Snark-Infested Waters by Mike Bailey

Snark-Infested Waters by Mike Bailey

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Posts Tagged ‘Bill Delahunt’


The week in politics

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Welcome to what unintentionally became the (Almost) All-Congressional Edition of the column.

We start this week with State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable), who has a couple of campaign events coming up. On Sunday he’ll be at the Flying Bridge in Falmouth for a reception with Vicki Donnelly, Mary L. (Pat) Flynn, William Zammer, and former state rep. Eric T. Turkington. That runs from 3 to 5 PM. That starts at 3 PM.

Then on Wednesday, June 30, Sen. O’Leary will be at the Roadhouse Café in Hyannis for a reception, which begins at 6 PM. Go to www.olearyforcongress.com/events for more information.

Sen. O’Leary recently scored a solid endorsement for his Congressional bid, from Paul G. Kirk Jr., the fellow who filled the late US Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s seat until January’s special election.

“I have spent much of my life in public service…I have observed many hard working and talented public servants, but none more responsive and dedicated to the people’s interests than Rob O’Leary,” Mr. Kirk said in a statement to the media.

Mr. Kirk extolled Sen. O’Leary’s work on projects ranging from the Cape Cod Land Bank (which gave birth to the Community Preservation Act) to the Cape Light Compact (yet, oddly, made no mention of his work on the Oceans Management Act). He called the senator “a man of vision and a proven problem solver.”

***

US Senator Scott P. Brown, who campaigned quite a bit on the Cape in his quest to succeed the late US Senator Edward M. Kennedy, returns tomorrow to host a fundraiser for his old State House colleague State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich), Republican candidate for Congress.

The general reception will be held at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis from 5:30 PM to 7 PM. Go to www.JeffPerryforCongress.com for more info (and brace yourself for some sticker shock if you want the deluxe meet-and-greet package).

***

On that note: last week while chatting with Congressman William D. Delahunt and State Representative Sarah K. Peake (D – Provincetown), I was asked my thoughts on the Congressional race. The conversation eventually turned to the hoo-hah surrounding Rep. Perry, and I thought I’d repeat some key points here.

Without naming names, there are one or two folks in the media who firmly believe that Rep. Perry’s Congressional campaign is falling apart under the weight of renewed scrutiny (renewed by the self-same people, I add) over the Scott Flanagan case.

My opinion? This is no more than wishful thinking on their part. Three campaign offices, $150,000 in campaign funds raised in the first quarter of 2010, a very active schedule of events and appearances, major endorsements from Sen. Brown and Mitt Romney – hardly the signs of an imploding campaign.

Joseph D. Malone is the true immediate threat to Rep. Perry’s campaign, not an old (and, really, inconclusive) controversy. The Malone machine has been humming along briskly, and he’s made a point to get down to the Cape on a regular basis to establish a presence and fight Rep. Perry’s home turf advantage, and that’s a much more tangible concern.

What I’m left wondering is whether the media will revisit with the same gleeful abandon the skeleton in Mr. Malone’s closet. Recall, if you will, that when Mr. Malone was our state treasurer in 1999 seven men, including his head campaign fundraiser and a deputy treasurer he appointed, stole $9.4 million from the treasury – the largest theft of state funds in Massachusetts history.

The embezzlement was discovered weeks after Mr. Malone left office, who was never implicated in the crimes.

So, to recap: the two leading GOP candidates are both under lingering suspicion of having knowledge of crimes committed by colleagues under their supervision at their former jobs, even though neither man was ever decisively or formally connected to the criminal acts in question and the only people who seem to really care are people with very old, dull axes to grind.

Make of all that what you will, but my humble advice, voters: let the real or imagined sins of the past be but one factor in your decision-making process when you hit the polls this year, and don’t let a biased smear campaign – against ANY candidate – make your minds up for you.

***

Having said all that, the Plymouth County Republican Committee last Friday released the results of an online straw poll on the Congressional race. I mention as a point of amusement that this poll included ALL the Congressional candidates, not just the Republicans — hell, they even listed Maryanne Lewis, who was never more than a rumored third-party candidate.

Guess who won?

Yep: Jeff Perry, by a very healthy margin.

Rep. Perry received 59 percent of the vote in that poll (540 votes out of 914 votes cast), with Joe Malone coming in second with 33 percent. Not surprisingly, the Democratic and unenrolled candidates were not even blips on the PCRC’s radar.

***

Speaking of unknown unenrolled Congressional candidates, Weymouth CPA Thomas A. Lawler is apparently bucking for a spot on the November ballot. His political experience seems to be limited to two terms as a Weymouth Town Meeting member. Reaching for that brass ring a little early, aren’t we?

His campaign website is at www.lawlerforcongress.com.

***

Now to break the pattern: Republican Thomas F. Keyes is holding a campaign event on Wednesday. Join Mr. Keyes at Grange Hall in Sandwich from 6 to 8 PM for the spaghetti supper fundraiser in support of his State Senate campaign. Go to www.votekeyes.com/events for more info.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The week in politics

Friday, May 14th, 2010

Welcome to a very special — by which I mean I expect to see a lot angry of e-mails come Monday – edition of the column.

Over the past few weeks a person writing under the pseudonym “Mercy Otis” for CapeCodToday.com has posted several challenges to State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) to “come clean” about an incident from his past – specifically from his time as a Wareham police officer.

These challenges have come with only vague allusions to the incident in question and, it seems, the writer wants Rep. Perry to fill in all the details himself. He has thus far declined.

Well, here’s the story, as (I say immodestly) I first reported on it in 2002, back when Rep. Perry was first running for the Legislature. The information is taken from extensive court documents provided to me in October 2002 by – guess what? – an anonymous source and enhanced by Rep. Perry’s own recollections as told to me in an in-person interview.

(This is the super-condensed version, so if you want to check out the original full story, go show your library some love and check out the October 22, 2002 issue of the Sandwich Enterprise on microfilm. And no, I won’t send you a copy.)

On New Year’s Eve 2002, a Wareham PD patrolman named Scott Flanagan approached then 16-year-old Heather Adams as she was preparing to light a joint in front of a Wareham convenience store. He took her behind the store and ordered her to drop her pants and lift up her shirt. A neighbor interrupted this, and Flanagan made a veiled threat against Adams to keep her quiet.

Flanagan called then-Sergeant Perry, the shift supervisor on duty, to the scene and gave him a different account of what happened.

