Snark-Infested Waters by Mike Bailey

Snark-Infested Waters by Mike Bailey

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The week in politics

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Back from vacation, and as promised, here are my brief thoughts on the recent AFL-CIO gubernatorial candidates’ forum, held two weeks ago in Hyannis.

The forum was notable not for the candidates who did show up to make their sales pitches – Governor Deval L. Patrick, State Treasurer and unenrolled candidate Timothy P. Cahill, and Green-Rainbow Party candidate Dr. Jill E. Stein – but for who did not participate: Republican candidate Charles D. Baker Jr.

Baker made a big mistake for blowing off this forum. In a press release Baker wagged a finger at his three rivals for “spending their day with the special interests who oppose real reform,” painting his absence as an affirmation of his dedication to representing the common man.

Bear in mind that the AFL-CIO encompasses more than 750 unions representing several hundred thousand workers…you know, common men.

My theory is that Baker didn’t want to wade into a very pro-Democratic arena where his message would fall on many a deaf ear, but in ducking the debate he lost a chance to poke some holes in his opponents’ platforms and, if not walk out with a few newly won hearts and minds, make people think a little harder about who they’re supporting and why.

***

I know it seems late in the day – and it is – but two more people have jumped into the race for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District.

James Sheets last week entered the race as an unenrolled candidate. The 74-year-old former six-term mayor of Quincy has not held an elected office since 2001, when he lost a mayoral re-election bid. He ran for what was then the 11th Congressional District back in 1978 and lost.

Robert E. Hayden III of Hanover has also confirmed his candidacy as a Republican. He has no political experience, which he is trying to pitch as a pro rather than a con.

You may ask, “Why are these guys getting into the race now?” Well, that’s a good question, but the answers are irrelevant for that very reason; they’re late arrivals in a packed field of contenders who have already divvied up the large blocks of party-loyal voters and are focused on getting the attention of the state’s massive unenrolled voter base.

Unless Mr. Sheets and Mr. Hayden can pull off something really impressive in the next few months to really grab and hold undecided voters, they’re destined to be nothing but white noise.

***

Also on the Congressional race: a new poll by Public Opinion Strategies mirrors a few other recent polls showing that State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) is in the lead in the Republican primary race.

The survey of 300 Republicans who say they are likely to vote this fall showed that 41 percent were supporting Rep. Perry, 30 percent were undecided, and 25 percent were backing Joseph D. Malone.

Rep. Perry has also picked up several new endorsements from a number of county officials, including: Barnstable County Superior Court Clerk Scott W. Nickerson, Barnstable County Commissioner William Doherty, and Marcia R. King, Mashpee’s representative to the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates.

***

Meanwhile, Mr. Malone has picked up an endorsement from Falmouth Selectman David Braga, who said he is supporting the former state treasurer “because it is time we had some people in Washington who care about the people here first. Joe’s message of fiscal conservatism and responsibility is exactly what we need.”

***

Over on the Democratic side of the race, State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable) has picked up endorsements from some local colleagues in the Legislature: State Representatives Timothy R. Madden (D – Nantucket), Matthew C. Patrick (D – Falmouth), Cleon H. Turner (D – Dennis), and Sarah K. Peake (D – Provincetown).

***

James M. Cummings, Barnstable County sheriff, has formally endorsed Walter Moniz’s candidacy for governor’s councilor of the first district. Fun fact: Sheriff Cummings is a Republican, Mr. Moniz is a Democrat.

Hooray! Evidence that bipartisanship isn’t just a myth!

Mr. Moniz was in Falmouth last week to kick off the local leg of his campaign. He is facing four people in the Democratic primary.

***

To bring this week’s column full-circle, Eric R. Steinhilber, Republican candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District, will welcome the aforementioned Charlie Baker as his special guest at a reception scheduled for Thursday, July 22. That will be held at the Nauticus Marina in Osterville from 5 to 7 PM.

E-mail events@electeric2010.com or call 508-957-2676 for details or to RSVP.

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, June 4th, 2010

Last week I attended the annual Cape Cod Republican Club meeting, so I thought I’d share some brief thoughts on it.

The bulk of the meeting gave several local GOP candidates for elected office a chance to make a quick introduction, chat themselves up, offer the usual Rah-Rah Let’s Go Team rally rhetoric, and of course, some obligatory Democrat bashing.

That’s the only real issue I had with the evening. Yes, folks were playing to the audience, but tacit slams like calling the GOP “the party that loves America” or direct slaps like claiming that Democrats never read the Declaration of Independence are petty and demeaning.

I’ve never cared for the strategy of building one’s self up by tearing the other guy down, and historically neither have voters; a lot of candidates on both sides – I’ll provide examples of each in Kerry M. Healey in 2006 and Martha Coakley in 2010 – have gone down to defeat thanks in part to their rampant negativity.

