Snark-Infested Waters by Mike Bailey

Snark-Infested Waters by Mike Bailey

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The week in politics

Friday, May 7th, 2010

The political season is well and truly underway, because we have our first attack ad.

The firing squad here is the Republican Governors Association, which has launched not one but THREE ads against unenrolled gubernatorial candidate Timothy P. Cahill: one for TV, one for the radio, and one web ad, but all three are viewable on a new website bearing the header of “The Cahill Report” (www.thecahillreport.com).

The ads paint Mr. Cahill as “Like Deval Patrick, only worse” and accuse the current state treasurer of cronyism, mismanaging the state pension fund, increasing costs at the Massachusetts State Lottery, and wasting taxpayer money on a lavish office redeco, and staff bonuses and vehicles.

Why go after Cahill, you might ask? Why not go after Gov. Patrick, the guy who’s been leading in recent polls? Because in the GOP’s eyes Tim Cahill is what you’d call a “spoiler,” a guy who could divert the all-important unenrolled voter base away from Republican Charles D. Baker Jr., split their support, and let Gov. Patrick slide through to a second term.

Cahill responded with his own Internet ad chastising the RGA and Baker for running the attack ads (even though the RGA stated it made the ads on its own, sans the Baker campaign’s authorization).

Mr. Baker’s camp has neither openly condoned not condemned the ad, but if they’re smart they’ll distance themselves from the campaign. After all, negative campaigning only hurt Kerry M. Healey’s gubernatorial campaign in 2006 and, more recently, Martha Coakley’s US Senate campaign this year.

***

A side note: the Baker camp last week said ta-ta to campaign manager Lenny Alcivar and named Tim O’Brien as the new manager. Mr. O’Brien, notably, managed Ms. Healey’s 2006 campaign…or mis-managed, depending on your point of view.

Pundits are calling this a desperation move, but I think it may be way too early to make that call. Granted, the Baker campaign hasn’t been making any great strides forward under Alcivar, but changing the guard seven months out from the general election does not bespeak a Hail Mary Play to me.

***

State Senator Robert A. O’Leary (D – Barnstable) last weekend officially launched his campaign for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District. I would have mentioned this last week, except no one from his campaign told any of us here at the Enterprise about the kickoff event in Hyannis.

Off to a roarin’ start, guys.

Sen. O’Leary has also launched his campaign website at www.olearyforcongress.com (not to be confused with www.senatoroleary.com, the official website for his legislative activities).

I must give a quick nod to the senator’s primary rival William R. Keating who, in a display of class that is often sorely lacking in politics, issued a statement welcoming Sen. O’Leary to the race.

They kind ruined it for me by adding in some Keating-centric campaign rhetoric and asking Sen. O’Leary to “support the eventual Democratic nominee, to ensure that we don’t turn back the clock by electing a Republican who will support failed policies that got us into this mess in the first place,” but hey, I’ll take what inter-candidate niceties I can get.

I must also give the Keating campaign a not-so-gentle nudge and say get a move-on, would you? Mr. Keating is now the only man in this race who has not made a formal announcement of candidacy. That, I’m told, is coming later this month. I can’t imagine why they’re choosing to wait so long.

***

It looks like James H. Crocker Jr. of Osterville is pulling the trigger and officially running for State Senator of the Cape and Islands District as a Republican. He filed has paperwork with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance last week.

This sets up a two-way primary race between Mr. Crocker and Eric R. Steinhilber, who launched his campaign back in February.

***

A quick note from the world of unsurprising endorsements: State Representative Viriato (Vinny) M. deMacedo (R – Plymouth) endorsed colleague and friend State Representative Jeffrey D. Perry (R – Sandwich) for US Representative of the 10th Congressional District.

An even bigger name attaching itself to the Perry campaign train: former Massachusetts governor W. Mitt Romney. “He will be a strong conservative voice against the Washington culture of higher taxes, higher spending, and higher debt,” Der Mittster said in a press release. “I am looking forward to the contributions he will make in the US House of Representatives.”

Speaking of contributions, Romney’s “Free and Strong America” PAC is throwing $2,500 into Rep. Perry’s war chest along with the official thumb’s up.

***

Thomas F. Keyes, Republican candidate for State Senator of the Plymouth & Barnstable District, announced the addition of Glenn Kelly of Falmouth to his campaign team. Mr. Kelly will be the campaign coordinator for Falmouth.

According to a press release, Mr. Kelly is the Head Professional at the Woods Hole Golf Club – man, I feel like there’s a good joke in there somewhere – and a former Falmouth Republican Town Committee chairman.

***

Patricia L. Mosca of Bourne is launching her campaign for governor’s councilor of the first district next Saturday, May 8, at the Hemisphere Restaurant in Sandwich. That runs from 6 to 9 PM, and attendance in free.

Ms. Mosca is a retired probation officer with the Plymouth District Trial Court and as a social worker with Social Service Foster Care and the Transitional Assistance Program.

For further information about next week’s reception, contact Ms. Mosca directly at 508-221-1160 or visit her campaign website at www.democratsofsandwich.org/PatriciaMosca.htm (be warned that whoever set it up perhaps doesn’t know HTML as well as he should. You’ll see what I mean when you check it out).