Flanagan was fired following a rapid internal investigation. Criminal charges were later filed, and in November 1993 he was convicted on multiple offenses (including indecent assault and battery on a child over 14) and went to jail for four years. The family won a subsequent civil suit against the town.

Then-Sgt. Perry was not, according to court documents, present during the incident, he was never charged with any crime himself, nor was he ever disciplined for anything. He was originally named in the civil suit, but later dropped from it. He left the department in July 1993 in good standing and opened a convenience store.

How and why is this relevant now? Is it relevant? Some would say yes, it’s absolutely relevant; Rep. Perry is running for Congress now and should be held to very high standards of character and conduct. If he has done anything wrong in the past, it should be brought to light.

Others would say no, that the past is in the past, and to now dredge up a closed chapter in his life, which ended with no clearly damning proof of complicity, is nothing more than cheap mudslinging by those who don’t want to see a Republican — or at the very least, Rep. Perry specifically – claim the seat currently held by the retiring William D. Delahunt (D).

Neither “Mercy Otis” nor Rep. Perry are entirely in the right here. “Mercy” should have laid out specific accusations rather than engaging in rumor and innuendo, which makes his/her motivations feel shady, even cowardly; and instead of being evasive, Rep. Perry should have presented this info himself and cut the rumor mill off at the knees, lest he give people a reason to think he is hiding something.

As for the question of relevancy? Well, that’s why I present this information here now: to let the voters decide if it’s relevant – just as this paper did in 2002, when the voters considered the facts and made up their own minds.

Need I point out that with all this in mind, voters chose to support Rep. Perry’s candidacy and voted him into office, and over a three-term incumbent?

We now return to your regularly scheduled parade of dumb jokes and obscure pop-culture references.

***

Two key deadlines have passed for candidates: April 27 for candidates for district and county-level offices to submit their completed nomination papers, May 4 for federal and statewide offices.

This means we can officially declare that five people of note are running unopposed in 2010, barring a last-minute write-in candidacy: James M. Cummings, Barnstable County sheriff; Michael D. O’Keefe, Cape and Islands district attorney; William Doherty, Barnstable County commissioner; State Representative Timothy R. Madden (D – Nantucket), and – and this is the stunner – Martha Coakley, Massachusetts’ attorney general.

Over the next two weeks, as registrars of voters certify signatures, we’ll know if anyone else gets a free pass due to their opponent failing to collect enough valid signatures. The person most likely to go bye-bye: Grace C. Ross, Democratic candidate for governor.

Ms. Ross, who jumped ship from the Green-Rainbow Party to challenge Deval L. Patrick for the Democratic nomination, was uncertain whether she’d collected enough signatures to make it onto the primary ballot. Don’t be surprise if she falls short and drops out of the running.

***

Speaking of Mr. O’Keefe, he is holding in Falmouth on Monday a spring reception as part of his re-election campaign. That’ll be at the Nobska House from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, and campaign donations will be accepted.

***

Senate President Therese M. Murray (D – Plymouth), who stopped by the Enterprise this week to chat with the editorial board, will officially launch her re-election campaign next Thursday, May 20 with two events. The local kick-off event will be held at The Brookside Club in Bourne from 7 to 9 PM, and it’s open to the public.

***

State Representative Demetrius J. Atsalis (D – Barnstable) launches his re-election campaign next week – Monday, to be precise – at Tommy Doyle’s Irish Pub. That event runs from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. For more information call 508-771-5422.

Also, Rep. Atsalis’s new website is now up and running at www.electatsalis.org. It’s kind of “meh” at present but I’m told by Rep. Atsalis more content will be coming soon.

***

This is an interesting fundraiser: State Representative Susan D. William Gifford (R – Wareham) is combining her 10th wedding anniversary with her re-election campaign at an event at the Bay Pointe Country Club in Onset.

Anyway, the event is Wednesday, May 26 from 6 to 8:30 PM, and you can attend for a suggested donation of $25. RSVP by next Friday by calling 508-295-5999.

***

Back to the Congressional race for a minute. Joseph D. Malone continues to add to his really unimpressive list of endorsements with the announcement that Robert Kraus, a Kingston state rep. between 1989 and 1996, is supporting his campaign.

Joe. Baby. How about getting a nod from someone who hasn’t been out of politics as long as you’ve been?

Ah, but credit where it’s due: Mr. Malone chose Falmouth to launch his “Joe’s on the Job Tour” of locally owned businesses across the state. He hit Fucillo Ready Mix and The Clam Man to make his first stops, which marks the first time he’s visited the region since starting up his campaign. It’ll be interesting to see how he tries to counter Rep. Perry’s hometown advantage.

***

James Henderson, unenrolled candidate for Secretary of the Commonwealth, has launched his official campaign website at www.jimforsoc.com. It’s a starter site so there’s not much on it, but it’s there.

***

And Finally, Charles D. Baker Jr., Republican candidate for governor, was down on the Cape last week, marking his – and this is a rough guess – 99th visit to the region since January. One more and he earns a free pizza from Paul’s and a “Cape Cod Canal Tunnel Permit” bumper sticker.

I mention this because, so far, Mr. Baker is the only gubernatorial candidate to make any appreciable effort to get down here and do some serious campaigning. Gov. Patrick has popped up once or twice for official purposes, Green-Rainbow candidate Jill E. Stein has visited once, and Timothy P. Cahill has been a total no-show.

Granted, these other three folks have jobs while Baker’s only job right now appears to be campaigning full-time, but Cape Cod often gets overlooked by candidates in statewide races, so it’s nice that someone is putting in some face time.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The week in politics

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Were you one of the lucky Cape Codders who witnessed last month’s debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates Charles D. Baker Jr. and Christy P. Mihos?

Yeah, well, savor the memories because it ain’t happening again.

Mr. Mihos got bumped from the race over the weekend after he failed to collect enough delegates at the state GOP convention, leaving Mr. Baker free and clear to focus his resources on the November general election.

In terms of strategy, this was a wise move by the GOP. The Mihos campaign has been dying a death of a thousand cuts, bleeding out staffers and money since late last year, and that indicates a serious lack of confidence in the candidate both within the campaign and without.

Nevertheless, I don’t much care for the decision being taken out of voters’ hands like this. Smilin’ Christy M. had his supporters and they’re probably not too thrilled that their guy was taken out of the race through no fault of their own.

Republicans like to champion the purity of the political process, and it would have been nice of them to step up and give Mihos the opportunity to succeed or fail on his own merits at the ballot box.

