Snark-Infested Waters by Mike Bailey

Snark-Infested Waters by Mike Bailey

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The Week In Politics – October 26, 2012

Friday, October 26th, 2012

Welcome to the penultimate column of the 2012 election season!

I’ll be taking next week off for some much-needed time in a deep coma, so see you back here after the election for some final analysis, but for the nonce…

Eric R. Steinhilber has picked up a few endorsements from assorted Barnstable County officials (and, I’m sure not coincidentally, fellow Republicans), including Sheriff James M. Cummings, Special Sheriff (and former state rep) Jeffrey D. Perry, Cape & Islands DA Michael O’Keefe, Clerk of Courts Scott W. Nickerson, and Clerk of Probate Anastasia Welsh Perrino.

In other obvious political endorsements, State Representative David T. Vieira (R – Falmouth) has endorsed fellow Republican Christopher Sheldon of Plymouth for US Representative of the Ninth District.

Finally, Thomas F. Keyes, Republican candidate for State Senator of the Plymouth and Barnstable District, picked up an endorsement from New Jobs for Massachusetts, a “public policy advocate for rapid growth in private sector employment” in the state.

Political news and announcements may be e-mailed to Michael Bailey, senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net.

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The Week In Politics

Friday, October 15th, 2010

Welcome to the extra-scandalous edition of the column. You may want to shower afterwards, ’cause this ain’t pretty. I’ll start with the nastiest stuff and try to bring the tone up from there (good luck, me).

Things are getting seriously ugly between Democrat/Norfolk County DA William R. Keating and State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich), and that’s saying something considering the tone of this race from the get-go was far from cordial.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently unveiled an attack ad that strips down (and in the process, slightly sensationalizes) the Scott Flanagan/Wareham PD scandal. The Massachusetts Democratic party has also launched a “fact-based” anti-Perry website called “The Perry Files,” which links to a ton of media stories about Rep. Perry’s various controversies.

Meanwhile the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee launched a new website, “Bill Keating – Just the Facts,” a blog-style site that picks apart Keating’s political career, and boy, what timing! That launched just as news broke that Mr. Keating was accepting campaign donations from a defense attorney on the other side of a case Mr. Keating’s office is prosecuting.

Keating is dismissing this as no big deal, attorneys donate to him all the time, but the GOP is calling this a conflict of interests.

Then there is the startling new wrinkle in the form of a new endorsement for Rep. Perry from Thomas Joyce, who was the chief of the Wareham Police Department during the Flanagan scandal – a man who has completely avoided the media (and continues to do so) to discuss the matter.

Why he has emerged from hiding has not been revealed, but his endorsement has only served to embolden the converted and provide the Keating folks with more ammo; recent e-mails from the Keating campaign gleefully point out that the former chief was himself a co-defendant in the court cases resulting from the Flanagan incidents.

This is tiresome, guys. Really. This negativity is making both candidates look like a word I can’t print here in a family newspaper.

***

Now, here’s a surprising and related bit of news: last week the five Congressional candidates met in Plymouth and debated (read: Perry and Keating sniped at each other), and the candidate who came out on top in a subsequent straw poll was unenrolled candidate MaryAnne Lewis.

WATD, which sponsored the event, held the poll following a Friday rebroadcast of the debate, and Ms. Lewis – who, as you might have noticed, is profiled this week – came out on top with a whopping 76 percent support. Rep. Perry came in second (16 percent) and Mr. Keating (eight percent).

Ms. Lewis apparently scored major points when, at last Thursday’s debate, she remarked to the two party candidates that people were sick of listening to them slap each other around (I know I am). Whether she can successfully parlay voter irritation at both the current status quo and at Perry and Keating’s carping has yet to be seen, but she has become a much more interesting and potentially dangerous candidate.

***

Back to Scandalville and its growing population. Suzanne M. Bump, Democratic candidate for auditor, is defending (read: rationalizing) her decision to claim two big tax breaks in Great Barrington, which she calls home, and in Boston where she owns a condo.

Ms. Bump — a lawyer, mind you — insisted she was not doing anything illegal, but the Massachusetts Department of Revenue begged to differ: the DOR said residents cannot claim two primary residences in Massachusetts to get two sets of property tax breaks.

Despite her adamant belief she was getting the tax breaks legally, she last week ponied up $5,875 to reimburse the City of Boston for the taxes she didn’t pay. The city then reviewed the situation and confirmed that yes, she was not entitled to both perks.

