Happening Today
Senate health-care debate, birth-control mandate, post-election analysis
— Public Health Council considers changes to its marijuana regulations, Department of Public Health, 250 Washington St., Boston, 9 a.m.
— Gov. Charlie Baker and Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony to open the Greenbuild Conference and Expo, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer Street, Boston, 9:45 a.m.
— The Senate meets to begin debate on the major health care reform bill, Gardner Auditorium, 11 a.m.
— The House holds a formal session and members are expected to consider legislation that would mandate health insurance coverage of birth control, House chamber, 11 a.m.
— Advocacy group Centro Presente holds a rally in support of people protected by the ‘temporary protected status’ (TPS) program, State House, 11 a.m.
— U.S. Rep. James McGovern is a guest on ‘Boston Public Radio,’ WGBH-FM 89.7, 12:45 p.m.
— Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight holds a public hearing, Room A-2, 1 p.m. — Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs holds a hearing on bills dealing with federal issues, Rooms B-1 and B-2, 2 p.m.
— ‘Radio Boston’ focuses on post-election results of races in Boston, Framingham, and Lawrence, WBUR-FM 90.9, 3 p.m.
— Valerie Jarrett, who was a trusted confidant of President Barack Obama through his two terms, speaks at Harvard’s Kennedy School, Kennedy School, Cambridge, 6 p.m.
— Gov. Charlie Baker joins Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone at the Somerville Chamber of Commerce’s 71st Annual Dinner where the Governor will be honored with the Powderhouse Award for Excellence in Economic Development, Holiday Inn, 30 Washington Street, Somerville, 6 p.m.
Today’s Stories
Historic night for women in Boston, Framingham, Newton – not so historic elsewhere
Before getting into the election results below, it’s pretty clear a common thread running through the results was that female candidates did quite well across Massachusetts last night – or, more specifically, left-leaning women candidates in Boston, Framingham, Newton and elsewhere. But it wasn’t a big night for right-leaning women in Lynn and the Berkshires. Anyway, here goes with most of the major local election results …
Boston mayoral race: Landslide, massacre, knockout, whatever you want to call it
First, an all-male contest — and it was no contest, as projected: Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh easily won re-election yesterday, defeating challenger Tito Jackson, 66 percent to 34 percent. The Boston Globe and Boston Herald have the wipeout details. Now on to other election results …
Rivera holds off Willie in another close one in Lawrence
In another all-male contest, Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera won re-election to a second term by only 362 votes, beating back a strong challenge from former mayor William Lantigua, who returned from the Dominican Republic in a bid to recapture the office he barely lost four years ago. The Eagle-Tribune has the details.
Spicer is Framingham’s first mayor
Political newcomer Yvonne Spicer made history in Framingham, capturing 58 percent of the vote to earn the right to be forever known as the newly minted city’s first mayor, defeating former state Rep. John Stefanini, Jim Haddadin of the MetroWest Daily News reports. She can also claim she’s Framingham’s first female and African-American mayor, making it three-fer.
Edwards, Janey and Flynn win Boston council seats
As Universal Hub notes, Boston will now have five women of color on the city council: “In the council races, Lydia Edwards won in District 1 (East Boston, Charlestown, North End) and Kim Janey won in District 7 (Roxbury). With incumbents Andrea Campbell in District 4 (Dorchester) and Michelle Wu and Ayanna Pressley (at large) all easily winning re-election, the council will be the most diverse ever come Jan. 1.”
Meanwhile, in the much-watched District 2 race (South Boston, South End, Chinatown, Downtown), Ed Flynn, son of former Mayor Ray Flynn, beat Mike Kelley. Incumbents Josh Zakim and Mark Ciommo cruised to council victories.
Fuller wins a close one, becoming Newton’s first female mayor
From Wicked Local: “Ruthanne Fuller made history Tuesday night, becoming the first woman elected mayor of Newton in a nail-biter victory over Scott Lennon. Fuller, a city councilor at-large from Ward 7, defeated Lennon, the City Council president, by 344 votes, 12,405 to 12,061.”
It’s Driscoll for a fourth term in Salem
From the Salem News: “Mayor Kim Driscoll won re-election to a fourth term in office Tuesday, knocking off former City Councilor Paul Prevey in her first serious challenge since first taking office in 2005. Driscoll won with 65 percent of the vote, according to her campaign at 9 p.m., before results were official.”
John Barrett captures late Rep. Gailanne Cariddi’s seat
Democrat John Barrett, the former mayor of North Adams, easily defeated Republican Christine Canning, 4,976 to 1,478 votes, to win the Berkshires legislative seat held by the late Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, who died in June. The Berkshire Eagle has the results.
It’s McGee, easily, in Lynn
State Sen. Thomas McGee easily cruised to victory in the Lynn mayor’s race, capturing nearly twice as many votes as incumbent Judith Flanagan Kennedy, Thomas Grillo reports at the Lynn Item. More than a few people are wondering what will now happen to McGee’s legislative seat and/or assignments.
Heroux trades State House for Attleboro mayor’s office
Attleboro has a new mayor of the first time in 14 years after state Rep. Paul Heroux outpaced seven-term incumbent Kevin Dumas, Jim Hand reports in the Sun Chronicle. Can you say ‘special House election’?
