POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: STAFF UP in MA-3 — SETTI, BAKER, and GOP cash — BAIN founder dies

01/18/2018 07:18 AM EDT

By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) and Rebecca Morin (rmorin@politico.com; @RebeccaMorin_)

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Sunny with a high of 33 in Boston today.

CASHING IN, STAFFING UP IN MA-3 - There's a blizzard of cash in the 3rd congressional district as campaigns begin to come forward with their latest fundraising numbers from the final three months of 2017 - and for some, that's brought on a flurry of new hires.

Dan Koh continues to lead the crowded Democratic field with an eye-popping $1.6 million raised since August. And, first in Playbook this morning, we have a hint at what Koh is doing with that cash: staffing up.

Koh's campaign is announcing seven full-time hires this morning: Field Director Ben Hoffman (who cut his teeth on the 2013 Ed Markey Senate race and recently worked on Virginia's Democratic Coordinated Campaign), Political Director Victoria McGroary (an alum of Sue Chalifoux Zephir's state Senate campaign), Deputy Political Director Katie Warshaw (who just worked on Haverhill state Representative Andy Vargas' successful campaign for the Third Essex District seat), Communications Director Justin Curtis, Digital Director Brendan Cohen, Finance Director Beth Dindas, and Director of Scheduling and Operations James Cody (a former College Democrats of Massachusetts president and district coordinator for Rep. Joe Kennedy III).

Alexandra Chandler also has staffing and fundraising news out this morning - the former senior naval Intelligence analyst raised "more than $50,000" since announcing her run in November. It's the sum of 270 donations, 70 percent of which were $100 or less, according to her campaign.

The cash also allowed Chandler to bring on a former staffer from U.S. Senator Doug Jones' Alabama campaign: Lauren Young. A UMass Lowell grad, Young will serve as deputy campaign manager. She was deputy digital director for Jones.

Meanwhile, we have some other latest cumulative fundraising totals, for context with the other Democratic contenders for Tsongas' seat (who've released their numbers so far): Lori Trahan has raised $550,000, Rufus Gifford has raised $500,000, Beej Das has $425,000, and Barbara L'Italienhas $320,000.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.

TODAY - The state Senate meets in formal session - MassINC hosts a discussion on how disruptive technologies should be regulated with state Sen. Stan Rosenberg, state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, and Will Burns of Airbnb - AG Maura Healey is scheduled to appear on WBUR's Radio Boston at 3 p.m.

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DATELINE BEACON HILL -

- "Bump-Fire Stock Ban On Track For Feb. 1 Enactment, But Don't Expect To Be Reimbursed For Complying," by Evan Lips, New Boston Post: "With the state's ban on bump-fire stocks and trigger cranks set to begin at the start of next month, the Gun Owners' Action League is questioning the "forced surrender" policy as interpreted by the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, criticizing the guideline for having "only one legal path to follow - turning the device(s) over to police" without reimbursement. The pro-Second Amendment organization recently uploaded a copy of a letter penned by EOPSS Secretary Daniel Bennett, slated to be mailed out to licensed Massachusetts gun owners, to its website."

- "Mass. regulators take aggressive step against cryptocurrency offering," by Andy Rosen, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin on Wednesday revealed aggressive steps against what's known as an initial coin offering, arguing that one company's approach to the novel, high-tech corporate fund-raising technique amounts to an illegal sale of securities. Galvin's office said it had filed administrative charges against the company Caviar, which is selling digital assets built on technology similar to that behind bitcoin."

-"Gov. Charlie Baker 'skeptical' about safe drug injection sites," by Shira Schoenberg, Masslive.com: "Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday voiced skepticism about the idea of safe injection sites, where a person can come to inject themselves with illegal drugs in a hygienic environment with oversight by trained staff. Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said during testimony before a legislative committee that she is 'interested in understanding more' about the idea."

TRUMPACHUSETTS -

- "Mass. Health Connector makes push before enrollment deadline Tuesday," by Worcester Telegram: "The Massachusetts Health Connector will hold Day of Coverage II activities on Thursday in Worcester and Fitchburg, among other communities, aimed at getting residents insured prior to the last day of open enrollment. The last day to enroll in MassHealth is Tuesday, Jan. 23."

- "Walsh Backs Dems On DACA 'Even If It Means A Shutdown,'" by WGBH: "As the country waits to see whether congressional leaders can hammer out a deal to avoid a government shutdown, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says he stands behind his fellow Democrats in Washington, D.C., on their push to shield DACA recipients from deportation. 'I think that the DREAMers that are here ... they're legal,' Walsh said on Greater Boston."

- "US attorney unnerves pot advocates, but those who know him say chill," by Maria Cramer, Boston Globe: "A middle-aged executive had used stolen identities to inflate company revenues. He faced at least a 20-year sentence under federal guidelines. But instead, Assistant US Attorney Andrew Lelling agreed to five years,recalled the defendant's lawyer, veteran criminal defense attorney Martin G. Weinberg. 'Andy helped me avoid the risk of a Draconian outcome,' Weinberg said of the 2012 case. 'It demonstrated to me that he individualizes cases and doesn't simply maximize the coercive use of federal powers .'"

- "Massachusetts joins multi-state lawsuit against repeal of net-neutrality," by the Associated Press: "Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has joined a coalition of 21 states and the District of Columbia suing to block the Federal Communications Commission's repeal of net-neutrality rules.These rules barred companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon from interfering with internet traffic and favoring their own sites and apps. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's push to undo them inspired both street and online protests in defense of the Obama-era rules."