And this is the woman who wants to be the person who ensures our tax money is used properly. Lovely.

***

From the world of weird endorsements: James A. Sheets, one of the three unenrolled candidates for Congress, recently announced that he’d received an endorsement from Peter Boylston Adams, a descendant of President John Quincy Adams.

And that’s all he’s got: he’s related to someone famous and influential in shaping the United States. Whoop-de-do.

***

And now, a nice endorsement: for Daniel A. Wolf, Democratic candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District, from environmental groups the Sierra Club and Clean Water Action.

***

On Friday, October 29 starting at 6 PM, there will be a multi-candidate Republican rally at the Hemisphere Restaurant in Sandwich. On the roster of attendees: Rep. Perry; Thomas F. Keyes, Republican candidate for State Senator of the Plymouth and Barnstable District; F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for State Representative for the Fifth Barnstable District; Michael D. O’Keefe, the Cape and Islands’ district attorney (who is unopposed this year); and James Killion, who is running for the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates.

***

This week’s event reminders:

Rep. Perry is the guest of honor at a reception at the Flying Bridge in Falmouth on Sunday. That runs from 5 to 7 PM.

That same day Mr. Keyes will hold a fundraiser at the Aqua Grille in Sandwich beginning at 4 PM.

Next Friday, October 22, the Committee to Elect Therese Murray and Olive and Dave Chase will host a fundraiser for Senate President Therese M. Murray (D – Plymouth) at the Sandwich Glass Museum from 6 to 7:30 PM. Suggested donation for both events is $50 per person.

Mr. Hunt is holding his final campaign fundraiser on Saturday, October 23 at the East Sandwich Grange Hall. The Tony Lujan Quintet will perform.

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, September 17th, 2010

One election down, one to go!

Check www.capenews.net for the lowdown on who won what (I put this thing together on Tuesdays, hence the lack of results here), but this week marks the beginning of the election season in earnest, because all those candidates who had no primary opponents have to now wake up and start campaigning.

A precious few get to kick back and relax as they have no opponents whatsoever – Barnstable County Sheriff James M. Cummings, Cape & Islands DA Michael D. O’Keefe, and State Representative Timothy R. Madden (D – Nantucket) – but everyone else has to do at least a little legwork.

There are some solid local races here, but also a few that I’m expecting to be rather uninspiring affairs. I look first to State Representative Susan D. Williams Gifford (R – Wareham), whose Democratic challenger David A. Smith of Wareham is thus far striking me as another in a long line of lackluster opponents for Rep. Gifford.

Turning my gaze northeastward, I see an uphill battle for Thomas F. Keyes, who is challenging Senate President Therese M. Murray (D – Plymouth). Sen. Murray holds a major power position in the Legislature, has crazy cash in her campaign war chest, and – perhaps most importantly – has successfully spearheaded health care and economic development reforms in the past two years, so one cannot accuse her of having a do-nothing term in her rearview mirror.

***

Governor Deval L. Patrick’s firing up his re-election campaign and has opened several “regional coordinated campaign offices” across the state, including four on Cape Cod. If you’re looking for information on The Guv, check out the local offices at 359 Main Street in Falmouth and 4 Merchants Square in Sandwich.

The governor, by the way, received an endorsement last week from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. Mayor Menino called Gov. Patrick “whuh rhl leddeh en Mussashuztz” (translated for those who don’t speak Mumble: “a real leader in Massachusetts”).

***

Dr. Jill E. Stein is hopping mad that she’s being overlooked by the Boston media.

Dr. Stein, the Green-Rainbow Party candidate, was not invited to participate in a radio debate in Boston this week, and she initially was not invited to participate in a televised debate scheduled for Tuesday – in the latter case, because her campaign war chest was about $31,000 short of meeting a minimum $100,000 threshold.

She is now going to participate in next week’s televised debate, but still got shafted from this week’s radio debate on WBZ.

The Boston Herald’s Margery Eagan opined this week that Dr. Stein should not be so catered to, and in fact should not be in the race, citing her inability to raise money on the same level as her rivals and her history of failed campaigns (governor in 2002, state representative in 2004, secretary of the Commonwealth in 2006).

Eagan rationalized that she has a snowball’s chance of winning the election, so why should the media waste time on her when that time could go to Gov. Patrick, Charles D. Baker Jr., and Timothy P. Cahill.