All that said, it wouldn’t be presumptuous to say that we have our November ballot ready to go: Mr. Baker for the GOP, unenrolled candidate Timothy P. Cahill, Green-Rainbow candidate Dr. Jill E. Stein, and incumbent Democrat Deval L. Patrick.

Now technically, Gov. Patrick still has a primary challenge in the form of Grace C. Ross, but it’s tough to call her a viable candidate. Financial resources (or lack thereof) aside, she’s been invisible since announcing her candidacy back in February, and I’d bet good money that when the Dems have their state convention in June, Ms. Ross is going to get the Mihos treatment.

Very quick aside: the latest poll from the Western New England College Polling Institute has Gov. Patrick winning a three-way race between him, Cahill, and Baker – 34 percent, 29 percent, and 27 percent respectively, with an error margin of 4.5 percent…in other words, enough to completely change the results, but these findings continue the trend of the incumbent leading the pack.

***

Along with giving Mr. Baker and his running mate Richard Tisei the official nod for governor, the GOP endorsed the following candidates for statewide offices: Karyn Polito for treasurer, Mary Z. Connaughton for auditor (with a “I guess we’ll let you run too” vote for Kamal Jain), and William Campbell for secretary of the Commonwealth. Not really a big deal since they were the only Republican candidates for these seats, but there you go.

Once again, I must note that there is no one from the GOP running against Attorney General Martha Coakley. This, to me, is the biggest surprise of the season thus far.

***

One final note here: Mr. Baker picked up an endorsement last week from Barbara Anderson, co-founder of Citizens for Limited Taxation.

***

Sheila R. Lyons, Democratic candidate for state senator of the Cape and Islands, is holding her campaign kickoff event next month in Hyannis.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, May 6 and will be held in the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum (Oooh! Stately!) from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served, and campaign donations will be accepted. For more information call 508-274-4345.

Ms. Lyons is currently a member of the Barnstable County Board of County Commissioners.

She now has one fewer opponent in the primary as Mark D. Forest, aide to Congressman William D. Delahunt, has dropped out of the race. He said he plans to focus on assisting his long-time boss finish out his term rather than run for the seat currently held by State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable) – who is, notably, running for Rep. Delahunt’s seat.

Ms. Lyons will face off against fellow Democrat Daniel A. Wolf in September.

***

On that note: Mr. Wolf is holding his campaign kick-off tomorrow at The Paddock in Hyannis, and that runs from 4 PM to 6 PM. To RSVP, call Stefanie Coxe at 508-360-9074 or kickoff@danwolfforsenate.com.

***

Democrat David A. Smith of Wareham has apparently filed his nomination papers for state representative of the second Plymouth district, which includes Bourne, and held his campaign kickoff party in Onset last week.

***

James F. Munafo Jr., Republican candidate for state representative of the second Barnstable district, has scheduled his campaign kickoff event. He’ll bet at the Hyannis Golf Course on Saturday, May 8 from 5 to 7 PM. Contact the campaign at 508-771-8101 or votemunafo@integrity.com.

***

Mr. Campbell, the aforementioned Republican candidate for secretary of the Commonwealth, has launched his campaign website at www.billcampbell2010.com and it’s — well, lame. It’s one page with almost no useful information, and I’m assuming it’s a placeholder until the real site can get up and running.

In the meantime it remains a contender for the Most Craptastic Campaign Website of 2010, along with the equally aforementioned Ms. Connaughton, who has had a placeholder page, complete with promise of “website coming soon,” up since November. NOVEMBER.

Fellow auditor candidate Earle Stroll was also on the list of nominees, but he has dropped out of the race…just like he did in 2005. Man, why does this guy even bother?

State Representative Demetrius J. Atsalis (D – Barnstable) is on the list for now, but I’ll give him some credit for at last scrapping his long-disused ghost town of a former site. The coming new site will be at http://www.electatsalis.org.

***

Joseph D. Malone, Republican candidate for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District, continues to rack up endorsements from people who don’t really matter anymore. The latest comes from Paul Doane of Harwich, who served as a state senator from 1981 to 1989.

I generally don’t place much stock in endorsements, but Mr. Malone’s high-profile supporters have thus far been people who haven’t been in the political game for several years. Why should we care? It’s like Foghat bragging about being the most popular band on the King Biscuit Flour Hour.

(If you know what I’m talking about, congratulations: you’re really old.)

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The week in politics

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Busy week this week!

As you may have seen on the front page of this week’s Region section, Charles D. Baker Jr. and Christy P. Mihos held their first debate of the season in Hyannis last week.

Go here for my analysis, and in the meantime, if you were hoping to meet Mr. Baker but missed the event, you’ll have another chance tomorrow. The candidate is scheduled to swing by a breakfast and signature gathering event in support of Sheriff James M. Cummings’ re-election campaign. That’ll be held at the Hyannis Resort and Conference Center from 9 AM to 11 AM.

This is a joint campaign kick-off event with Michael D. O’Keefe, the Cape and Islands’ DA, and breakfast is on them, so swing on by!

***

Campaigning against the non-incumbent: this year’s hot strategy?

Congressman William D. Delahunt (D), who is retiring this year, has been catching flack from two of the men hoping to succeed him. First, in response to the piece I wrote about Rep. Delahunt and his career (March 12 issue, if you missed it), unenrolled candidate Peter A. White sent me a lengthy statement chiding the congressman for his support for the “wars for oil” in the Middle East, the bank bailouts, and his failure to push for the impeachment of President George W. Bush.

“I was going to let Rep. Delahunt ride off into the sunset of his retirement from Congress and focus on moving our nation forward through the huge problems that he is running away from, but then I decided that would be a disservice to the voters,” Mr. White wrote. “Delahunt was a team player for the Democratic Party, and as such he did a lot of harm.”

Then came a press release from Republican Ray Kasperowicz, who claims a supporter was shooed away the President’s Place in Quincy – where Rep. Delahunt has an office – as he was attempting to collect signatures for the candidate.

“A representative for the management company for Presidential Towers asked that the campaign worker remove his table, signage and campaign material from the premises,” a press release from the Kasperowicz campaign stated. “A follow-up phone call from the candidate to the building management made clear that the office of Congressman William Delahunt, a tenant of the premises, had requested that the candidate’s campaign presence was not appreciated and asked that it be removed.”

“The conduct displayed by either the Congressman or his staff exemplifies the type of arrogant behavior that has angered the public over the past year and a half,” it stated.

Rep. Delahunt’s people at the Quincy office told me that the claim was “absolutely not true.”

