POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CHALLENGER wave builds — Another HEFNER bombshell — ‘Star war’ in the TSONGAS ARENA
02/05/2018 07:13 AM EDT
By Lauren Dezenski (ldezenski@politico.com; @LaurenDezenski) with Brent D. Griffiths (bgriffiths@politico.com; @BrentGriffiths)
GOOD MORNING MASSACHUSETTS. The Super Bowl loss hurts but there's two bright spots: Greased-up street lights and utility poles still aren't a thing and, more importantly, it's Truck Day.
A DEM CHALLENGER WAVE BUILDS - We have our latest ripple in the wave of Massachusetts Democrats taking on sitting incumbents: Melrose's Democratic Town Committee chair Sam Hammar has announced a challenge to sitting State Sen. Jason Lewis.
Hammar's candidacy is especially noteworthy - Democratic town committee chairs are considered loyal foot soldiers, so a challenge toward an influential, uncontroversial senator like Lewis bucks conventional wisdom.
As Hammar put it to me yesterday: "There's something big happening in our nation right now, and the change is starting at the local level. Every session that we wait to change the makeup of our representatives, we are leaving more families further and further behind. If we don't raise our voices, we will not be heard."
And among the current crop of challengers, a trend is emerging - newcomers are largely younger, female, and diverse, all taking on long-term white male incumbents.
Among the contenders: Tahirah Amatul-Wadud is challenging Rep. Richard Neal, Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim is taking on Secretary of State Bill Galvin, Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley challenging Rep. Michael Capuano, and Carlene Elugardo is challenging House Ways and Means Chair Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez - she's one of six total challenges to sitting Democratic state reps.
These are relatively uncharted waters for Massachusetts Democrats, for whom the power of incumbency has been especially potent. After all, the state has had one of the lowest instances of challenges to incumbents in the country.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: ldezenski@politico.com.
TODAY - Gov. Charlie Baker and LG Karyn Polito announce $5 million in grants to local communities to help combat gang violence - The Cannabis Control Commission holds public hearings in Pittsfield and Holyoke - Framingham's inaugural mayor Yvonne Spicer delivers her inaugural State of the City speech.
DATELINE BEACON HILL -
- "Hefner had access to Rosenberg's e-mail," by Yvonne Abraham, Boston Globe: "After sexual misconduct allegations were leveled against his husband late last year, Senate President Stan Rosenberg reassured his colleagues about a key concern: His husband, Bryon Hefner, had no influence on Senate business. But according to interviews with those who dealt with Hefner, and communications reviewed by the Globe, Hefner was deeply involved in matters that Rosenberg had vowed to bar him from when he ascended to the presidency in 2015."
- "Tumult in Mass. Senate as politicians angle for top job," by Joshua Miller, Boston Globe:"The Massachusetts Senate was plunged into high political drama Sunday, with ambitious members shoring up support to become the chamber's next president and a sense among staffers and senators that a monthslong crisis fomented by allegations against Senator Stanley C. Rosenberg's husband, Bryon Hefner, was entering a new and perhaps final act. At least two Democratic senators, Sal N. DiDomenico of Everett and Karen E. Spilka of Ashland, were ramping up outreach to colleagues in recent days in an attempt to lock down support for their bids to be Senate president, according to people familiar with the efforts. Senator Eileen M. Donoghue of Lowell has also said she will seek the Senate's top job, should it open."
A RETROSPECTIVE - "Charlie Baker had a not-so-stellar week," by Joshua Miller, Boston Globe: "The administration's pick for a project to increase the amount of renewable energy used in the state - announced just last week - was dealt what could be a dire setback Thursday, when New Hampshire officials denied a key permit to build 192 miles of transmission lines. Also Thursday, the state agency that oversees health benefits for hundreds of thousands of public employees, retirees, and their families - over which Baker has considerable control - reversed course. Democratic opponents of Baker, who is seeking a second term this year, piled on."
- "Massachusetts House, Senate pass $15 million in aid for schools accepting Puerto Rican students who fled hurricane damage," by Shira Schoenberg, MassLive.com: "The $15 million would be distributed based on the existing local education aid formula, and the amount districts get would depend on how many additional students they have. Since September, more than 2,300 students have fled hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico and arrived in Massachusetts."