ON THE STUMP -

- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK - SETTI WHACKS BAKER OVER GOP CASH: In an email blast to be sent this morning by the Setti campaign : "Former Newton Mayor Setti Warren says that Republican Governor Charlie Baker is helping to fund anti-journalism propaganda put out by the Republican National Committee through Baker's joint fundraising agreement with the national Republican Party. ... Last night, the Republican National Committee hosted the release of President Trump's 'Fake News Awards.' The fake awards are aimed at casting doubt on the legitimacy of the investigation into apparent collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. ... 'After the Republican National Committee started spending money to support Roy Moore in Alabama and after they started paying Donald Trump's legal bills, Republican Charlie Baker said he would continue to raise millions for the national Republican Party,' Warren said in a statement. 'For a year it's been clear that Donald Trump decides how the Republican Party spends its money and Charlie Baker keeps sending money to Washington, D.C. ... "Our governor - and his Massachusetts supporters who write checks to his campaign fund - are on the hook for whatever the national Republican Party does with their money."

- "With 30 Times More Cash Than The Dems, Baker And Polito Are Formidable! But Unbeatable?" by David S. Bernstein, WGBH: "Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito entered this re-election year with a combined stash of more than $10 million in their campaign accounts-more than 30 times the sum in all of their Democratic competitors combined. The Democrats running for Governor are environmental activist Bob Massie, former budget secretary under Deval Patrick; Jay Gonzalez, another top Patrick official with a varied portfolio; and former Newton mayor Setti Warren. Attorney Quentin Palfrey and comedian Jimmy Tingle are vying to be lieutenant governor, the ticket's number two position."

- "Meet gubernatorial hopeful Jay Gonzalez," by Scot Lehigh, Boston Globe: "Another election year is upon us, which means it's time to look at some of the candidates for high office in Massachusetts. This week, I sat down with Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Jay Gonzalez, the erstwhile right-hand budget man to former governor Deval Patrick. Herewith, an introduction to JayGo, who rose from an undersecretary post to serve as state secretary of administration and finance from October 2009 to January 2013, after which he became CEO of CeltiCare Health Plan."

- "Healey GOP Challenger Says He'll 'Get Politics Out' of Massachusetts AG Office," by Evan Lips, New Boston Post: "The 45-year-old Boston-based intellectual property attorney from Cape Cod wants to be the Bay State's first Republican attorney general in nearly 50 years. To achieve it, Shores has to do something that few GOPers have managed to accomplish in Massachusetts politics - knock off an incumbent Democrat."

- "Geoff Diehl Senate campaign says it has $1 million in donations," by Chris Cassidy, Boston Herald: "Republican state Rep. Geoff Diehl raised approximately $300,000 last quarter in his bid for the GOP nomination in the U.S. Senate race and his campaign claimed he is the first candidate in the primary to take in more than $1 million in donations. 'It shows that we have not only strong grass-roots support, but also good grass-roots fundraising support,' Diehl campaign spokeswoman Holly Robichaud said."

WOOD WAR - Herald: "THAT HURTS!" - Globe: "Koreans to march together at Games," "It's time for change at Hasty Pudding," "NEWLY AMERICAN," "Judge likens group to Jews fleeing Nazis," "Lawyers say new US attorney likely flexible on pot cases," "Jolts at GE won't leave Boston shuddering."

THE LOCAL ANGLE -

- "When can you legally buy marijuana in Massachusetts? Here's the timeline," by Gintautas Dumcius, MassLive: "Massachusetts voters approved marijuana for medical use in 2012, but it took the state nearly three years to open its first dispensary. The timeline for retail pot shops is looking a little more expeditious, even with some delays and the uncertainty brought about by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions."

- "Should 16-, 17-year-olds get right to vote in Holyoke city elections?" by Mike Plaisance, MassLive.com: "Seventeen-year-olds can serve in the military and drive a car, so a councilor wants to explore whether they also should be allowed to vote in city elections. 'I believe that if you're old enough to get a license, you should be old enough to vote in the local elections, so that's why I filed the order, to see if the voters of the city of Holyoke agree with me,' Ward 2 Councilor Nelson R. Roman said Tuesday at City Hall."

MEDIA MATTERS - "At The Boston Globe, the editorial pages are looking for new ways to engage readers," by Dan Kennedy, Nieman Lab: "If the daily newspaper sometimes seems like a fusty relic, that's especially true of the opinion pages. The standard format - chin-stroking editorials representing the anonymously expressed views of the institution, opinion columns by staff writers and outside contributors, letters to the editor, and a cartoon - has been unchanged for decades. Since 2014, though, The Boston Globe's editorial-page editor, Ellen Clegg, has been overseeing a gradual metamorphosis."

REST IN PEACE - "Bain & Co. founder Bill Bain dies at age 80," by Jon Chesto: "William Bain Jr., a management consultant who started two Boston firms that became influential shapers of businesses across the globe and who helped propel the business career of former governor Mitt Romney, died Tuesday at his home in Naples, Fla. He was 80."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to former Sen. Paul Kirk who turns 80, David Jacobs, publisher of the Boston Guardian, and Shane Cardillo, senior analyst at Hamilton Lane

DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes! - The Bruins topped the Canadiens 4-1.

FRESH OUT OF THE GATE - THE LATEST HORSE RACE PODCAST EPISODE: This week it's all about the money, and the numbers are eye-popping -- Warren's making bank, candidates in the MA-3 are raking it in and Marty Walsh is growing his war chest fresh off reelection.

We also check in on Brendan Crighton's walk into the state Senate and preview the governor's upcoming State of the Commonwealth speech. Subscribe and listen to our past episodes on iTunesand Sound Cloud

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