A word of advice, if I may, gentlemen? DELAHUNT ISN’T RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION. Why waste your precious time and energy beating a dead horse (or a lame duck, if you prefer a more political aphorism)? To score points with supporters? Please. That’s like bragging to the hot woman at the bar about how you could have totally beaten up the big guy at the pool table who had no intention of fighting you in the first place.

And you, Ray, bubbi — you’ve got two other guys to worry about in the primary. Focus on them, why don’t you? They’re the ones you have to beat! Priorities, man!

***

“Wait a minute,” you might be saying. “Two candidates? I thought three Republicans were running in the primary?”

Actually, as of this week it’s only two; Donald A. Hussey of Hingham, who announced his plans to run last summer and then dropped off the face of the Earth, announced last week he was withdrawing from the race due to family commitments.

Yet that number might go back up to three. A Barnstable chap by the name of Steven J. Scannell has taken out nomination papers for the seat as a Republican.

We are also semi-officially at two Democratic candidates for that race. William Keating, who was previously planning to run for Massachusetts Attorney General, will as early as next week make a formal announcement of candidacy for the 10th and re-launch his campaign website (which is still oriented toward his planned AG run).

So the (possible) final tally for this race: two Democrats, three Republicans, one unenrolled. That may change depending on what happens with Maryanne Lewis, a former state rep who recently left the Democratic Party, and rumor is she’s considering a run for Congress as an unenrolled candidate.

***

Another bloke who’s taken out nomination papers is James H. Crocker Jr. of Osterville. He’s bucking for a run for State Senator of the Cape and Islands, and if he gets on the ballot he’ll first face fellow Republican Eric T. Steinhilber.

***

Thomas F. Keyes of Sandwich, Republican candidate for State Senator of the Plymouth and Barnstable District, has launched his official campaign website. Truck over to www.votekeyes.com and check it out.

Mr. Keyes, who sits on the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, will hold his campaign kick-off event next Thursday, April 8, at the Plymouth Country Club in (duh) Plymouth.

***

Another campaign website is live, this one belonging to Sandwich Democrat Lance W. Lambros, candidate for state rep of the fifth Barnstable district. The address for that is www.lancelambros.com.

***

State Representative Timothy R. Madden (D – Nantucket) has given his official website (http://timmadden.com/tim/) a much-needed facelift for the 2010 campaign season…not that it really needs it, because the dude still has no potential challengers.

No offense to Mr. Madden, but – COME ON, people! First-termer! Democrat! Lives on an island! Why is no one going after him?

***

So who was State Representative Matthew C. Patrick’s (D – Falmouth) mystery guest at his fundraiser last week? None other than Joseph P. Kennedy III, an assistant DA here on the Cape and for a brief time a rumored candidate for Congress.

Oysters Too in East Falmouth was packed with supporters last Friday, including several other Democratic candidates — Mr. Keating, Rep. Madden, and Mr. Lambros among them. Rep. Patrick seemed quite fired up for the campaign, and spoke at length about how the Legislature has become “a Banana Republic” under the thumb of the House Speaker (and not just Robert A. DeLeo; the Speakership has for several years been a magnet for men who throw their weight around too much).

***

Attention, supporters of Republican David T. Vieira! He has changed the date of his campaign kick-off event to Tuesday, May 11. It’s still at the Falmouth Navigator and it’s still running from 5 PM to 8 PM. Mr. Vieira is running for state rep of the third Barnstable district.

***

Green-Rainbow candidate Dr. Jill E. Stein will announce her running mate tomorrow at an event in Holyoke. Unlike the major party candidates for governor, Dr. Stein’s running mate (which I suspect is a gent named Richard P. Purcell, since he just filed his paperwork with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance) is a lock for the November ballot since he or she will not have to first win a primary race (the mixed blessing of not belonging to a state-recognized political party).

Dr. Stein will be on the Cape next weekend, at the Green-Rainbow Party’s Southeastern Massachusetts Convention at Moonakis Café in Waquoit. That event is on Saturday, April 10 from 5 PM to 8 PM. Mr. White will also be there to speak, and the topic of the evening will be “Growing the Green Economy.”

For more information contact Daryl Sprague at 617-459-0784 or at dsprague@jillstein.org, or Peter White at 508-477-0238 or peter@peterwhiteindependent4congress.com.

***

Endorsement time! Yes, they’re already coming…

Joseph D. Malone, who has been an official candidate for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District for just shy of two weeks, received an “enthusiastic” thumb’s up from former Massachusetts governor William Weld.

“As you know, in the 1990’s I was governor while Joe was state treasurer,” Mr. Weld said in a statement. “During those years, I observed a man who was dedicated to the people of Massachusetts.  A strong fiscal conservative, Joe displayed his intellect, courage and integrity on a daily basis.  He was and is a tenacious champion for the taxpayer and the free enterprise system.”

To make sure you’re all getting this straight: a guy who hasn’t been involved in Massachusetts politics for 13 years is behind the candidacy of a guy who hasn’t been involved in Massachusetts politics in 12 years. Boy, what a compelling endorsement!

***

This, on the other hand, will actually carry some weight: US Senator Scott P. Brown (R) has endorsed State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) in his bid for Congress.

“Having served with Jeff in the Legislature, I know that like me he believes in low taxes, a strong national defense and in the pro-growth policies that will create jobs and get our economy moving again,” Sen. Brown said in a video message posted on Rep. Perry’s campaign website.

“By electing Jeff Perry, the voters of the 10th Congressional District will once again be sending a strong message to the politicians in Washington that the time has come to start listening to the people once again,” Sen. Brown said. “If you believe that Washington is broken, Jeff is just the guy we need to help fix it.”

As Sen. Brown remarked, the two gents were buddies in the Legislature and Rep. Perry worked on the senator’s campaign, so the endorsement is hardly surprising, but it will definitely increase Rep. Perry’s visibility outside of the Cape Cod area.

Word is this endorsement surprised/irked Joe Malone, who has been sort of on the outs with the Mass. GOP since he left office under a dark cloud (stemming from the fact some of his aides nicked about $9 million from the state; Malone was never implicated in the crime, but suspicions linger).

By the way, remember that Rep. Perry’s next fundraiser, “Pizza with Perry,” is Thursday, April 15 at the Hyannis VFW near the airport rotary. That runs from 6 PM to 7:30 PM, and campaign donations will be accepted at the door.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The week in politics

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Excuse me, people. I believe when I let for vacation I told you not to do anything interesting while I was gone. But did you listen? Noooooooooo!