Vargas holds 3rd Essex seat for Democrats
In a relatively close race, Andy Vargas outpaced Haverhill school committee member Shaun Toohey in the special election to fill the House seat long held by former Ways and Means Chairman Brian Dempsey. Peter Francis of the Eagle-Tribune has the details.
Carpenter overcomes newcomer to win re-election in Brockton
From Wicked Local: “Mayor Bill Carpenter won his third election in a row on Tuesday, collecting 54.5 percent of the vote against a 26-year-old political newcomer. Carpenter, 60, a former city health inspector and School Committee member, defeated Jimmy Pereira, a regional and community planner who was running his first campaign for elected office.”
The People’s Republic of Somerville?
This isn’t the All-American City and Winter Hill Gang Somerville of old, that’s for sure. The Globe’s Danny McDonald has the details on how all seven aldermanic candidates supported by Bernie Sanders backers won yesterday in Somerville.
Other election results and tidbits …
Pull out your reading glasses if you need ’em. Here are some other elections results and tidbits: Springfield councilor-elect Jesse Lederman scored two victories on election night as supporter says yes to marriage proposal (MassLive). … Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse re-elected (MassLive). …. Election monitors eye Quincy polls (Patriot Ledger) … Petty captures another term as Worcester mayor (Telegram). … Vigeant cruises to victory in Marlborough mayoral race (MetroWest Daily). … Gloucester mayor wins re-election by 10 to 1 margin (Gloucester Times). … Northampton voters gives Narkewicz strong endorsement (Gazette). … Chalifoux Zephir wins primary for state senate (Telegram). … Thomas Bernard wins North Adams mayoral race (Berkshire Eagle).
Now for non-election news …
Judge approves Berkshire art sale, takes swipe at AG’s office
A Berkshire Superior Court judge found no reason to halt the planned sale of artwork from the collection of the Berkshire Museum, clearing the way for the first of the pieces—including two Norman Rockwell paintings—to be auctioned off in New York City as soon as next week, Larry Parnass of the Berkshire Eagle reports. In his ruling, Judge John Agostini was sharply critical of Attorney General Maura Healey’s office, saying it had been belatedly ‘dragged into the litigation’ to halt the sale.
State trooper sues commanders over altered arrest report
The state police trooper who was ordered to alter the arrest report of the daughter of a Dudley District Court judge – by removing her comments about performing sex acts to fund her drug habit — has sued his state police commanders and its leadership, saying he was falsely punished, Andrea Estes of the Globe reports.
Was yesterday’s election really about Walsh coveting a run for governor in 2022?
We’re still sifting through the 2017 election results, preparing for next year’s elections and eying the 2020 elections (yes, that’s you, Elizabeth Warren, and perhaps Seth Moulton and Deval Patrick). But WGBH’s David Bernstein, even before polls closed yesterday, was talking about 2022: “It’s a poorly guarded secret that Walsh has his eye on the 2022 race for Governor. If he goes through with that, it is likely he will step down as mayor after two terms rather than run for re-election in 2021 — meaning that this Tuesday would be his last city-wide election.” Did anyone see or hear Attorney General Maura Healey at Walsh’s post-election event last night? That’s a tea leaf we’re supposed to read meaning into.
Rosenberg says he would ‘love to see’ automatic voter registration by 2020
Yet another person talking about future elections! Via Tori Bedford at WGBH: “If you forgot to register to vote in time for election day — Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg has some news for you. The senate is ready to take up a proposal for automatic voter registration, Rosenberg told Boston Public Radio Tuesday. … ‘I would love to see it in place for the 2020 statewide election,’ he said.”
Diehl goes wobbly on House Republican tax-cut provisions
If a rock-solid conservative like state representative and U.S. Senate candidate Geoff Diehl is wavering over provisions within the House Republican tax-cut plan, as Shira Schoenberg at MassLive reports, can you imagine what other Republicans are doing across the country? They’re wavering, too, the NYT reports.
Insurers warn senators of price spikes without crackdown on larger hospitals
As the Senate starts debate today on major health-care reforms, the leaders of six health insurance companies have written Senate President Stan Rosenberg to say that, without more price restrictions on large hospitals, consumers will pay more for health care under the proposed Senate measures, reports Jessica Bartlett at the BBJ.
Taking the chains off nurse practitioners …
Stephanie Ahmed, chair of the Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners’ Legislative Committee, writes at CommonWealth magazine that if Massachusetts is serious about health-care reforms and reducing costs, then allowing well-trained nurse practitioners to provide more health services is a no-brainer. Her piece comes as the Senate begins a two-day debate on major health care reforms.
Report: Physicians not following opioid-prescriptions protocol
Speaking of health care, from Matt Stout at the Herald: “One in three Bay State doctors doling out potentially addictive narcotics under the state’s revamped prescription monitoring program aren’t actively searching the system for pill shoppers, despite a celebrated new law mandating checks with every new prescription. The gap, detailed in data provided by the Department of Public Health, comes as officials have pointed to the Bay State system as a model in pushing for a nationwide requirement for doctors to check prescription tracking systems.”