On a more positive note, I must say it was a shrewd move on the club’s part to keep its current leadership team intact through November. With Fran Manzelli in the lead the club has seen some great strides forward since last year, and changing horses mid-stream could have thrown things off during what is shaping up to be a critical year for the party.

***

The evening’s guest speaker, state auditor candidate Mary Z. Connaughton, finally has her campaign website up. That’s at www.maryforauditor.com.

***

I also learned at the meeting that there is a Republican candidate for governor’s councilor of the first district, a chap named Joseph A. Ureneck.

My Google searches have turned up some odd information about Mr. Ureneck, such as a lawsuit filed against him by a client of his when he ran a business called Rainbow International Marriage Service Incorporated – basically, a mail-order bride operation that hooked Chinese women up with American men. Mr. Ureneck sued a Chinese client for failing to pay her $7,500 listing fee.

For the curious: he lost the lawsuit on the grounds such international marriage contracts were, as of the 2003 ruling, not recognized as valid in the United States.

Man, just when you think you’ve seen it all, huh?

***

Final note on the meeting: I must offer a quick “well played, sir” to James F. Munafo Jr., candidate for State Representative of the Second Plymouth District, for his canny push card, which features his qualifications on one side and a complete Boston Red Sox season schedule on the other.

Mr. Munafo, by the way, just received an endorsement from the Citizens for Limited Taxation’s 2 1/2 PAC.

***

Eric R. Steinhilber, Republican candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District, has picked up the endorsement of former state representative Thomas N. George.

“Eric Steinhilber has worked in the community and learned that we need a new approach for representing this district,” Mr. George said in a press release. “He will listen to all commentary then make decisions based on the needs of all his constituents. He realizes we cannot continue with the old procedures and practices which have resulted in the economic condition under which we now labor.”

Mr. George served four terms (1997 to 2004) as state rep of the First Barnstable District seat, which is now held by State Representative Cleon H. Turner (D – Dennis).

***

The nigh-invisible Ray Kasperowicz, Republican candidate for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District, announced last week he had filed enough signatures to qualify for the September primary ballot.

Now he just has to get out and make his name known, because right now all the attention is going to State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) and Joseph D. Malone, the latter of whom is making good on his promise to visit the Cape regularly. He was in town last week to congratulate David Braga, who was recently elected to the Falmouth Board of Selectmen, and stopped by Hyannis Monday for another “Joe’s on the Job” tour appearance.

***

Conservative pundit Howie Carr will be on the Cape tomorrow for a joint book signing with Rep. Perry. It’s in Orleans so you’ll have to fight tourist traffic, but if you want to go it runs from 11 AM to 1 PM at Booksmith on West Road (Skaket Corners Plaza).

Be forewarned: Howie signs his books with the blood of liberals he lures into his home with the promise of socialized medicine and all the arugula they can eat.

Rep. Perry has two fundraisers on the horizon: June 14, 6 to 8 PM at Yarmouth House in Yarmouth; and June 22, starting at 5 PM, at Tomatoes Italian Grille and Bar in Sandwich.

***

On the Democratic side of this race, things are starting to come alive for William R. Keating, who last week announced several union endorsements, including from the International Brotherhood of Police Officers.

Mr. Keating and his Democratic rival in the primary, State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable), will meet for the first time in a public forum on Thursday, June 10. The Harwich Democratic Town Committee hosts that event at Harwich Town Hall, and the forum begins at 7 PM.

Each candidate will give a brief overview of their background, their major accomplishments as elected officials, and will be asked to articulate their specific vision and priorities for the 10th Congressional district. A Q-and-A session will follow.

For more information, contact Ray Gottwald at 508-430-1666 or RayGottwald@aol.com.

***

Suzanne M. Bump, Democratic candidate for state auditor, this week picked up a big endorsement from Congressman Barney Frank (D). Rep. Frank said Ms. Bump’s “many years of experience and passion for her work make her the best choice to be the Commonwealth’s next state auditor.”

***

Here’s the latest poll on the gubernatorial race. According to the Suffolk University/WHDH-TV poll released last week, Governor Deval L. Patrick was in the lead with 42 percent support among those polled, followed by Republican Charles D. Baker Jr., unenrolled candidate Timothy P. Cahill at 14 percent, and Green-Rainbow Party candidate Dr. Jill E. Stein at eight percent.

But the worse and more telling results of this poll: more than half of those surveyed think Gov. Patrick needs to go and almost half think he’s doing a lousy job; 63 percent of people surveyed have never heard of Baker, even though he’s been running since July; and the percentage of voters who view Cahill negatively has more than doubled, from 16 percent to 34 percent.

***

Finally, since we’re on the governor’s race, I would like to state for the record: Tim Cahill, you’re a jerk.

Cahill last week blasted Gov. Patrick for meeting with Muslim leaders and, in Cahill’s words, “pandering” to them and “playing politics with terrorism.”

