Reform groups clash over primary overhaul

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A question of whether to change the state's primary system — and who is funding the effort — is causing a fissure between government reform groups.

Ballot Question 3 would scrap party primaries in favor of a single preliminary election featuring all candidates, with only the top two advancing to the general election. It has the endorsement of reform nonprofit Partners in Democracy, but has drawn criticism from some of the loudest voices calling for an overhaul of government transparency and efficiency.

"It's frustrating, especially as an organization committed to reform, that this is moving forward without the participation of so many of us that are in the movement," said Scotia Hille, executive director of transparency group Act on Mass.

Supporters say there's a lack of competition and voter engagement in Massachusetts elections, and that a top-two system would give voters more choice in the election that actually decides a race. Opponents say the change could increase the influence of money in politics and make it harder for grassroots candidates to compete.

Hille said her group had talked with Question 3 supporters and urged them not to advance the question.

"To tell potential candidates, you now have to take six months off work instead of three, you have to fundraise twice as much for a state rep race when your opponent already has $100,000 in the bank — it's adding new barriers to entry without removing them," she said.

PID has spent $71,697 supporting the question, according to September campaign finance records. Founder Danielle Allen now leads Coalition for a Healthy Democracy, which is pushing the ballot question.

"The majority of elections are uncontested," PID director Jerren Chang said. "Those that were contested were effectively decided in the primary, where only a fifth of voters turned out, and most voters are going to show up in November and just experience what they always experience in Massachusetts general elections — which is basically just a ceremonial election."

Progressive groups have pointed to the measures' funders as an indication that the new system would drive more money into elections.

An Act on Mass blog post says "over 70% of the money that Coalition for a Healthy Democracy raised came from current or former private equity executives," citing donations from Berkshire Partners and Bain Capital executives.

"In a state where we've seen the impact of private equity on our hospitals, like the Steward Hospital disaster, those are just not the folks that I would be going to for solutions about how to improve our state," Hille said.

Chang rejected the argument that big donors are investing because money can more easily influence a top-two system, calling it "straight misinformation."

"If you wanted to believe that claim, you would first have to believe that those with more money are advantaged in a system like this, which is just not true," Chang said.

Hille responded, "I just don't understand that argument. It's clear that a bunch of very wealthy people think that this system will be better for them. So, are they wrong?"

Chang said the opposition is distracting voters from supporters' central argument: that the top-two system would give general election voters a more decisive choice.

Asked about this argument, Hille said, “I do not dispute that the general election might be more decisive, but I don't necessarily see that as a positive, or I think it would have other consequences.” - Sam Drysdale

Sam Drysdale is a reporter for the State House News Service. Reach her at [email protected].

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HAPPENING TODAY

10:00 | Health and Human Services Secretary Mahaniah and Education Secretary Zrike visit Athol Community Elementary School and Athol-Royalston Middle School as part of Manhaniah's Community Mental Health Tour series. RSVP to [email protected] | 1064 Pleasant St., Athol

10:00 | Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce government affairs forum | Boston Marriott Copley Place, 110 Huntington Ave., Boston | Register

10:00 | Treasurer Goldberg attends an elementarty school groundbreaking ceremony in Wilmington | 320 Salem St., Wilmington

10:30 | Republican candidate for secretary of state Anne Brensley holds press conference on an election access proposal with statewide implications, according to her campaign. Brensley will be joined by Portuguese-American community leaders and the announcement "will focus on ensuring that every eligible voter can understand the ballot and participate independently in Massachusetts elections," her campaign said | City Gates Plaza, Ponta Delgada Blvd., Fall River

11:00 | Gov. Healey joins GBH Radio's "Boston Public Radio" for the monthly "Ask the Guv" segment, featuring questions from co-hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan as well as from GBH callers | GBH Studio, Boston Public Library, Copley Square, Boston | Livestream

11:00 | Lt. Gov. Driscoll, Rep. McGonagle and Deputy Secretary of Veterans' Services Andrea Gayle Bennett speak at a ceremony honoring Brigadier General Enoch "Woody" Woodhouse II as the newly appointed emeritus chair of the Hanscom FCU Charitable Foundation. Woodhouse is a Roxbury native and one of the Tuskegee Airmen, a veteran of the 332nd Fighter Group | Nurses Hall

11:00 | Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities meets | Room 222 | Agenda and Livestream

12:00 | Lt. Gov. Driscoll chairs a meeting of the Governor’s Council | Governor’s Council Chambers

1:00 | Mass. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board meets | Morse Institute Library, 14 E. Central St., Natick | Zoom

5:30 | Mike Minogue, the Republican nominee for governor, holds a meet and greet event alongside congressional candidate Tyler Macallister | Montano's Restaurant, 481 Route 6, North Truro | RSVP

6:30 | MassDOT holds design public hearing on proposed safety improvements for Vinal Square in Chelmsford | Chelmsford Senior Center, 75 Groton Road, North Chelmsford | More Info

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