This arrogant attitude – “I don’t think this person can win, so I think he/she should just drop out now” – is part of what’s wrong with contemporary politics. The media adopt their darlings early on, the candidates they determine to be “viable,” and leave all others out in the cold, in the process do the voting public a grave disservice by burying the “weak” candidates under a ton of coverage for the “strong” contenders.

In the gubernatorial race it’s Dr. Stein. In the Congressional race Republicans Raymond Kasperowicz, the first guy to declare his candidacy, and Robert E. Hayden III were largely ignored in favor of State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) and Joseph D. Malone. In 2008 Jeffrey K. Beatty’s challenge to US Senator John F. Kerry (D) was barely acknowledged, even after the media’s chosen sweetheart Jim Ogonowski tanked hard by failing to collect enough signatures to earn a spot on the primary ballot.

The decision whether to run for any elected seat – and whether to continue running when “they” say it’s futile – belongs first and foremost to the candidates themselves, and then to the voters, not the media. Ever.

***

State Representative Matthew C. Patrick (D – Falmouth) has added Virginia Ryan to his re-election campaign team. Ms. Ryan recently left her post of several years as the Housing Assistance Corporation’s assistant to the CEO/director of special projects.

***

Upcoming campaign events:

Rep. Gifford is hosting a fundraiser for Rep. Perry on Monday. That’ll be held at the Mezza Luna restaurant in Bourne from 5:30 PM to 7 PM.

Sen. Murray is the guest of honor at a September 26 fundraiser in East Sandwich. Betsy and Bill Lehrer will host that event at their home from 4 to 6 PM. For more information, e-mail Bet6453@aol.com or call 508-888-2016.

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, August 13th, 2010

We lead off this week with a quick public service announcement. For the benefit of voters, the Enterprise Newspapers has established an online archive of this year’s political profiles. New profiles will be posted as they appear in the print editions of the paper.

You can access the archives through the menu on the left of this page.

***

Has Governor Deval L. Patrick slit his own throat – politically speaking – over the casino bill?

After apparently reaching a compromise on the issue of whether to allow slot machines in Massachusetts as part of the state’s expanded gaming bill, Gov. Patrick backpedaled last week and vetoed that provision – over the very vocal protestations of House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D – Winthrop) and Senate President Therese M. Murray (D – Plymouth).

The governor explained his turnaround on the fact that slot machine contracts would be issued on a no-bid basis, and wagged a finger at the Legislature for being unwilling to compromise and for dragging its collective feet on putting a bill together in the first place.

Gov. Patrick’s supporters are portraying this as political courage, but it’s more like political folly. In one fell swoop Gov. Patrick has cheesed off two of his most powerful allies, and many other lawmakers who worked on the bill in good faith. He needs a united front and now he’s created a State House divided.

I should remind you, readers, that Gov. Patrick two years ago had a chance to plead his case before the House as it was considering an earlier iteration of the bill, but instead nipped off to New York City to negotiate a book deal.

Then there’s one of the strongest lobbies in the state, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, which is staunchly pro-casino. It often endorses the Democratic candidate in gubernatorial races, but will Gov. Patrick’s deathblow to the casino bill cause the AFL-CIO to withhold its stamp of approval?

***

Elsewhere in the governor’s race, Dr. Jill E. Stein announced last week that her campaign had successfully collected enough signatures to secure a spot on the November ballot (as a member of the Green-Rainbow Party, which is considered a “political designation” in Massachusetts, she had a longer time period in which to collect signatures).

So we officially have a four-way race for the corner office, but the question now is whether the media will give Dr. Stein any attention, or will continue to treat her as a non-entity.

***

A reader contacted me last week to ask me what was going on with the race for State Representative of the Third Barnstable District – by which I mean she had no idea that State Representative Matthew C. Patrick (D – Falmouth) had an opponent.

That’s a bad sign for Republican David T. Vieira of Falmouth, who is challenging Rep. Patrick. Granted, neither gent has a primary race and are likely saving the good stuff for the November general election, but Mr. Vieira has been a little too quite for his own good, it would seem.

But wait! He does in fact have something cooking, so to speak. Frank and Andrea Keohane of East Falmouth are hosting a barbecue fundraiser for Mr. Vieira. That’s next week, August 19 from 5 to 7 PM at the Keohane house. Go to www.votevieira.com for details.

***

Democrat Lance W. Lambros has also been on the quiet side in his campaign for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, but this week he announced a number of upcoming campaign events.