WBZ’s new owner learns the hard way that the station is as big as Tom Brady and Kelly’s Roast Beef
The new owners of WBZ-AM really stepped in it last week when they demanded that employees re-apply for jobs and announced they wouldn’t honor union contracts. From SHNS’s Colin Young and Michael Norton at the BBJ: “As the new owners acknowledge the anxiety they’ve stirred, faithful listeners of WBZ-AM are taking their concerns directly to the station’s advertisers as part of a campaign aimed at ensuring the quality of local news radio is not diminished under iHeartMedia. … ‘People won’t stand for this. WBZ is a New England institution, it’s as much of a New England institution as Tom Brady or Kelly’s Roast Beef,’ campaign coordinator Benjamin Goodman said Tuesday morning.”
Meanwhile, iHeartMedia’s takeover of ‘BZ causes heartburn for local pols
The Herald’s Joe Battenfeld notes that a number of local pols – including U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Reps. Joe Kennedy III and Richard Neal –have received hefty campaign contributions from IHeartMedia and its initial ham-handed treatment of WBZ-AM employees “puts the pols in an uncomfortable position” as federal regulators review the overall deal that allowed iHeart to acquire the popular news station.
Not blowing smoke: Commission requests an extra $5.2M to oversee new pot industry
This doesn’t come as a surprise. From Jack Sullivan at CommonWealth magazine: “The State’s Cannabis Control Commission has asked lawmakers for another $5.2 million for the remainder of the fiscal year on top of the $2.3 million that was already set aside to get the regulatory structure for legal marijuana up and running in time for the launch target of July 1 for retail pot shops to open. Commission chairman Steven Hoffman outlined the request that was quietly given out last week to legislative leaders and members of the administration.”
Meanwhile, the pot-industry folks that the commission will be overseeing are beefing up on the public policy front. From SHNS’s Michael Norton at the BBJ: “The legal marijuana industry is formalizing its response to state regulators, announcing the formation of a non-profit Tuesday that will produce memos and offer insights as the Cannabis Control Commission drafts regulations.”
Changing of the CEO guards at State Street and Bose
Big news on the private-sector front in Massachusetts: State Street Corp. chief executive Jay Hooley and Bose Corp. chief executive Bob Maresca are stepping down. The BBJ’s Greg Ryan has the details on the planned departure of Hooley, who will be replaced by Ron O’Hanley, head of State Street Global Advisors, at the end of 2018, while the BBJ’s Kelly O’Brien reports on the replacement of Maresca by Bose president Phil Hess at the end of this year. Hooley’s farewell is not a big surprise, while Bose will be getting its third CEO in just five years.
Congressmen urge Baker to support TPS; governor effectively responds ‘I already am’
U.S. Reps. Seth Moulton, Jim McGovern and William Keating, all Democrats, yesterday wrote to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker asking him to speak out in support of the “temporary protected status” (TPS) program that protects many local Haitian, Salvadoran and Honduran immigrants and that President Trump plans to end. A spokesman for Baker responded that the governor indeed supports TPS and has already made his position known in Washington, D.C. SHNS’s Matt Murphy has more.
Barnstable and ICE teaming up
To heck with TPS and all that sanctuary stuff, at least in Barnstable County. From Geoff Spillane at Cape Cod Times: “The Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office could soon be an immigration enforcement authority in partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. … The ICE 287(g) program enables a state or local law enforcement agency to enter an agreement to be a delegated immigration enforcement authority within its jurisdiction.”
Elizabeth Warren to supporters: The RNC is coming, the RNC is coming!
From the Herald’s Brian Dowling: “U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren wasted no time issuing a fundraising letter off yesterday’s Boston Herald report that the Republican National Committee is hiring staff here to support her 2018 rival and bird-dog her through the 2020 presidential election. ‘Take a look at the huge front page story in the Boston newspapers today,’ the Warren campaign email states, with a photo of the Herald Page One headline ‘GOP launches operation: STOP LIZ.’”
At what point should 18-year-olds be held responsible?
Christian Wade at the Gloucester Time reports that juvenile justice advocates believe that 18 is too young to hold someone fully responsible for their crimes, pointing to research that suggests teen brains are still developing. “The issue is expected to become a major sticking point in a debate over wide-ranging proposals to update the state’s criminal justice laws,” he writes.
We have a feeling this proposal is going nowhere, unless supporters somehow manage to separate the issue of teen brain development and crime from teen brain development and military service, voting privileges, jury service etc.
Witnessing Hope: Cristo Rey Schools & Catholic Education
Mass. Marijuana Summit: Understanding the challenges and opportunities in the new age of legalization
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Boston has a long history of banning booze while you vote – Universal Hub
Massachusetts
Waltham company faces senate investigation over opioid treatment – Boston Magazine
Amid record stock highs, two defense giants to lay off over 200 in Mass. – Boston Business Journal
Sheriff’s office could become ICE enforcement authority – Cape Cod Times
Nation
Democrats euphoric after Tuesday election romp – Politico
Dems mull big changes after Brazile bombshell – The Hill
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