- "Charter champion's firing came after sexual harassment allegations," by Eliza Shapiro and Caitlin Emma, POLITICO: "For years, Jeremiah Kittredge has been a darling of the national charter school movement's wealthiest and most powerful benefactors ... that all ended on Wednesday, [when a board member for Families for Excellent Schools'] said [Kittredge] had been 'terminated' following an outside law firm's investigation into allegations of 'inappropriate behavior toward a non-employee.' In November 2016, Kittredge led Families for Excellent Schools' Massachusetts arm ... to a 25-point loss in a ballot referendum that would have expanded the number of charters that can open in the Bay State."
DATELINE DC -
- "Kennedy, Moulton in separate orbits, for now," by Victoria McGrane, Boston Globe: "Representatives Joe Kennedy III, of Brookline, and Seth Moulton, of Salem, insist there is no rivalry, despite the media's best efforts to concoct one, and that there is plenty of room for both of them in Massachusetts, a state with a history of producing an abundance of political talent (although no presidential winners since 1960). If they are to be believed, they could star in their own buddy movie."
TRUMPACHUSETTS -
- "Mass. utilities ordered to set new rates based on federal tax cuts," by Evan Allen and Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: "The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities on Friday ordered electric, gas, and water companies to determine new rates, so consumer bills are adjusted to reflect the corporate tax cuts approved by Congress in December. 'This is a huge victory for ratepayers who deserve the benefit of this major tax break for utilities,' Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement Friday."
ON THE STUMP -
NEW HIRE - From the Kingston campaign: Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Kingston has brought on Kim Roy, the longtime Director of External Affairs and Communications Director for Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis. Roy, who is also a Massachusetts GOP Committeewoman, will join the Kingston campaign on a leave of absence from Evangelidis' staff. Roy will be Communications Director for the Kingston campaign.
- "New House budget chief rakes in campaign cash," by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Times: "[Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez] has collected more than $110,000 in campaign contributions from last July - when he was tapped by House Speaker Robert DeLeo to take over the powerful House Ways and Means Committee - through the end of the year, according to reports filed with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. The total is more than he's collected in the past two election cycles combined."
- "Carr: History shows Capuano, Galvin need not fret," by Howie Carr, Boston Herald: "The bad news for U.S. Rep. Mike Capuano and Secretary of State Bill Galvin is that they have primary opponents in their re-election bids this year. The good news is their opponents are Boston city councilors, which means they have approximately three chances of defeating the two sixty-something incumbents: Slim, fat and none."
THE TSONGAS ARENA
NEW THIS MORNING - Rufus Gifford has been endorsed by Foreign Policy for America Action Network, a nonpartisan national advocacy organization/PAC "that helps elect federal candidates who champion strong, principled American foreign policy."
NEW HIRE - Dean Lieberman has started as Communications Director for Rufus Gifford. Lieberman previously was a spokesman at the State Department and Press Secretary to Sen. Feinstein. Originally from Andover, Mass., he's headed back to his hometown district for the 2018 cycle.
- "The Column: Donors turn 3rd race into a star war," by Lowell Sun staff: "Ernie Boch Jr., the New England auto dealership magnate with an annoyingly catchy jingle, was an early and prominent backer of Donald Trump ... donated $250 to state Rep. Barbara L'Italien, a Democrat. Producer and director J.J. Abrams ... donated $5,400 to Lancaster Democrat Steve Kerrigan, as did Katie McGrath, Bad Robot co-CEO and Abrams' wife. Lowell native Alan Solomont, a former U.S. ambassador to Spain and Andorra, also donated $2,700 to [Dan] Koh."
- "Candidate Gifford: Congress needs to rebuild trust," by Alana Melanson, Sentinel & Enterprise: "As U.S. ambassador to Denmark during the Obama administration, 3rd District congressional candidate Rufus Gifford said he had to work diligently to try to bridge a gap in trust between people and government. One of the ways he said he plans to reach across the aisle is to encourage green sector job growth. Most wind turbine components are imported from Europe, but Gifford believes they should be manufactured here."