On Monday, August 16 he’ll hold a meet-and-greet starting at 7:30 AM at Liberty Hall in Marstons Mills; on Saturday, August 28 he’ll meet with voters from 4 to 7 PM at Merchants Square, at the Sandwich Democratic Headquarters annual barbecue; and on Monday, August 30 he’ll attend  from 3 to 5 PM a senior citizens forum at the Barnstable Senior Center.

Mr. Lambros will also apparently start up a local public access cable segment to discuss the pressing issues of the day, so more on that once I get the details.

***

State Representative Susan D. William Gifford (R – Wareham) has scheduled her annual clambake fundraiser. It’s happening Thursday, August 26 beginning at 6 PM. It’ll be held at Zecco Marine in Wareham. Go to www.susangifford.com for details.

***

Daniel A. Wolf, Democratic candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District, has rescheduled a planned meet-and-greet in Mashpee. That’s now set for Sunday, August 22, from 4 to 6 PM at Starfish Restaurant at South Cape Village in Mashpee.

***

Mr. Wolf’s rival in the primary race, Sheila R. Lyons, is holding a fundraiser at the Anchor Inn in Hyannis on Tuesday, August 31 starting at 7 PM. Go to http://sheilalyons2010.com for more info.

***

Thomas F. Keyes, Republican candidate for State Senator of the Plymouth and Barnstable District, is holding a pasta dinner fundraiser at the Pocasset Community Club on Wednesday, August 18 starting at 6 PM. Go to www.votekeyes.com for details.

***

State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable) has picked up a big endorsement in his quest for Congress, from the Massachusetts Teachers Association last week gave Sen. O’Leary the nod.

“Massachusetts has the best schools in America, and Rob O’Leary’s leadership has made him a great partner for our members and for parents and students in making that success happen,” MTA President Paul Toner said in a press release. “We’re excited to endorse Rob O’Leary because, as a teacher himself for 34 years and a long-time leader on education issues, he’ll make education a priority in Congress.”

Now, interestingly, Sen. O’Leary’s rival in the primaries, William R. Keating, earlier in the campaign picked up an endorsement from the American Federation of Teachers – Massachusetts chapter. I guess these organizations don’t compare notes at all…

Also, Sen. O’Leary has launched what is, at least on the Democratic side, the first TV ad of the campaign. Check it out online at www.olearyforcongress.com/getout.

***

State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) has picked up another big local endorsement, this one from Michael D. O’Keefe, the Cape and Islands’ district attorney.

DA O’Keefe gave Rep. Perry the official thumb’s up last week at a fundraiser for the latter hosted by the former. Rep. Perry also picked up what seems to be his biennial endorsement from the Gun Owners’ Action League (GOAL).

Rep. Perry’s next local fundraiser will be held at the Aqua Grille in Sandwich on Sunday, August 22. That runs from 4 to 6 PM and is hosted by Eileen DiBuono and Patricia Markoff. After that, on Sunday, August 29 is an end-of-summer lobster and clam bake at the Sandwich American Legion Hall. That runs from 1 to 3 PM.

Go to www.jeffperryforcongress.com for more info and to make any necessary reservations.

***

This week’s event reminders:

Joseph D. Malone, Republican Congressional candidate, will be at the Courtyard Restaurant and Pub in Cataumet on Sunday, August 15 from 4 to 6 PM.

Mr. Wolf will be at house party fundraisers in Mashpee on Monday, August 16; in Marstons Mills on Thursday, August 26; in Osterville on Friday, August 27; and in Hyannis on Sunday, August 29. Check out his official website at www.danwolfforsenate.com for more information.

F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, is holding a meet-and-greet at Lakewood Hills on Tuesday, August 17 at 5 PM; a golf tourney fundraiser at Holly Ridge on Sunday, October 3 starting at 8:20 AM; a pasta supper fundraiser at the American Legion Hall in Sandwich on Saturday, September 25 starting at 6 PM; and “Pizza & Politics with Pizzazz” at Two Brothers Pizza & Mexican in Sandwich on Monday, October 11 at 5:30 PM.

The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Cod Young Professionals are co-hosting a pre-primary candidates’ night on Friday, September 10 at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis. WXTK-FM’s news director Matt Pitta moderates the forum involving candidates in the US Representative of the 10th Congressional District and the State Senator of the Cape and Islands District races.

***

Finally, from the Better Late Than Never File: two previously uncontested races now have contests…sort of.

