANCY MACE WILL KEEP SOUTH CAROLINA BATHROOMS SAFE --- FEEL RELIEVED...pun intended! *****

"Not only do you pick presidents, maybe you can pick the next South Carolina governor today, because we're going to be announcing our run very shortly, potentially, for that as well," she said during the event in Manchester. The official decision could be coming soon: Mace told Fox News over the weekend that a decision could come in the next couple of days.

SPEAKING OF 2028 — Sen. Ruben Gallego is heading to New Hampshire next month, WMUR first reported this morning. The Arizona Democrat has already traveled to Pennsylvania and is stopping in Iowa (another early voting state) next month. Gallego is slated to join a town hall with Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), a fundraiser for New Hampshire Democratic Senate hopeful Rep. Chris Pappas and will take part in his own “Politics & Eggs” event, per WMUR.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

NATIONAL STAGE — Gov. Maura Healey was elected to the National Governors Association’s executive committee over the weekend, along with Govs. Jared Polis of Colorado, Josh Green of Hawaii, Mike Braun of Indiana, Jeff Landry of Louisiana, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, and Bill Lee of Tennessee.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Beata Coloyan, Ayla Brown and to Northampton City Councilor Stanley Moulton.

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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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