What did the Muslim leaders want? Things like improved communication with local law enforcement agents to improve cultural awareness of Islam and greater considerations for Muslims that they may better practice their faith. Cahill called this “political correctness run amok.”

Yeah! How dare they ask for understanding and tolerance!

Cahill is, as you’ve just read, getting plastered in the polls and needed to put some fire under his campaign, but taking Gov. Patrick to task for reaching out to the Muslim community, in doing so shamelessly playing to voters’ fears, smacks of desperation and opportunism and only perpetuates the stereotype that “Muslim” equals “terrorist.”

Personally, this is not the kind of narrow-minded thinking I want in my leaders, and I’m disappointed that Cahill felt it necessary to stoop to this.

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 28th, 2010

This week we lead off with a big non-surprise announcement that Grace C. Ross is officially out of the gubernatorial race.

Ms. Ross, who this year left the Green-Rainbow Party to challenge Governor Deval L. Patrick for the Democratic nomination, announced last week that she fell far short of collecting the 10,000 voter signatures she needed to get on the primary ballot: she only collected 5,700 signatures.

So, good news for Gov. Patrick, who can hold onto the money he would have spent in a primary race and use in the general election…not that he necessarily would have spent a lot, because Ms. Ross was not an exceptionally strong candidate, especially as a Democrat.

With Ms. Ross out, it’s safe to say the race for governor is now on full-blast as none of the four candidates – Gov. Patrick, Republican Charles D. Baker Jr., unenrolled candidate Timothy P. Cahill, and Green-Rainbow candidate Dr. Jill E. Stein – have a primary race.

***

Speaking of Mr. Baker, here’s a challenge to the candidate: grow a spine. Please.

Baker sat down last week with WHDH-TV’s Andy Hiller and responded to those Republican Governors’ Association ads now running on TV and the radio dragging Tim Cahill over hot coals spiked with broken glass and rusty nails (metaphorically speaking). And by “responded” I mean “wussed out.” Here’s the exchange…

Hiller: Do you want those ads off TV?

Baker: It doesn’t matter if I want those ads off TV…

Hiller: Because you’re powerless?

Baker: Because I don’t make decisions about what independent organizations choose to do in Massachusetts.

Hiller: If you called the Republican Governors’ Association and said “I am the Republican candidate. Please take those ads down,” what would they say? “You’re breaking the law by calling us?”

Baker: I don’t know what they would say, but I’m not going to call them and ask them that question and say that to them because I don’t want anything associated with my campaign to be associated with them.

Psst! Charlie! IT ALREADY IS.

Voters are hearing “Republican” attached to those ads and, rightfully or not, they’re drawing a direct line between the dots of the RGA and you. And why not? The RGA is running them to support your campaign. You don’t want the ads running? Call the RGA and ask them to knock it off, and if they don’t, publicly condemn the ads. Sitting back and shrugging and going “Eh, what can you do?” does indeed make you seem powerless.

***

And then there’s Gov. Patrick, who doesn’t seem to be learning from past mistakes.

You’ve probably heard by now Gov. Patrick just got a new official vehicle, a $53,000 SUV to replace the infamous Cadillac he purchased in 2007 for $46,000 to replace the traditional (and less expensive) Ford Crown Victoria.

The governor’s mouthpieces are throwing out lots of reasons why this is no big deal, mentioning everything from Gov. Patrick’s need for the roomier vehicle following last year’s hip surgery to its superior mileage (it’s a hybrid so it gets a whopping two miles to the gallon more than the Caddy), but it is a big deal in terms of public perception.

After the Cadillac purchase, Gov. Patrick was lambasted for his extravagant spending of taxpayer money, and now he’s paying more for a vehicular behemoth even as the Legislature is chopping $159 million from local and education aid. If that doesn’t feel like a slap in the face, I don’t know what does.

***

Two men running for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District have secured their spots on the ballot. Democrat Daniel A. Wolf and Republican Eric R. Steinhilber both recently announced that they had filed the signatures with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office and are good to go.

***

Another candidate for that office, Democrat Sheila R. Lyons, has a couple of campaign events coming up. She’ll be in Cummaquid on Tuesday, June 15 from 10 to 11:30 AM for a “meet the candidate coffee,” and in Barnstable for a fundraising barbecue on Sunday, June 20 from 4 to 7 PM.

Want to know where these events are? So do I; the website doesn’t list the locations. You have to go to http://sheilalyons2010.com/events and contact the campaign directly for that info. I can only assume by this odd clandestine air that guests will also receive the password and secret handshake they’ll need to get in.

***

James M. Cummings, Barnstable County sheriff, is hosting a fundraiser for State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) next month in support of Rep. Perry’s Congressional race.

That event will be held at the Cape’s favorite spot for Republican revelry, the Yarmouth House on Route 28 in (where else?) Yarmouth. It’s scheduled to run from 6 to 8 PM on Monday, June 14.