Yep, there was a lot of movement last week, and let’s start with what is shaping up to be the big race on the Cape, the race for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District. On Sunday Republican Joseph D. Malone made his candidacy official with a special kick-off event at Plimoth Plantation. The former state treasurer has vowed to reach out to voters of all political persuasions in his campaign.

His official campaign website is up at http://joemalonecongress.com.

With Mr. Malone all in, we now have a slate of six candidates, and we’re waiting on a seventh in William Keating, the Norfolk County District Attorney who has been planning to formally end his bid for Massachusetts Attorney General and shift his attention to the seat currently held by Congressman (and former Norfolk County DA) William D. Delahunt (D).

***

One of the other Republican candidates for the Congressional seat, State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich), is beefing up his campaign in anticipation of a very active primary race.

Rep. Perry recently announced he was adding Swift Current Strategies — which worked on US Senator Scott P. Brown’s (R) campaign — to his team, and launched a new social networking website for supporters dubbed “Perry’s Patriots.” You can find that at www.perryspatriots.com (just look for the logo that is just similar enough to the New England Patriots logo to get him in dutch with Bob Kraft).

Perry's Patriot and Pat the Patriot - separated at birth?

***

Another candidate in this hectic race is State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable), and his pending departure from the state Legislature has so far attracted three Democrats interested in succeeding him: Sheila R. Lyons, a member of the Barnstable County Board of County Commissioners; Mark D. Forest, longtime aide to Rep. Delahunt; and Daniel A. Wolf, CEO of Cape Air.

Mr. Wolf is well-known in the Cape business community so he’s not a non-entity, but his political experience is, to the best of my knowledge, virtually non-existent. Ms. Lyons has had relatively limited experience, all of it in county government, but she knows how to campaign and get her name out. Mr. Forest knows the game at the federal level and has connections throughout the district, so I have to call him the odds-on favorite.

Barnstable and Mashpee readers can learn more about the candidates in the front section.

So far only one Republican, Eric Steinhilber, is in the mix, but word is that Barnstable Town Councilor James Crocker Jr. has taken out nomination papers.

Since I’m talking about this race, now’s a good time to mention that Ms. Lyons, Mr. Forest, and Mr. Wolf are scheduled to appear at a candidates’ forum sponsored by the Harwich Democratic Town Committee. That’s happening on Tuesday, April 6 at 7:30 PM, and will be held at the Harwich Community Center.

***

The slate is almost full!

State Representative Susan D. Williams Gifford (R – Wareham) was this close to running unopposed for re-election, but Democrat David A. Smith of Wareham is preparing his run for the second Plymouth district seat.

I’ve found no info on the dude in my initial Google search, but as I learn more about the chap, I’ll pass it along.

As I wrap this week’s column up, the only member of the Cape delegation without an opponent for 2010 is State Representative Timothy R. Madden (D – Nantucket).

***

Last week I mentioned that Republican David T. Vieira of Falmouth was officially in as a candidate for state representative of the third Barnstable district. Well, first of all, his campaign website is now live, and that’s at www.votevieira.com. He’s also announced his kick-off fundraiser at the Falmouth Navigator (just off Sandwich Road in Hatchville) for Thursday, May 6 from 5 PM to 8 PM. Tickets are $25.

Meanwhile, incumbent state rep Matthew C. Patrick (D – Falmouth) is officially kicking off his re-election campaign tonight. Rep. Patrick, supporters, and special mystery guests will be at Oysters Too in East Falmouth tonight from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. There is a suggested donation of $50, but all are welcome to attend.

***

Oliver P. Cipollini Jr., Democratic candidate for governor’s councilor of the first district, has his new campaign website up and hummin’. Beat feet over to www.olivercipollini.com and check it out.

***

An unenrolled candidate has thrown his name into the ring for Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. James Henderson of Stow filed his paperwork with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, and now joins incumbent William F. Galvin and Republican William Campbell of Woburn.

***

Now this, I must say, is kind of cool.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles D. Baker Jr. marked St. Patrick’s Day in an unusual way: People who went to his website last week and made a donation of $20.10 (as in Campaign 2010) received as a thank-you a download of “(F)lanagan’s Ball” by the Dropkick Murphys.

The Dropkick Murphys? Really? How unexpectedly hip of Baker. What next, Christy P. Mihos trading donations for Foo Fighters MP3s?

On that note: those two gentlemen will square off tonight at the Cape Codder Resort. This head-to-head debate starts at 7 PM (doors open at 6:15 PM, presumably to sell beer, popcorn, and giant foam fingers). The Cape Cod Republican Club and the Women’s Republican Club of Cape Cod are co-sponsoring the event.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The week in politics

Friday, March 12th, 2010

As you’ve no doubt heard by now, Congressman William D. Delahunt (D) is not running for re-election this year.

This means the race is officially a free-for-all and it’s anyone’s game. Rep. Delahunt, had he run, would have had the incumbent’s advantage — a combination of money, familiarity, influence in government, and a track record even his critics would agree was generally positive (I won’t say perfect, because perfection doesn’t exist in life, much less in politics).

(more…)

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The week in politics

Friday, February 26th, 2010

The local ballot is filling up nicely.

This week another candidate for the Legislature emerged, and that name is James F. Munafo, Jr. He’s a Republican and currently serves as a Barnstable Town Councilor (for precinct three).

He last ran for the post in 1998 but didn’t make it past the primary. The man who eventually won that race is the man Mr. Munafo could face in November: State Representative Demetrius J. Atsalis (D – Barnstable).

As of deadline this week, three members of the Cape’s legislative delegation have no pending challenges: State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable), and State Representatives Susan D. Williams Gifford (R – Wareham) and Matthew C. Patrick (D – Barnstable)…although that list may soon shorten (more on that below).

***

Despite rumors that he would be retiring at the end of this, his second term, Barnstable County Sheriff James M. Cummings is planning to run for re-election. He pulled nomination papers last week, but has yet to make a formal announcement.

Sheriff Cummings, a Falmouth Republican, was first elected to the office in 1998.

***

Republican David T. Vieira of Falmouth – who, coincidentally, works for Sheriff Cummings — is one step closer to becoming a formal candidate for state representative of the third Barnstable district (now represented by the aforementioned Rep. Patrick). He has his nomination papers and he’s out and about collecting signatures, so if you see him, stop and say hi.

***

Joseph D. Malone could take Congressman William D. Delahunt (D) in a fight, and a new survey commissioned by Joseph D. Malone proves it!