***

Final reminders! James F. Munafo Jr., Republican candidate for State Representative of the Second Barnstable District, is holding his campaign kickoff tomorrow at the Hyannis Golf Course from 5 to 7 PM. Contact the campaign at 508-771-8101 or votemunafo@integrity.com.

Republican David T. Vieira of Falmouth, candidate for State Representative of the Third Barnstable District, is holding his kick-off fundraiser at the Falmouth Navigator (just off Sandwich Road in Hatchville) this Tuesday from 5 PM to 8 PM. Tickets are $25. To purchase tickets, call Addie Drolette at 774-836-0100.

***

F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for State Representative of the Fifth Barnstable District, has a couple of 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.

Go to www.electrandyhunt.com/events.html for details as they’re posted.

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, March 5th, 2010

Man, have things gotten wacky over the past couple of weeks.

The man at the center of this big ball of crazy is Congressman William D. Delahunt (D), who is expected to announce this month whether he will run for re-election. There’s been a lot of idle speculation that an eighth term isn’t in the cards, and that speculation intensified last week in light of several news stories detailing $560,000 in campaign spending in 2009, a lot of it on things only somewhat related to actual campaigning (like expensive meals and fees to relatives in his employ).

(more…)

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The week in politics

Friday, February 26th, 2010

The local ballot is filling up nicely.

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

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

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

***

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

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

***

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

***

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

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

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

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

***

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

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

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

***

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

***

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

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

***

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

***

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

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

And all it costs you is a $20 donation.

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

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

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The week in politics

Friday, February 19th, 2010

I hardly know where to begin this week!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

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

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

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

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

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

…and — wait for it — Sen. Murray.

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

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

***

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

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

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

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

***

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

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

***

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

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

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

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The week in politics

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Hey, Democrats! Got anything planned for this Monday?

Then hie thee hither to the 12th annual Presidents Day Brunch at the 400 East Restaurant on East Harwich (at the intersections of Routes 137 and 39). The event runs from 11:30 AM until 1:30 PM and is sponsored by the Harwich Democratic Town Committee.

The HDTC folks have invited Democratic candidates for state auditor and state treasurer to the event, and at last word Suzanne Bump and Steve Grossman, candidates for auditor and treasurer respectively, will be in attendance.

The committee will also announce during the brunch the recipients of the Mabel Canto Democrat of the Year Award and the James Noonan Community Service Award.

The cost to attend is $20. To RSVP or for more information contact Ray Gottwald, HDTC chairman, at 508-430-1666 or RayGottwald@aol.com.

***

I’ve yet to mention Ms. Bump in this column, so let me rectify that. She’s a former state representative and, more recently, was the executive office of labor and workforce development under Governor Deval L. Patrick. Her official bio says she lives in Great Barrington in the village of Housatonic, which sounds like a sinister New England village in an H.P. Lovecraft story.

Her official website is http://suzannebump.com.

***

F. Randal Hunt, Republican candidate for state representative of the fifth Barnstable district, has his campaign website up and running. Trot on over to www.electrandyhunt.com and poke around.

Mr. Hunt has also scheduled his campaign kick-off/first fundraising event for Tuesday, March 9 at the Sandwich Hollows Golf Course. That runs from 5 PM to 7 PM, with “speeches (and other campaign rhetoric)” – his words, not mine – beginning at 6 PM.

***

And guess what? Mr. Hunt already has an opponent, and he’s a blast from the not-too-distant past: Lance W. Lambros of Sandwich announced this week he’s taking out nomination papers and plans to run for state rep.

Those familiar with county government will recognize Mr. Lambros as a former county commissioner and member of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates.

***

The governor’s race continues to heat up. Democrat-turned-independent candidate Timothy P. Cahill formally launched his campaign last week, and in an odd bit of turnabout, a former third party candidate has announced she plans to run against Deval L. Patrick in the primary.

Grace Ross, who ran for governor as a member of the Green-Rainbow Party in 2006 (and collected only two percent of the vote in the four-way race), is challenging Gov. Patrick for the Democratic nomination. I don’t expect her to receive much, if any backing from the party, so enjoy her candidacy while you can, folks.

***

Another note on the gubernatorial race. In case you were in doubt, Republican Christy P. Mihos is “in it to win it.”

Mr. Mihos last week issued a statement to dispel rumors that his wobbly campaign was perhaps about to end – rumors spurred on by recent stores about disgruntled former campaign staff, back-owed business expenses resulting in property liens, and the fact his campaign account is on the thin side.

He’s currently got about $17,000 in the bank, which is better than a few weeks ago when he was down to $2,000 or so, but still WAY behind Charles D. Baker Jr. ($1.6 million), Mr. Cahill (approximately $920,000), and Gov. Patrick ($657,000 and change), and not too far ahead of Jill E. Stein, the Green-Rainbow candidate ($11,425).

“It’s time that the privileged few stop profiting from the rest of us,” he wrote. “If you’re for a candidate who’s stood up to big government and big business before, who’s really for lowering taxes, cutting the size of government, returning rights and money to the people, and getting Massachusetts working again for you, then I’m your candidate for governor of Massachusetts 2010.”

Still, things are not looking promising for Mihos at this time. He has enthusiasm to spare, but he needs a lot more than that if he’s to survive even to the primary race (which I hope he does; a solid primary race is good for the process and for voters).

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

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