***

One of Rep. Perry’s rivals, Joseph D. Malone, made another visit to the Cape this week as part of his “Joe’s on the Job Tour” of local businesses, making a stop at Hyannis Country Garden last Friday.

Democrat William R. Keating also visited the region last weekend, making an appearance in Bourne to formally announce his candidacy for Congress. He made several other stops within the district that day and finished off in Quincy.

***

A Democratic candidate for Congress, State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable), will be the guest of honor at a June 17 reception at The Island Merchant in Hyannis. Paul G. Kirk Jr., former interim US Senator, and Cynthia Cole are co-hosting the event.

The reception runs from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, and the suggested contribution is $125 to $500. TO RSVP contact Jon Patsavos at 617-470-4122 or patsavos@olearyforcongress.com.

***

While we’re talking about the Congressional race, Harwich High School will host on Tuesday afternoon a candidates’ forum. As of this writing two of the Republican candidates, Mr. Malone and Ray Kasperowicz, have confirmed. The forum is the work of the Advanced Placement United States Government class, and a student panel will ask the questions in the debate-style forum. The public is invited to attend the forum, which begins at 1 PM.

***

Here’s your final reminder that F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, has a fundraiser next Friday at the Tao Water Art Gallery on Route 6A in Barnstable, from 6 to 8 PM.

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 21st, 2010

A year ago, the chances of Governor Deval L. Patrick seeing a second term in office were on par with the chances of Stephen Hawking winning a battle rap against Eminem.

But the latest Rasmussen Reports poll suggests Gov. Patrick is experiencing a major renaissance. The poll results, released last week, showed that 45 percent of those surveyed would vote for Gov. Patrick, 31 percent would back Republican Charles D. Baker Jr., 14 percent would vote for unenrolled candidate Timothy P. Cahill, and 10 percent would stare at the ballot blankly.

The previous poll had Gov. Patrick winning the three-way race with 35 percent support to Mr. Baker’s 27 percent and Mr. Cahill’s 23 percent, respectively (no, they don’t really pay any attention to Green-Rainbow candidate Dr. Jill E. Stein).

Obviously Cahill is the one bleeding supporters here, so one could infer that the GOP’s tactic of hammering away at him instead of the incumbent, an effort to short-circuit the dreaded “spoiler” effect, is having the desired result.

But let’s not forget that at the time of the previous poll Christy P. Mihos had not yet been bumped out of the Republican primary, so Mr. Baker’s improved showing could be an artificial bump from die-hard Republicans jumping, lemming-like, to the only other available Republican. It’ll be interesting to see if he experiences a dip in the next poll.

***

On another gubernatorial note, the Boston Herald revealed last week that Mr. Baker has shelled out about $200,000 on events and gimmicky attractions at said events. On the list were things like mechanical bulls and an inflatable jousting arena (no, that is not a joke).

Supporters say such bells and whistles draw attention to the Baker campaign and increase his name recognition, but you know what else does that? Getting out on the streets and meeting people.

Charlie. Bubbi. I like you. I do. I’m hopeful for a solid showing from you, but for the love of all creatures great and small, don’t Coakley your campaign!

(Coakley (KOKE-lee, verb): 1) To squander positive gains already achieved, particularly in the context of a political campaign; 2) To rapidly lose a previously strong base of supporters through inaction or ill-advised action. Synonyms: Bungle, botch, blow, muff, fumble, bobble, Howard Dean.)

That said, Baker has launched his version of “Got Milk?”: the (rather cynically titled) “Had Enough?” campaign, which will take Mr. Baker across the state to meet with voters and tap their discontent with the current State House leadership. Go to www.masshadenough.com to go to…well, another page on Baker’s main campaign website.

***

If he’s to be believed, Joseph D. Malone is going to become a regular presence on Cape Cod as he tries to undermine State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry’s (R – Sandwich) natural hometown support base. Mr. Malone was in Falmouth last week visiting local businesses, and in a brief interview he said he planned to engage in a great deal of grass roots campaigning in the region.

On another note, Mr. Malone has at last managed to pick up an endorsement from someone still in politics: California Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R), the House Republican Chief Deputy Whip. Yeah, he had to go to the West Coast for this one.

Mr. Malone’s name has also popped up on the list of prospects for the National Republican Congressional Committee’s “Young Guns” candidate recruitment, training and support program. He has “on the radar” status, which means his candidacy is viable and he’s not about to drop out of sight anytime soon.

***

Speaking of the Congressional race, this week Rep. Perry picked up an endorsement from James M. Cummings, Barnstable County Sheriff.

“Based on his legislative work, public safety experience, character and positions on the issues, I am proud to announce my formal endorsement of Jeff Perry for Congress,” the sheriff said. “Jeff is the right person to represent us all in Congress.”