THE WARREN REPORT -
- "Elizabeth Warren, in Austin, urges more Texas women to run for office," by Julie Chang, Austin American-Statesman: "The Massachusetts politician, a darling of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, was the keynote speaker at the 15th anniversary celebration of Annie's List, whose mission is to get more progressive Texas women to run for office. Hundreds of people, mostly women, attended the noon event at the Long Center."
- "Fed slams Wells Fargo with penalty, as four board members ousted," by Victoria Guida, POLITICO: "The Federal Reserve took action against Wells Fargo for the first time in connection with the massive fake accounts scandal and other customer abuses that have been uncovered at the giant bank since 2016. 'For months, I have repeatedly pressed Janet Yellen to hold Wells Fargo accountable for its fake accounts scam and push out responsible Board Members,' Warren said in a tweet. 'Today she did it - in her last act as Fed Chair.'"
MEDIA MATTERS - "Digital First may put bid to buy Boston Herald," by Brian Dowling, Boston Herald: "Digital First Media is interviewing editors at the Boston Herald in connection with a potential bid to buy the newspaper."
THE LOCAL ANGLE -
- "Holy Cross will keep the name 'Crusaders' after concerns that it was offensive," by Brian Dowling, Boston Herald: "The College of the Holy Cross is keeping its century-old sports name "the Crusaders" after eight weeks of campus reflection amid concerns the name could offend Muslims. 'While we acknowledge that the Crusades were among the darkest periods in Church history, we choose to associate ourselves with the modern definition of the word crusader, one which is representative of our Catholic, Jesuit identity and our mission and values as an institution and community,' Holy Cross President the Rev. Philip L. Boroughs and Board Chair John J. Mahoney wrote yesterday i n an email to students, staff, faculty and alumni."
- "College Newspaper Changes Name Over Negative Connotations," by the Associated Press: "An editorial Friday said the change had nothing to do with 'the nominal association with a poorly-circulated KKK newspaper,' but because of the violence and massacres associated with the medieval Crusades. The staff at The Crusader announced Friday the paper will now be known as The Spire."
- "Pot dispensaries to open soon in Mashpee, Plymouth," by Christine Legere, Cape Cod Times: "It is difficult to gauge how many customers the two dispensaries will draw, since until now, medical marijuana cardholders from Plymouth and the Cape and Islands have gotten used to traveling to one of the other 19 dispensaries open in the state.Mashpee and Plymouth have signed host agreements with Triple M [formerly known as Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts], under which they were paid $20,000 in 2016, $40,000 in 2017 and are slated to get $100,000 in 2018."
- "Lawsuit alleges Gardner failed to fix water problem," by Paula Owen, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "A Boston law firm has filed a class action lawsuit against Gardner and two of its water consultants, alleging the city and the companies the city hired to manage its water supply were negligent and sold, supplied and distributed corrosive water to residents and businesses. In an email, City Solicitor John M. Flick said Gardner legal counsel was reviewing the complaint and preparing the city's response."
MARK YOUR CALENDAR - "Al Gore to speak about climate change and politics at Tufts," by the Associated Press: "Former Vice President Al Gore will speak about climate change and politics at Tufts University on Wednesday. The Gore event is open to the Tufts community, and will be livestreamed."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Patrick Bruce, deputy political director at the New England Regional Council of Carpenters and former state rep and North-South Rail Link advocate John Businger.
DID THE HOME TEAMS WIN? - Yes and No! Despite the Patriots' Super Bowl loss to the Eagles 33-41, the Celtics won against the Blazers with a buzzer beater 97-96. And the Bruins beat the Maple Leafs 4-1 on Saturday.
ICYMI: THE HORSE RACE - Linda Dorcena Forry is out, Ayanna Pressley is in and Beth Lindstrom, John Kingston, and Geoff Diehl fight for the cash in this week's episode of The Horse Race. Plus, Jennifer Smith of the Dorchester Reporter joins us in the studio and a surprise appearance from a familiar voice explains -- you guessed it -- polls polls polls. Subscribe and listen on iTunes andSound Cloud
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