Mr. Malone — a former two-term Massachusetts state treasurer and Republican candidate in the 1988 US Senate and 1998 gubernatorial races — commissioned a survey of 300 voters in the 10th Congressional district to determine where he stood in a theoretical race between himself and Rep. Delahunt (who, as of this writing, has yet to decide if he’s running for re-election). That survey was conducted by, as the Boston Herald put it, “conservative consultants McLaughlin & Associates.”

The results: Malone beat Rep. Delahunt, 37 percent to 34 percent.

Am I the only one who suspects this poll may be slanted?

Now now, Republicans, don’t take this as a pro-Delahunt remark; if I’m going to give Malone a hard time about anything it’d be the fact his résumé is weak and the man hasn’t done squat in politics for more than a decade.

And that, really, is the basis of my suspicion. How could a guy with so few credentials and so little name recognition best a Democratic incumbent in a theoretical race unless A) the questions posed to voters were leading and/or B) Republican voters instantly sided with the guy who wasn’t a Democrat, giving no thought to his qualifications?

Mr. Malone has yet to enter the race officially, and I think he’d be better off staying in the Land of Has-been Politicians, especially when you consider there’s at least one much stronger GOP candidate already out there (hint: he’s mentioned below).

***

From the “Things You Probably Shouldn’t Have Said” file: in a story that ran in the Boston Globe last week, the gubernatorial candidates were asked what they would do to tackle the state’s fiscal crisis. Republicans Charles D. Baker Jr. and Christy P. Mihos both talked about cutting state jobs, while unenrolled candidate Timothy P. Cahill said this: “I don’t have enough insight into the budget, especially particular areas where money is being wasted, until I get in there.”

Let me reframe that quote: the guy who has served as the Massachusetts State Treasurer since 2002, and who, according to the state treasurer’s website, “manages the state’s finances by taking a fiscally conservative approach to investing and maximizing the use of taxpayer money,” doesn’t “have enough insight into the budget, especially particular areas where money is being wasted.”

Tim, Tim, Tim…you’re losing me here, dude. I know you’re more on the revenue side of the process, but still, shouldn’t you know A LITTLE about where all that money’s going?

***

Elsewhere in the governor’s race, Mr. Mihos got some more unwanted ink in the Boston Globe over the weekend after he apparently bounced a $20,000 check to his campaign committee, raising the question of whether the mostly self-financed candidate can keep his campaign going.

He’s also lost the services of campaign consultant Dick Morris, who was brought on-board last year amidst much ballyhoo and appeared at several early campaign fundraisers. Financial records filed with the state show that Mihos dropped about $80,000 for the last four months’ of Mr. Morris’s services. Mr. Mihos said he plans to hire Mr. Morris back in the near future.

The Mihos camp is of course downplaying the situation, but these aren’t the first financial headaches his campaign has experienced, so it’s looking increasingly dicey for Smilin’ Christy M. Pardon my alliteration, but if he can’t scrape up some serious scratch soon, say sayonara to this sinking ship.

***

Another gubernatorial note: Mr. Baker and his hand-picked running mate Richard R. Tisei are in Plymouth this Sunday if you feeling like making the drive to Gainsborough Hall at Plimoth Plantation. They’ll participate in a town hall-style forum starting at 11:30 AM. Go to https://bakerforgov.wufoo.com/forms/plymouth-town-hall-rsvp/ to RSVP for the event.

***

Here’s your final reminder for State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry’s (R – Sandwich) kickoff event for his Congressional campaign. That’s next Friday, March 5, at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis starting at 7 PM.

Rep. Perry is the scheduled guest speaker for another upcoming campaign launch, this one for friend/fellow Republican/campaign treasurer F. Randal Hunt of Sandwich. Mr. Hunt (a.k.a. Randy a.k.a. “The Situation”) is hoping to succeed Rep. Perry as state representative of the fifth Barnstable district. That one is on Tuesday, March 9 at the Sandwich Hollows Golf Course from 5 PM to 7 PM.

***

Peter A. White, unenrolled candidate for US Congress, has launched his official campaign website. Truck on over to www.peterwhiteindependent4congress.com. Not much on it yet, but the events page has an entry on bank bailouts that would make either a good folk music-style protest song or great beat poetry.

***

I know the US Senate special election is done and gone, but this is too damn silly to not mention.

US Senator Scott P. Brown’s (R) daughters Ayla and Arianna sent out an e-mail to supporters with a special offer to commemorate the one-month mark since Sen. Brown defeated Martha Coakley (celebrating the one month anniversary? Really?), including a seat cushion that reads “The People’s Seat.” Behold:

And all it costs you is a $20 donation.

Donation to what, is what I’d like to know. Is Sen. Brown already stockpiling cash for a re-election bid in 2012? Or maybe he’s looking to buy a new truck (just don’t buy a Toyota, dude).

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The week in politics

Friday, February 19th, 2010

I hardly know where to begin this week!

Well, a coin toss decided I should start with the news that Republican Thomas F. Keyes of Sandwich has taken what I’d consider a very bold move and announced he plans to run for State Senator of the Plymouth and Barnstable district – which could put him on the ballot against Senate President Therese M. Murray (D – Plymouth).

Why is this a bold move? Consider, first of all, that Sen. Murray is one of the three top dogs in state government, and while I hate to invoke the whole “clout” issue, let’s be realistic: it would be bad for the Cape to lose that kind of leverage in the Senate.

Sen. Murray has also personally spearheaded two major government reform initiatives over the past four years, one aimed at health care and the other, launched last week, at economic development. To really put that one in perspective: Sen. Murray’s “Sunshine Act” legislation seeks to, in one fell swoop, reduce wasteful government practices and improve economic development efforts, two of this year’s hot talking points.

Then there’s the money. Sen. Murray ended 2009 with more than $140,000 sitting in the war chest, and she knows how to generate campaign funding. Gripe as you will about money in politics, it’s a harsh reality Mr. Keyes would have to face should he join Sen. Murray on the ballot in November.

What does Mr. Keyes bring to the table? He is a former two-term Sandwich selectman, a former member of the Sandwich Economic Development Council, and is in the middle of his first elected term on the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates (he is currently the deputy speaker).

That’s a thin résumé to put up next to Sen. Murray’s curriculum vitae, and I don’t care what the mood of the electorate is, you can only play the “government outsider” card to limited effect against such a strong incumbent candidate.

Is this an insurmountable challenge? No. Is it an uphill battle? Oh, yeah…call it a direct assault on the sheer vertical face of Mount Murray.