I can’t help but notice the timing here. Last week the Scott Flanagan case was getting dragged out into the light of day again, and this week the region’s top law enforcement agent publicly praises Rep. Perry. This may mitigate some of the local damage from the revived Flanagan mess, since Sheriff Cummings has a solid reputation on Cape Cod (among folks in both parties, I must add).

***

One more word on this race, which I’ll stick under the header, “Ah, THIS old tactic…”

The tactic: a call for incessant debating. The tactician: State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable), who is asking supporters to back his call for debates with fellow Dem William R. Keating in all 41 towns in the 10th Congressional District before the September primary.

I just hope Sen. O’Leary doesn’t fall back on the traditional Part Two of this tactic, wherein he accuses his rival of ducking the issues/voters by refusing to heed his call. I don’t see O’Leary as that kind of candidate, but this is already a weird anything-can-happen election season…

Also, Sen. O’Leary is inviting the public to the official campaign headquarters grand opening tomorrow at 10 AM. His HQ is at 45 Barnstable Road in Hyannis.

***

Speaking of Mr. Keating, he’s FINALLY launched his campaign website! Go to www.billkeating2010.com and poke around.

***

And then there’s Stephen Murphy, Democratic candidate for state treasurer, who almost has his site up. He’s got a placeholder page up at www.murphyfortreasurer.com so bookmark it now and check back later.

***

If anyone tried to go to State Representative Matthew C. Patrick’s (D – Falmouth) website last week and found it mysteriously MIA, it’s back up. The domain name briefly lapsed, but now www.mattpatrick.org is back up and running.

***

Event reminders: F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, has two fundraisers coming up: Friday, June 4 at the Tao Water Art Gallery on Route 6A in Barnstable, from 6 to 8 PM; and a Cape Cod clambake at the West Barnstable Deer Club on Saturday, July 31 from 4 to 7 PM.

State Representative Susan D. William Gifford (R – Wareham) is holding a campaign event at the Bay Pointe Country Club in Onset on Wednesday from 6 to 8:30 PM, and you can attend for a suggested donation of $25. Today is your last day to RSVP by calling 508-295-5999.

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 16th, 2010

Hey, candidates! A friendly reminder that the deadline for turning in your completed nomination papers for any district or county seat is coming up! Party and non-party candidates have until Tuesday, April 27 to get their paper in.

Party candidates for statewide and federal offices have until May 4, and non-party candidates have until August 3.

As of this week, there are still a few local races with no stated formal challengers to the incumbents: William Doherty, Barnstable County Commissioner; James M. Cummings, Barnstable County sheriff; Michael D. O’Keefe, Cape and Islands DA; and State Representative Timothy R. Madden (D – Nantucket).

Even more curious is how no one from the GOP has emerged to take down Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley. No one. The closest we’ve come? There was a rumor that Peter Flaherty, former aide to Governor W. Mitt Romney and former Suffolk County assistant DA, was considering a run, but nothing’s materialized.

***

The Sandwich Democratic Town Committee opened up on Sunday their shiny new headquarters for the 2010 election season, and the ribbon cutting attracted no less than Governor Deval L. Patrick.

You may be asking yourself what the big deal is. The big deal is that Gov. Patrick’s presence sends the message that the Democrats are going to be focusing on Sandwich this year. The town’s been firmly in the GOP camp since State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) was first elected to the seat in 2002, and now that he’s moving on to focus on his Congressional run, the seat is vulnerable to a Democratic takeover.

The two gents lined up to duke it out for state rep of the fifth Barnstable district – which includes all of Sandwich – are Democrat Lance W. Lambros and Republican F. Randal Hunt. That’s going to be one of the stronger local contests and could be a very close race.

***

Daniel A. Wolf, Democratic candidate for state senator of the Cape and Islands district, has announced his campaign kick-off event for Saturday, April 24. That will be held at The Paddock in Hyannis and run from 4 PM to 6 PM.

This is actually the third, final, and closest stop on a three-town tour that day which begins in Provincetown and stops in Orleans before ending in Hyannis. To RSVP for the Hyannis event call Stefanie Coxe at 508-360-9074 or kickoff@danwolfforsenate.com.

Mr. Wolf is getting ready to launch his campaign website. The URL is www.danwolfforsenate.com.

***

Another Republican is eyeballing State Representative Demetrius J. Atsalis’s (D – Barnstable) seat. Charles C. Case Jr. of Centerville, an attorney, filed his paperwork with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance last week.

This sets us up for a primary race as James F. Munafo Jr., a Barnstable town councilor, is also running as a Republican.

***

Senate President Therese M. Murray (D – Plymouth) has given her official website a facelift. It boasts better aesthetics, more features (including more multimedia content), and more active updating. Go to www.theresemurray.com and poke around.

Sen. Murray is running for re-election this year to her ninth term.

***

What the –?! Another candidate for governor’s councilor of the first district?