Keith Davis of Holyoke is running a write-in campaign for lieutenant governor. What party? He apparently doesn’t care. According to his website (www.writeinkeithdavis.com) you can throw his name in wherever you’d like (though he thinks a write-in campaign would be “most effective” on the Republican ballot).

And then there’s Republican James P. McKenna, who for whatever reason didn’t go the normal route of getting a formal position on the ballot and is also running a write-in campaign for Massachusetts Attorney General. His website is at http://jimforag.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, July 30th, 2010

Joseph D. Malone is firing back at a recent Boston Herald story calling his business acumen into question.

The Herald story claimed that three of the four businesses Mr. Malone was last involved with were either forcible dissolved by the state, for failing to file proper paperwork, or went belly-up.

The restaurant that went of business is just as the Herald said, but Mr. Malone qualified its closure in a rebuttal sent out to supporters via his campaign newsletter: business dried up in the wake of 9-11 and closed its doors seven months later.

As for the six the fitness clubs he was involved with, three were sold to new owners and three were sold off after their leases ran out.

The M/D Group, a consulting firm, closed up shop when Mr. Malone’s partner left the business (Malone then formed a new, similar business with his wife Linda, and that’s still alive).

While he provided reasonable explanations for the fate of his businesses, Mr. Malone did not respond to any of the Herald’s charges that the fitness clubs and the consulting group were delinquent in filing annual reports beyond insisting that the reports were indeed filed (the Herald’s research proved otherwise).

***

Republican Robert E. Hayden III, otherwise known as “The guy who entered the Congressional race way too late to matter,” has his official campaign website up and running. That’s at www.haydenforcongress.com.

After giving it a read, I’ve inferred that this dude doesn’t care much for Europe. He warns in his opening statement on the home page that without leadership like his, America will turn into “a cradle-to-grave European-style entitlement society… with permanent double-digit unemployment and high taxes and suffocating debt.”

(Actually, the European Union’s average unemployment rate is now only one-tenth of a percentage point higher than ours, with 17 members reporting lower unemployment rates than the US national average of 9.5 percent and 10 reporting double-digit unemployment. Just thought I’d throw that out there.)

Shouldn’t trash Europe, Bob. As Eddie Izzard points out, that’s where all the history is.

***

If you drove by the Barnstable County Fair last Wednesday, you might have seen a couple of throngs of William R. Keating supporters hanging about out by Route 151. That was because the candidate was in town that day to meet the with Falmouth Democratic Town Committee (which I only know after the fact, since no one mentioned it to me. Thanks, guys…feelin’ the love).

Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles D. Baker Jr. also made a stop by the fair this past weekend.

Politicians at a county fair…I have so many jokes to choose from it’s intoxicating.

***

Daniel A. Wolf, Democratic candidate for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District, is holding several house party fundraisers in the coming weeks, including in Marstons Mills on Thursday, August 26 and in Osterville on Friday, August 27. Check out his official website at www.danwolfforsenate.com for more information.

***

State Representative Susan D. Williams Gifford (R – Wareham) has scheduled her traditional fundraiser clambake for Thursday, August 26 but has yet to announce the location, time, or other sundry details. What a tease.

***

This week’s campaign event reminders:

F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, is holding his barbecue fundraiser tomorrow at the West Barnstable Deer Club from 3 to 7 PM; a meet-and-greet at Lakewood Hills on Tuesday, August 17 at 5 PM; a golf tourney fundraiser at Holly Ridge on Sunday, October 3 starting at 8:20 AM; a pasta supper fundraiser at the American Legion Hall in Sandwich on Saturday, September 25 starting at 6 PM; and “Pizza & Politics with Pizzazz” at Two Brothers Pizza & Mexican in Sandwich on Monday, October 11 at 5:30 PM.

State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich), candidate for Congress, will hold a campaign reception on August 3 at the Flying Bridge in Falmouth. Jennifer Bruce hosts the event, which will feature remarks by Michael D. O’Keefe, the Cape and Islands’ district attorney.

Governor Deval L. Patrick will be at the “Hyannis Communities Connecting for Deval” event at the Zion Union Heritage Museum in Hyannis on Thursday, August 5. That begins at 7:30 PM.

Raymond Kasperowicz, Republican Congressional candidate, will be on the Cape on August 19 to participate in a political forum hosted by the Cape Cod Young Professionals. That’s scheduled to begin at 5 PM and will be held at the Hyannis Resort and Conference Center.

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 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 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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