POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: 2017 retrospective — DeLEO not going — MERMELL eyeing SMIZIK seat
12/22/2017 07:15 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Rebecca Morin (rmorin@politico.com; @RebeccaMorin_)
TGIF, MASSACHUSETTS.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Welcome to the FINAL Massachusetts Playbook of the year. I know, I can hardly believe it either. It's been an honor to arrive in your inbox every morning in 2017 and I'm looking forward to continuing the tradition in 2018 - starting when I return on Jan. 2.
LESSONS OF 2017 - To mark what will be remembered as a watershed year in both state and national politics, some of Massachusetts' biggest names reflected on their most significant takeaways of 2017. Common themes: resilience; perseverance; lots of miles traveled; and a whole lotta town halls.
Acting State Senate President Harriette Chandler: "The theme of this year was definitely resiliency. Both Washington and Beacon Hill weren't free from turbulence. There were a lot of tough days, but the sun always came up in the morning. My members and I are back on track and ready for the New Year. And for that, I'm grateful."
Rep. Seth Moulton: "The biggest lesson of the year is that leadership matters. Good leadership primarily requires two things: getting the big ideas right, and then effectively managing their execution. The Republican leadership, from the White House on down, has proven they can't do either. That's why I'm working hard to elect a new generation of service-driven leaders to take their place. The highlight of my year, of course, was marrying Liz!"
Sen. Elizabeth Warren: "I held 17 town halls in 2017 all across Massachusetts, from the Berkshires to the Cape. I heard from thousands of students, veterans, seniors, parents and kids - and took a lot of selfies. Each town hall reminded me that there is enormous energy in MA to build a country that works for everyone, not just for those at the top. In 2018 I'm going to keep fighting - and persisting! - to level the playing field for hardworking people."
Gov. Charlie Baker and LG Karyn Polito : "2017 was another successful year of logging thousands of miles travelling our Commonwealth and working with the Legislature and local officials to make Massachusetts the best place to live, work and raise a family. After being named the #1 state in the country by U.S. News & World Reports, we were pleased to budget a record investment in education, devote $85 million to MassWorks projects to create jobs and support economic development, and make important progress on fighting the opioid epidemic-without raising taxes. Working across the aisle, we signed a new tax credit for employers hiring a veteran, enhanced benefits for gold star families, and celebrated the greatest comeback ever in Super Bowl history... 28-3! We hope everyone enjoys a happy and healthy holiday season and we look forward to working together to tackle the important work that lies ahead in 2018."
MassDems Chair Gus Bickford: "Over the past 12 months, thousands of Massachusetts residents packed rallies and town hall meetings all across the state to speak to their local, state, and federal Democratic elected leaders. At a time filled with great uncertainty about the direction of our state and nation, Massachusetts families were able to connect directly with these officials and each other about their concerns. ... Surprisingly, Governor Baker has yet to hold a single town hall meeting."
Sen. Ed Markey: "The lessons of 2017 have ensured that 2018 will be an historic year for Democrats. We will continue to fight back against the assaults by the Trump administration on our environment, our health care, our economy, and our Constitutional rights, and it will be at the ballot box where the true values and priorities of Americans and the Commonwealth are ultimately victorious."
Rep. Richard Neal: "This year was all about perseverance - I fought for 40 years to see the day that Springfield Union Station reopened its doors and was thrilled when that vision became a reality in late June. And while there is still much more work to be done, I am proud to keep fighting on the national level for a fair and simple tax code, and for the protection of programs constituents rely on such as Social Security and Medicare."
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh: "This year, I think, was a great reminder on the importance of having a better understanding of those around us. From the residents I meet out in the neighborhoods, the elected officials I work with from the other side of the aisle, or those that reach out to me struggling with addiction - I think we all need to make a concerted effort to be compassionate, empathetic, embrace everyone's differences and work to better understand where people are coming from on issues or why they feel the way they do."
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "AG Healey: Victims Came Forward To Spark Hefner Investigation," by Tori Bedford, WGBH: "Attorney General Maura Healey told WGBH News victims have come forward, sparking an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Senate President Stan Rosenberg's husband Bryon Hefner. Healey and Suffolk County district attorney Dan Conley said they were prepared to launch a joint investigation of Rosenberg's husband Brian Hefner if they heard from any of his alleged victims. And now, Healey says, they have."
** A message from New England Clean Power Link: Poised to supply Massachusetts with 1,000 MW of clean, renewable power, the New England Clean Power Link is ready to roll. The only project with a Presidential Permit, full site control and full host state support, the innovative buried project will help Massachusetts meet its legislative requirements for lower carbon emissions. More**
- "Eldridge preps bill to create entity to field harassment complaints," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "As a team of lawyers ramp up a Senate ethics investigation sparked by sexual misconduct allegations, one senator plans to file a bill that would create in independent commission to field reports of harassment and assault at the State House."