Yep, and her name is Patricia L. Mosca, and she hails from Bourne. She’s a retired probation officer with the Plymouth District Court and a former social worker supervisor with the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance.

She officially launches her campaign on Saturday, May 8 with a reception at the Hemisphere Restaurant in Sandwich. That starts at 6 PM.

Ms. Mosca is one of four people – all Democrats – running for the seat currently held by Carole A. Fiola, who is not running for re-election.

***

Poll time!

The latest Rasmussen Reports poll of 500 likely voters revealed that Gov. Patrick might be reclaiming a little of his mojo. In a theoretical race between Gov. Patrick, Republican Charles D. Baker Jr., and unenrolled candidate Timothy P. Cahill, the incumbent comes out on top, edging out Baker by an eight percent margin.

This is a better lead than Gov. Patrick had only a month earlier, when he came out winning the same three-way contest by only a three percent margin.

In a scenario in which Christy P. Mihos is the Republican pick, Mr. Mihos replaces Mr. Cahill in the third-placer; Gov. Patrick wins this theoretical election over Mr. Cahill by a five percent margin, and Mr. Cahill beats Mr. Mihos by an 18 percent margin.

(There was absolutely no mention of Green-Rainbow Party candidate Dr. Jill E. Stein, nor of Grace Ross, a former Green-Rainbow Party member who jumped to the Democratic Party to challenge Gov. Patrick in the primary – in theory, at least, because she’s been pretty quiet since she entered the race.)

The poll suggested that Mr. Mihos’s standing is slipping, while Gov. Patrick may no longer be the sitting duck he was a few months ago. The Boston Globe reported last week that the governor has over the past few months displayed a renewed energy and hit hard on some key issues.

No, readers, it’s not at all cynical to think that Gov. Patrick is cranking the volume up to 11 because it’s an election year and his job’s at stake.

***

Mr. Cahill, by the way, is claiming that he is the first candidate to reach the 10,000 signature mark, meaning (assuming all the signatures are certified) he has secured his spot on the November ballot.

“People are sick of the petty bickering between the two major parties, where one party says ‘no’ to an idea simply because the other party came up with it,” campaign mouthpiece Adam Meldrum said in a press release. “This year, the people of Massachusetts are not going to be saddled with the same old partisan choices they’re always been presented with. This year, voters will have a viable third alternative to the Democrats and Republicans who have created the mess this state is in.”

***

Back to the polling thing. While poking around online I found on MassBeacon.com an informal poll to see who the favorites are in the race for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District. The poll – completely unscientific, by their own admission – had our two local boys in the lead: Rep. Perry came out on top on the Republican side, besting Joseph D. Malone by a crushing 54-point margin; and State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable) beat William Keating by a smaller but still decisive 18-point margin.

Perhaps tellingly, “other” was the third most common choice above other confirmed and rumored candidates in both races. Alas, the site did not hold a theoretical race between the two party candidates and unenrolled candidate Peter A. White.

The odds of an all-Cape slate candidates are not guaranteed, of course, but it would definitely be cool.

***

On a Joe Malone-related side note, Mr. Malone has added Ted Langill to his campaign staff as his political director. Mr. Langill previously worked as a legislative aide to State Senator Robert L. Hedlund (R – Weymouth). Point of interest: Sen. Hedlund himself was for a time a rumored candidate for the 10th district race.

***

Finally, Suzanne Bump, Democratic candidate for state auditor, has launched her campaign website. That’s up at http://suzannebump.com.

The auditor race is unusually active this year – six candidates! – but then again, long-time auditor A. Joseph DeNucci is stepping down, and open seats tend to attract more interest than those with incumbents.

Special online bonus time!

I came across this campaign ad, which is NOT for J.D. Hayworth, the guy trying to oust US Senator John McCain (R – Arizona) in the primary race, but for McCain himself. It’s remarkably whimsical for a campaign ad so I thought I’d share the cheap yuks with y’all.

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 9th, 2010

Christy P. Mihos, Republican gubernatorial candidate, will be in Falmouth tomorrow for a breakfast time campaign appearance at the Falmouth Elks Club. That’s at 8:30 AM.

He has a few other things coming up on his calendar of events, but that could all be rendered moot next Saturday, which is the state Republican convention in Worcester. That will be a make-or-break moment for his foundering campaign, which has seen staffers jumping ship like they were on the S.S. Minnow and is as fiscally healthy as a five-year-old’s piggy bank (his mid-March financial filing with the state had his campaign account hovering just above the $4,000 mark).

The campaign took another blow last week when, according to the Boston Globe, Mihos missed a deadline to submit his $12,500 (!!!) convention fee because he tried to pay by personal credit card, which is a no-no. He barely made an extended deadline for his committee to deliver a check for the amount.