Ah, but there is one thing that could yet radically chance the complexion of this brewing race, which leads me to the next big news…

***

…which is the growing speculation that Congressman William D. Delahunt (D) is not going to run for re-election this year. The Boston Globe reported last week that Rep. Delahunt is considering retiring from life as an elected official, but the congressman said this was all part of his biennial deliberations over whether to run again.

“Every election cycle, I take my time, I think it through, and I think, not about whether I can win or lose, but: ‘Am I in a position to make a difference?’ ”Rep. Delahunt told the Globe. “Can I achieve what I want to achieve outside of public life?” He insisted that his decision would not be influenced one way or the other by US Senator Scott P. Brown’s victory last month, which continues to reverberate throughout the Massachusetts political scene.

A formal announcement is coming next month, and two big names have already emerged as possible torchbearers for the Democratic Party should Rep. Delahunt bow out: Conan O’Brien look-alike Joseph P. Kennedy III…

I think it's a damn shame they're giving your show back to Leno...

I think it's a damn shame they're giving your show back to Leno...

…and — wait for it — Sen. Murray.

Sen. Murray told the Globe she thought Rep. Delahunt would come back to run again (and win again, she predicted), but if he doesn’t run? Her tune could change very quickly.

More on this situation as it develops, but one word of warning: anyone who thinks that sticking a Kennedy in this race would produce a sure-fire win for the Democrats is fooling themselves.

***

One last random note on the brewing 10th Congressional district situation: there’s been some talk that Doug Meehan, who grew up on the Cape and was recently let go from his gig as WFXT/Fox 25’s helicopter reporter, would throw his hat into the increasingly crowded ring as a Republican.

A Republican working for Fox News? I’ve never heard of such a thing!

There are already three confirmed GOP candidates: State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich), Ray Kasperowicz of Cohasset, and Donald A. Hussey of Hingham. Joseph D. Malone of Scituate, a former two-term Massachusetts state treasurer and candidate in the 1998 gubernatorial race, and State Senator Robert L. Hedlund (R – Weymouth) have expressed an interest in running but have not yet made formal commitments.

Peter A. White of Mashpee is also in the race as an unenrolled candidate.

***

A couple reminders for upcoming campaign events: Rep. Perry officially launches his congressional campaign on Friday, March 5 at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis starting at 7 PM.

Republican Randy Hunt of Sandwich, who is hoping to succeed Rep. Perry in the Legislature, has his campaign kickoff event on Tuesday, March 9 at the Sandwich Hollows Golf Course from 5 PM to 7 PM. Rep. Perry will be the evening’s guest speaker.

***

Rep. Perry, by the way, will be opening his Cape-area campaign office tomorrow at 10 AM. It’s located at Heritage Plaza (337 Cotuit Road, Building B) in Sandwich, so swing by for the 10:30 AM ribbon-cutting to meet the candidate and pick up your signs, bumper stickers, and other Perry-phernalia.

(Rep. Perry, you’ll owe me a quarter every time you use that one.)

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The week in politics

Monday, February 8th, 2010

It’s happening! State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) is running for US Representative of the 10th District!

Should Rep. Perry make it through the primaries, he would pose the strongest challenge to Congressman William D. Delahunt (D) since the latter gent took office in 1996. Rep. Delahunt’s opponents read like a Who’s Who of Who’s That?: Eric V. Bleiken in 1998 and 2000 (Delahunt took about 70 percent of the vote both times), Luiz Gonzaga in 2002 (70 percent of the vote, again, to the incumbent), Michael J. Jones in 2004 (60 percent of the vote), Jeffrey K. Beatty and Peter White in 2006 (65 percent). In 2008 no one bothered to challenge him at all.

What are the chances Rep. Perry will make it to the Big Show? Well, let’s look at the other prospects: Ray Kasperowicz has very limited government experience (nine years on the Cohasset Sewer Commission). Joseph D. Malone did two terms as a state treasurer, but dropped off the political radar for 12 years after losing a gubernatorial primary in 1998. Donald A. Hussey is a former (unsuccessful) candidate for governor’s councilor.

Rep. Perry’s greatest hurdle in the primaries could be a State House colleague: State Senator Robert L. Hedlund (R – Weymouth), who has more experience in the Legislature (he served in the Senate from 1991 to 1992, got bumped, then came back in 1994 and has remained there since). However, Sen. Hedlund has not formally announced he would run, so he may not be an issue.

The only other complication would be the aforementioned Mr. White, a Mashpee resident who announced this week he planned to take another shot at the office. In an e-mail sent to a handful of friends Mr. White said he planned to run on “a platform to end the wars for oil, develop jobs and clean up the environment through a ‘Green’ economy, Medicare for all who need it, and federal support for community-based solutions to renewable energy development, affordable housing, recycling, and wastewater management.”

“We shall overcome the corruption of the two-party system if enough people try!!” he wrote in conclusion.

Yeah, this is gonna be fun…

Rep. Perry’s new campaign website is at www.jeffperryforcongress.com. His official campaign kick-off event is on Friday, March 5 at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis.

***

On a related note, Republican F. Randal Hunt, a Sandwich selectman, announced last week he planned to run to succeed Rep. Perry should the latter gent launch his Congressional bid, so I guess that’s all official-like.

The question now is: how long will he be alone? Whenever incumbents step down there is usually surge in candidates, so I think Mr. Hunt will soon have LOTS of company.

***

Wow, barely a month into the 2010 election cycle and already it’s getting a bit ugly in the race for governor.

Last week the media was abuzz about alleged issues with Christy P. Mihos, Republican gubernatorial candidate, after three former campaign consultants filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance claiming they were back-owed about a total of $43,500 in pay.

The complainants are web designer Geoff Fudge, communications director Kevin Sowyrda, and media strategist Rick Wilson. Mr. Mihos said all three had been paid in full.

Things got even worse when a subsequent story reported that a judge had placed liens on three of Mr. Mihos’ business properties as leverage against an outstanding $634,000 fuel delivery bill. His lawyer nevertheless called this ruling good news for the candidate, since no liens were placed on any personal property – indicative, the lawyer said, that Mr. Mihos himself was not personally liable for the back-owed money.

The first story also illuminated where the four active gubernatorial candidates’ respective war chests are, and things don’t look good for Smilin’ Christy M., who largely self-financed his 2006 run for the Corner Office.