- "Massachusetts announces new plans and money to combat sexual violence," by Shira Schoenberg, Masslive.com: "Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito on Thursday will announce the awarding of $2.7 million in grants to address and prosecute domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault. The money will go to 37 organizations, including victims services organizations, law enforcement and prosecutors."
- "DeLeo affirms plan to remain in post, House after staff turnover," by Andy Metzger, State House News Service: "On track to become the longest continuously serving House speaker in state history in eight months, Rep. Robert DeLeo plans to run for re-election next year and then seek another two-year term as the leader of the House."
- "Gov. Baker reveals his priorities to fight opioids," by Karen Anderson, WCVB: "As the state moves on to fighting opioids another year, there is growing concern that successes with helping move users move into short-term detox settings are not being followed with a clear path to good, long-term treatment. Gov. Charlie Baker sat down with 5 Investigates' Karen Anderson to talk about this gap and his new, second legislative initiative to tackle it."
- "Opioids are major contributor to mortality rate in Massachusetts, experts say," by Alyssa Meyers, Boston Globe: "The death rate from drug overdoses rose by 21 percent nationwide in 2016, according to the report. In Massachusetts, the number of opioid-related deaths declined by an estimated 10 percent in the first nine months of this year from the first nine months of 2016, according to the Department of Public Health."
TRUMPACHUSETTS -
- "Why Jill Stein Isn't Worried About The Investigation Into Her Campaign," by Barbara Howard, WGBH: "Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein, a resident of Lexington, is on the hot seat. The Senate Intelligence Committee is investigating Russian interference in last year's presidential election, and it is asking for materials related to Stein's campaign."
ON THE STUMP -
- "Brookline state Rep. Frank Smizik to retire after 18 years," by Emma R. Murphy, Brookline TAB: "Capping 18 years in the House, state Rep. Frank Smizik, D-Brookline, is retiring and won't seek reelection when his term ends in January 2019."
- MERMELL EYES SMIZIK SEAT - Alliance For Business Leadership president, Patrick administration alum, and former Brookline Selectwoman Jesse Mermell is "taking a look at" the Brookline-based Smizik seat and race over the holidays, a source to Mermell told me yesterday ahead of Smizik's retirement announcement. The source continued: "Since speculation about Frank's retirement began, people in and out of the district have been reaching out to Jesse urging her to run. The question isn't if Jesse runs for something again, the question is what seat and when and whether this is right move at this time. From her perch at ABL, she's involved in numerous critical progressive policy pushes. Would she have same impact as State Rep.? That's the question she has to answer in the next few weeks."
- "Hefner news 'hurt our momentum,' defeated Senate candidate says," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "Asked if her campaign had been hurt by five days of headlines focused on allegations of sexual assault against the husband of former Senate President Stanley Rosenberg in the run-up to election day, she said, 'That's really hard to know. I think its fair to say the news about Mr. Hefner right before the final weekend of the campaign did hurt our momentum. How could it not?'"
- "Ballot questions advance on taxes, minimum wage, paid leave, nurse staffing," by Shira Schoenberg, Masslive.com: "Five topics for statewide ballot questions have gathered enough signatures to move on to the Legislature, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced Thursday. They are among seven statewide ballot questions that voters could get to weigh in on in November 2018."
WOOD WAR - Herald: "'WE WILL REMEMBER,'" "Nothing but net!" "Hub's rockin' eve." - Globe: "New rules set off rush to prepay property taxes," "Signs emerging of a GOP backlash in '18," "AFTER 30 YEARS, FREEDOM," "UN vote offers sharp rebuke to US on Jerusalem," "A night life manager might wake up this town," "Editor's note to our readers."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "'Instead of justice, he got a cushy job,'" by Matt Stout, Boston Herald: "A lot of people have asked me about forgiveness. But I'm not hearing that. People talk about Cardinal Law, and he's still very real to survivors in Boston, even though he's been gone for 15 years. I must hear someone rant about Cardinal Law at least once a week in my office."
- "Dukakis pitches the North-South rail link to the North Shore chamber of commerce," by Thomas Grillo, ItemLive.com: "Former governor and one-time presidential candidate Michael Dukakis visited the city Wednesday to promote another Big Dig, this time connecting North and South Stations. 'We are getting close to gridlock and desperately need a regional rail system in New England,' he said. 'And it starts by connecting those two stations instead of operating two separate commuter rail lines.'"
- "West Station vs. Boston Landing," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "Something seems amiss with the state's ridership numbers for the proposed West Station in Allston. The draft environmental impact report for the Allston Interchange forecasts 250 daily commuter riders and 2,900 bus riders when the station opens in 2040. But a host of people, most of whom want West Station built much sooner, are saying the commuter rail figures can't be right, given the existing congestion in the area and Harvard University's plans for 7 million square feet of development."