What does that fee cover, you might ask? Well, I have no idea of the mechanics/rationale, but it essentially guarantees that Mr. Mihos will receive a guaranteed 60 delegates toward the 300-plus he needs to secure a spot on the ballot. Yes, it doesn’t matter how many voters want him on the ballot; if he doesn’t get enough delegates at a party convention beyond the ones he paid for, he’s out of the race.

Isn’t the American political system great? By which I mean seriously screwed up. Captain Kirk made more sense describing a game of Fizzbin.

On one hand, simply for the sake of a healthy process I’d like to see Smilin’ Christy M. stay in the race, but on another level I can’t help but feel that removing Mihos from the mix at this stage would be a mercy killing.

***

By the way, Charles D. Baker Jr. this week picked up the endorsement of US Senator Scott P. Brown (R). In a robocall that went out to registered Massachusetts Republicans, Sen. Brown said Charlie Baker “will bring real change to Beacon Hill and work to restore fiscal sanity to Massachusetts government.”

I must wonder, however, if Sen. Brown’s endorsements carry as much weight as they once might have. Some of his supporters among the Tea Party faction and even the GOP are miffed at their Golden Boy for failing to overcome arcane parliamentary procedures and slay the mighty health care reform dragon.

(I’ve already ranted about that here.)

***

Lance W. Lambros, Democratic candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, is holding his campaign kick-off event tomorrow. The public is invited to swing by Holly Ridge Golf Club (121 Country Club Road in Sandwich) between 4 PM and 6 PM to meet Mr. Lambros and, if so inclined, make a campaign donation.

***

Another Republican state rep candidate, James F. Munafo Jr., who is running for the second Barnstable district, has launched his campaign website at http://jimmunafo.wordpress.com/

Candidates for public office, let this website serve as an example for you. It’s a prefab site set up through WordPress (which also powers this here blog), but it looks as good as some of the other campaign sites I’ve seen – better, in some cases.

***

Last call for “Pizza with Perry”! State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich), that is. The soon-to-be former state legislator and could-be US Representative of the 10th Congressional District is holding his next fundraiser at the Hyannis VFW post on Thursday, April 15 from 6 PM to 7:30 PM.

Rep. Perry, I should add, received an endorsement this week from former Lieutenant Governor Kerry M. Healey. “When Jeff called and told me he was running for Congress, I told him, ‘I don’t care who else is running, I’m with you’,” Ms. Healey said at a reception in Quincy. “Jeff Perry is a solid, strong legislator and I know he’ll work as hard for you in Congress as he has in the state legislature.”

***

Also on the 15th, look for Republican State Senate candidate Eric T. Steinhilber at the Cape Cod Tax Day Tea Party Rally at the Hyannis Rotary. That runs from 4 to 6 PM.

That’s right: there will be a big distraction at one of the town’s busiest intersections during rush hour. Doesn’t that make you want to just run out and hug the Tea Party folks…around the neck, until they pass out from lack of blood to the brain?

***

Daniel A. “Air” Wolf, Democratic candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District, has named Stefanie Coxe as his new campaign manager. Ms. Coxe is formerly a legislative aide to State Representatives Demetrius J. Atsalis (D – Barnstable) and, more recently, Cleon H. Turner (D – Dennis).

***

Joseph D. Malone, Republican candidate for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District, continues to hunt down endorsements from (former) big names in Massachusetts politics. He has added officials pats on the back from former governor A. Paul Cellucci and Michael Sullivan, a former US Attorney (and acting head of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms – three great tastes that go great together).

***

It’s official: Richard P. Purcell is Dr. Jill E. Stein’s running mate on the Green-Rainbow Party gubernatorial ticket. Dr. Stein made it official over the weekend.

Mr. Purcell, a New Mexico native and current Holyoke resident, is a former Democrat who jumped to the Green-Rainbow Party in 2000. He’s been involved with town politics and issues, and is a US Army veteran who served as a medic during Operation: Desert Storm.

And remember, readers, Dr. Stein will be in Waquoit tomorrow evening for the Green-Rainbow Party’s Southeastern Massachusetts Convention at Moonakis Café. That event runs from 5 PM to 8 PM, and Dr. Stein and Peter A. White, unenrolled candidate for Congress, will speak about “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.

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 19th, 2010

(Editor’s note: the content of this column was written on March 12 and set to auto-post today.)

It’s official! David T. Vieira of Falmouth is in the running for state representative of the third Barnstable district!

Mr. Vieira gave me the head’s up last week at a Mashpee Republican Town Committee meeting, and he pulled the trigger on Wednesday. There should be a full profile in the front section of this paper (except for Sandwich, because it’s not in the district…no soup for you!).

This sets the stage for a possible rematch between Mr. Vieira and State Representative Matthew C. Patrick (D – Falmouth), who faced off in 2000 as fellow first-time candidates for the Legislature. If this one goes forward, it’ll be a very cool race to watch.