As of mid-January Mihos had all of $2,000 in his account (which would be great if he were a Green-Rainbow Party candidate, but for a Republican? Eesh). Republican rival Charles D. Baker Jr. is leading the pack, with more than $1.6 million to burn, followed by independent Timothy P. Cahill at about $800,000 and then the incumbent, Deval L. Patrick, at a shade under $650,000.

I said it before and I’ll say it again: if he doesn’t pull a Coakley on the campaign trial, Charlie Baker could be the man to beat.

***

I’ll mention Mr. Baker again since his campaign is now officially underway. Yeah, I know the guy’s been running since last year, but he held a kick-off event in Boston Saturday, so now it’s really really super-duper official.

***

One last note of the governor’s race: why is Tim Cahill holding a fundraiser in New York City? Yes, he has a fundraiser scheduled for next Thursday in NYC. Shouldn’t be trying to drum up support in – oh, I don’t know – the state in which he’s actually running?

***

Did you catch State Representative Timothy R. Madden’s (D – Nantucket) appearance in the Boston Herald this week? It was under the headline “Mass. Hacks Rack Up Per Diems” (always a class act, the Herald). Rep. Madden got lambasted for collecting in 2009 $13,900 in per diem payments, the most of any member of the Legislature.

The payments are made available to State House lawmakers to cover travel, lodging, and meal expenses in connection with their jaunts up to Boston, and are based on where they live. Nantucket has the highest per diem rate at $100 per day.

The Herald took a “how dare you” attitude, blasting Rep. Madden and other legislators for collecting the payments A) when the state budget is so tight and B) when they all make at least $61,439 a year (not counting stipends for chairman duties and leadership positions).

What they never mentioned is that the cost to bring a car over on a Steamship Authority ferry costs $260 a pop for a round trip. A round-trip Nantucket-to-Boston ticket on Cape Air runs $122 – half the cost of the ferry but still more than the per diem (and that’s not counting whatever it costs to take a cab or the T to the State House).

I’m personally not in favor of the per diem program – my taxes already pay for their salaries, which I think are too high – but the Herald’s slant on this was not terribly fair toward Rep. Madden.

***

Earle Stroll, Republican candidate for state auditor, has launched his official campaign website. Sort of. Go to http://stroll2010.com/ to see the placeholder image and sign up for his mailing list.

***

Finally: We have some video of US Senator-elect Scott P. Brown’s (R) reception in Falmouth last week on the website, so go to www.capenews.net and check it out.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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The week in politics

Friday, January 29th, 2010

I assume by now you’ve heard the news? If not, let me drop the bomb: State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) is “very interested” in challenging Congressman William D. Delahunt (D) this year for US Representative of the 10th Congressional district.

The prospect of Rep. Perry taking on Big Bill gets me absolutely giddy. Having worked with Rep. Perry since he got into the State House, I know for a fact he would run a powerful, punishing, and perhaps most importantly, positive campaign against Rep. Delahunt.

It would, I think, be a truly awesome race that would seriously test both men, and a rare win-win situation for voters in that, no matter which of these guys won, the Cape would have a strong voice in Congress.

I want this to happen! It’d be like the Thunderdome of local politics…two men enter! One man leaves!

Of course, for this to come to pass Rep. Perry would first have to win what is shaping up to be an active Republican primary.

Last week Republican Joseph D. Malone of Scituate, former two-term state treasurer (1991 to 1999), announced he would “almost certainly” challenge Rep. Delahunt. Mr. Malone unsuccessfully challenged Ted Kennedy in 1998 and, 10 years later, lost the Republican nomination for governor of Massachusetts to A. Paul Cellucci.

Then there is Ray Kasperowicz of Cohasset, a US Navy veteran and a nine-year member of the Cohasset Sewer Commission, who announced his candidacy back in September, and Donald A. Hussey of Hingham. Another possible challenger from the GOP: State Senator Robert L. Hedlund (R – Weymouth).

***

Let’s talk a minute about the predicted surge of Republican candidates for 2010 (the catalyst for which is, of course, Senator-elect Scott P. Brown’s big win last week).

The Massachusetts GOP this week launched this year’s recruitment initiative, dubbed “The New Majority.” Prospective candidates can go to www.massgop.com and file online an recruitment form. “The staff of the MassGOP will respond to each online application with information on how to run a campaign and an assessment of the district in which the individual has an interest in running,” stated the official press release.

“When a potential candidate decides to run for elected office, the MassGOP provides assistance including candidate trainings, voter identification information, district information, message and campaign timeline development, incumbent voting records, as well as other opposition research.”

Not too dissimilar to past recruitment efforts, but the GOP is trying an interesting new tactic: offering this service to unenrolled candidates (hence the “New Majority,” making the Democratic Party the old majority). This should be interesting…

***

Now that Martha Coakley has blown the US Senate race (face it, folks, she choked), what about that nice little attorney general gig she’s had for the past four years?

Word among her aides last week was that she was planning to run for re-election, and boy, doesn’t that set the stage for some big fun? The GOP is eyeballing Coakley the way leopards eyeball a wounded gazelle, and why not? She muffed a race against a solid opponent who was better at getting his message out and connecting with voters, and it could easily happen a second time if the Republicans can find someone who can bring the pain.

AG Coakley won her seat in 2006 by beating Lawrence W. Frisoli, a Belmont attorney who did not campaign that well, so one could speculate that AG Coakley herself is not a strong campaigner and won the post by dint of having a weaker opponent.

(The shame is, she has done good work as AG and it would be a shame to lose her simply because she’s lousy at selling herself, but I digress.)

State Representative Karyn Polito (R – Shrewsbury) has been mentioned as an early possible challenger, as has Peter Flaherty, a former prosecutor, one of W. Mitt Romney’s aides during his stint as governor, and a Senator-elect Brown campaign supporter.

On the flip side, the prospect of AG Coakley running again has already caused one Democrat to rethink his candidacy. C. Samuel Sutter, Bristol County’s district attorney, had been kicking the idea around but has since backed off.

Democrat William Keating, Norfolk County district attorney and a former state senator, is as of this week still planning to run for the office.

***

We have an early dropout in Joe Connolly, the Democrat and Norfolk County treasurer who intended to run for state treasurer. He posted a notice on his website stating that he was bowing out due to health concerns.

This leaves Republican Brian J. Herr and Democrat Steve Grossman all by their lonesomes.

***

To bring this baby full circle, Senator-elect Brown is scheduled to make an appearance at the Falmouth Inn this evening (January 29) at 7 PM, as a thank-you to folks who showed up at a pre-election rally.

Political news and announcements may be sent to Michael Bailey, Region editor and senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net

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