- "Worcester's Polar Seltzer rankles some with Boston-based fundraiser," by Bill Shaner, Worcester Magazine: "When longtime Worcester-based company Polar Seltzer announced its Seltzer Jr. vending machine program in Boston last week, it was met with applause and favorable media coverage - in Boston. The Seltzer Jr. vending machines were announced a week ago, and about a dozen were placed around the Boston area. ... But what's more, all the money raised by the machines is going directly to arts programs in public schools - Boston Public Schools."
- "Offshore wind: Start big or small?" by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "The three companies vying to build the first major offshore wind farm in the United States filed their proposals on Wednesday with Massachusetts officials. Each of the firms kept their pricing a secret, so they publicly tried to differentiate their projects based on size, transmission approaches, construction timetables, and partnerships."
- "Darrell Jones, A Prisoner For More Than 3 Decades, Is Freed On Bail," by Bruce Gellerman and Lisa Creamer, WBUR: "Darrell Jones, who has been in prison for 32 years for a murder he has always denied committing, was released on bail Thursday evening. Two days after another judge ruled Jones would receive a new trial, Plymouth County Superior Court Associate Judge Robert Cosgrove freed the Boston man on $5,000 bail."
MEDIA MATTERS - THE GLOBE NAMES A NAME: - "A note to Globe readers about our sexual harassment coverage," from Boston Globe Editor Brian McGrory: "For the record, the journalist's name is Jim O'Sullivan, a former State House reporter of four-plus years for the Globe. I am confirming what other news organizations have reported already. He made lewd propositions to one newsroom colleague and to two women that we are aware of on Beacon Hill. Though we know he apologized to his Globe colleague and stopped his advances, we felt his actions were an abuse of his position as a Globe reporter and completely inappropriate."
- Jim also tweeted out his own apology.
NEW HIRES - On the heels of its "Cybersecurity Campaign Playbook," Defending Digital Democracy, the bipartisan project co-led by Harvard University's Eric Rosenbach, Robby Mook and Matt Rhoades, is announcing four new additions to its senior leadership team: Yasmin Green, Director of Research and Development, Google Jigsaw; Siobhan Gorman, Director, Brunswick; Kent Luken, Managing Director, Citi Private Bank; Chris Collins, Co-Founder, First Atlantic Capital
SPOTTED - Former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis and former Bush Administration Homeland Security Official Ed Cash hosted their third annual Massachusetts Public Safety appreciation reception at Legal Seafood's rooftop lounge in the Seaport: Lt Governor Karyn Polito, House Speaker Bob DeLeo, Legal Seafood's President Roger Berkowitz, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Francisco Urena, Boston Fire Commissioner Joe Finn, Former Attorney General Martha Coakley, Former NYPD and Boston Commissioner Bill Bratton and his spouse TV personality Rikki Klieman, Brookline Police Chief Dan O'Leary, Lowell Police Superintendent Bill Taylor, former U.S Attorney Carmen Ortiz, Red Sox Security Chief Charlie Cellucci, New England Patriots Security Chief Bill Christiansen, former BPD Superintendent Dan Linskey, Boston Athletic Association head Tom Grilk, John Hancock's Tom Samoluk, The Boston Globe's Mike Bello, Chris Collins, Gerry Leone, Juliette Kayyem, Alex Rozek, Joe Baerlein and many others.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Boston Globe reporter Joshua Miller, who celebrated yesterday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Democratic State Committee member Scott Spencer and Bernie Lynch Jr., principal at Community Paradigm Associates LLC.
DID THE HOME TEAMS WIN? - Yes and no! The Bruins beat the Winnipeg Jets 2-1. But the Celtics fell to the Knicks 102-93.
FRESH OUT OF THE GATE - The latest episode of The Horse Race, a podcast about Massachusetts' most interesting campaigns from yours truly and MassINC Polling Group President Steve Koczela. This week, we're checking in on Maryland, which also has a popular Republican governor in a very blue state. Featuring special guest Goucher Poll's Mileah Kromer. Plus, Steve's Christmas Miracle: the democrats are shirking #mapoli political decorum and fielding primary challenges. We also check in on the Beacon Hill sexual harassment investigation and the campaign for Secretary of State. Listen on SoundCloud or iTunes.
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** A message from New England Clean Power Link : Poised to supply Massachusetts with 1,000 MW of clean, sustainable power, the New England Clean Power Link is ready to roll. The only project with a Presidential Permit, full site control and full host state support, the innovative buried project will help Massachusetts meet its legislative requirements for lower carbon emissions. The entire line will travel underground and underwater, and is expected to deliver low-cost electricity to the Commonwealth over the next 40 years. Massachusetts can expect to reap $19.9 billion in benefits over the next 20 years alone, while ratepayers can expect to save $655 million a year in energy costs. Most importantly, the project is 100% privately financed and comes with a fixed-price bid, protecting taxpayers and ratepayers alike from any cost overruns. The project's developers have also established a $20 million fund to assist low-income ratepayers in western Massachusetts. More **
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