***

Hey, debate fans! There’s something juicy coming up next week!

The Cape Codder Resort will host a head-to-head debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates Charles D. Baker Jr. and Christy P. Mihos next Friday, March 26, starting at 7 PM. The Cape Cod Republican Committee and the Women’s Republican Club of Cape Cod put this baby together, and I’m betting this is going to be a fun night.

***

Since we’re talking about the governor’s race, I’ll take up this item I’ve been sitting on for a couple of weeks…

The latest Suffolk University/WHDH-TV poll on the governor’s race is not looking promising for Mr. Mihos. In a theoretical primary showdown between the two Republican candidates, Mr. Baker wins with 47 percent of voters polled supporting him, 36 percent undecided, and 17 percent siding with Mr. Mihos.

You know you’re doing poorly if you finish third behind “undecided.” And this is a major turnaround since the last poll in November, which had Mihos in the lead with 33 percent support to Baker’s 30 percent.

(For those of you who care about such things, Baker’s campaign war chest is sprinting toward the $2 million mark. Mihos’s coffers are looking mighty empty at a shade under $4,700. I hasten to add a quick word of advice for the candidates, in particular Charlie Baker: stop bragging about how much money you’re raising. It’s not helping you win hearts and minds. Really.)

Democrat Grace Ross is in a similar boat. In a theoretical primary race between her and incumbent Deval L. Patrick, Gov. Patrick, 59 percent of those surveyed said they’d vote for him, 26 percent were undecided, and 15 percent chose Ms. Ross.

Now, in a theoretical four-way race between Gov. Patrick, Mr. Baker, Green-Rainbow Party candidate Dr. Jill E. Stein, and unenrolled candidate Timothy P. Cahill, the results were, respectively: 33 percent, 25 percent, three percent, and 23 percent.

A Rasmussen Reports poll generated the same basic results: Gov. Patrick narrowly beat Mr. Baker, and Mr. Cahill came in third. Dr. Stein was nowhere to be seen in this poll; the fourth slot went to “undecided.”

Interestingly, in a theoretical race in which Mr. Mihos was the Republican candidate, Gov. Patrick still won and Tim Cahill was the runner-up, and Smilin’ Christy M. came in third.

***

In other gubernatorial news, Mr. Cahill announced last week he has added to former strategists from US Senator John McCain’s (R) 2008 Presidential campaign: John Weaver and John Yob.

Supporters are promoting this as the addition of some serious muscle to Mr. Cahill’s campaign, but I don’t know if I’d crow too loudly about having guys on my team whose last big gig was helping the guy who lost.

***

And as Mr. Cahill’s campaign team grows, Mr. Mihos’s shrinks. Joe Manzoli, Mr. Mihos’s campaign manager, left the team last week, stating only that he wanted his professional life to move “in a different direction.”

The candidate insists all is well within his camp, despite a recent spate of campaign staff and personal finance issues.

I should note that Mr. Mihos recently attended a Tea Party-sponsored event in Westborough. This appearance has fueled speculation that he’s courting the Tea Party movement to revitalize his flagging campaign.

Whether this is true and proves a shrewd and successful new strategy or a dying candidate’s desperate Hail Mary play has yet to be seen, but it could work; Baker has been heavily criticized in some corners as being a big-money mainstream candidate, so a well-played “outsider” card could yield some positive results.

***

Our last note this week on the governor’s race: Ms. Ross, who jumped ship from the Green-Rainbow Party to join the Democrats, has launched her campaign website at www.graceross.org.

***

We’ve previously seen “Jokes With Jeff,” now it’s time for “Pizza With Perry.”

State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich), candidate for the 10th Congressional district, will hold a fundraiser on Thursday, April 15 – not coincidentally, the day after the deadline for filing your taxes – 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.

Go to www.jeffperryforcongress.com/events.html for details.

***

Eric Steinhilber is Everywhere Man!

The Republican (and so far only) candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands district will be putting in face time at several events across the Cape this spring, including a candidates’ night in Eastham (March 25), the aforementioned gubernatorial debate, a fundraiser for Barnstable County Sheriff James M. Cummings (April 2), a Woman’s Republican Club of Cape Cod luncheon (April 9), the “Brewster in Bloom Parade” (May 2), and the Cape Cod Republican Club’s annual meeting (May 17).

Go to Mr. Steinhilber’s campaign website at www.electeric2010.com for more info, then get out and say hi to the chap.

***

State Representative Karyn Polito (R – Shrewsbury) has launched her new website in support of her campaign for state treasurer. Go to www.karynpolitofortreasurer.com to learn more.

Meanwhile, Republican Brian J. Herr has dropped out of the treasurer’s race and is now running for the third Congressional district.

***

The official campaign website for Walter Moniz, Democratic candidate for governor’s councilor of the first district, is also up and running. That’s at http://waltermoniz.com.

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

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