MA Special Elections & Marriage Equality

One of the main questions for candidates running for the legislature in Massachusetts these days, is where do they stand on marriage equality?  The answers have more than a passing urgency. Next Fall, the legislature sitting as a constitutional convention, will vote on whether to send a proposed constitutional amendment to the voters for ratification. The amendment would ban same sex marriage but endorse civil unions -- and overturn the decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that legalized same-sex civil marriages for the first time in the United States. It is not an exaggeration to say that next Fall, the eyes of the nation -- and the world -- will once again be on the Massachusetts state legislature.

Meanwhile, the races to fill the three current vacancies for state representative could affect the outcome of what is expected to be a close vote on the amendment.

Two organizations on opposite sides of the issue have now made their choices known in two of the three special elections.

MassEquality, a coalition of local and national organizations dedicated to defending marriage equality endorsed Linda Dorcena Forry in the 12th Suffolk District race to replace former House Speaker Tom Finneran (D-Mattapan); and Tim Schofield in the 18th Suffolk District contest to replace Rep. Brian Golden (D-Brighton). In each case this means MassEquality promises to mobilize its members and contribute to the campaigns.

"Each of these races offers a real opportunity to pick up a pro-equality voice in the Legislature and to replace a strongly anti-gay legislator," said Mass Equality's PAC Treasurer Sue Hyde of Cambridge.  "We are extremely fortunate to have a number of candidates who stand for equality, but we chose to weigh in in the Suffolk County races because those races also feature candidates who would support discrimination. We could not sit by and watch one of them get elected."

MassEquality PAC chose not to endorse in the 3rd Berkshire race to replace Rep. Peter Larkin (D-Pittsfield) because all three Democratic candidates, as well as the leading Republican, have promised to vote against the amendment.

Candidates for office generally welcome any support they can get. But there are some organizations whose endorsements most candidates would rather do without. One organization that might make the beneficiaries of thier support uneasy, is the virulently antigay, Waltham-based Article 8 Alliance -- which has just announced it's favored candidates in two of the three races:

In 18th Suffolk District, the Alliance reported that "while  Rep. Golden will be missed, Gregory Glennon, a former aide to Golden, is top-notch.  He gets our full support."  In the 12th Suffolk District, "our favorite is Kerby Roberson."  

Like MassEquality, the Article 8 Alliance did not announce support for anyone in the 3rd Berkshire race. "This is a tough one," the Alliance complained. "Three candidates are running in the Democratic primary, and two in the Republican.  We've heard they all range from squishy to bad.  We're still doing research on it.  We may have to play defense in this race, if you know what we mean."

It is not clear what, if anything, the Alliance is prepared to do in these races. However if past is prologue, the Alliance could bring an ugliness to what have so far, been civil contests.

The Alliance, (a project of the rightist Parents' Rights Coalition) first came to public attention via a nasty statewide campaign to oust the majority of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that legalized same sex marriage in the Goodridge decision.  The Alliance derives its name from article eight of the Massachusetts state constitution, which it cites in its effort to remove the Goodridge judges.  

The Alliance was widely condemned last year when it waged a vicious smear campaign against Carl Sciortino, who was running against then-State Representative Vincent Ciampa (D-Somerville) in the Democratic primary.  One of the group's main tactics was the publication of a bizarre tract which was  dropped off at every home in the district. The screed was titled:  "A Special Report on the Homosexual Lobby's Secret Campaign to Install a Homosexual Anti-Catholic Extremist in the State Legislature."

Sciortino a young, unassuming, openly gay, health care worker staged a dramatic upset in the Democratic primary against Ciampa, a State House veteran, who was an ally of then-House Speaker Tom Finneran, as well as the Article 8 Alliance.  Boston Globe columnist Eileen McNamara, noted at the time:  "In a joint statement... state Democratic Party chairman Philip W. Johnston, Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, and state Senator Jarrett T. Barrios described themselves as 'sickened by the outrageous and vulgar claims made by the Article 8 Alliance.'  Would that Ciampa had done the same."  

Ciampa ran a sore loser write-in campaign in the general election and lost by almost two-to-one. The repudiation of anti-gay bigotry by the electorate was, in my view, a turning point in state politics.

Come what may, the voters in these special elections will have the opportunity and the honor to stride across the world stage and into the voting booth -- to elect candidates who will make them proud when the whole world is watching next Fall. Indications are, they are going to do it.

The Democratic Primary for these overwhelmingly Democratic districts is March 15th.  

[Crossposted from FrederickClarkson.com ]

Candidate's debate for the 18th Suffolk District Thursday, February 17, 2005 at 7:30 PM. Brookline Town Hall, Selectmen's Room, 6th Floor, 333 Washington Street, Brookline. For more information, contact Cindy Rowe, Brookline Democratic Town Committee Chair, at 617-277-6282.

•  Even Jeff Gannon

  Can marry his lover in Massachusetts.  We'd like to keep it that way.  

  by Frederick Clarkson on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 02:29:35 AM PDT

  •  I think the more important question

    yes equality is perhaps the most important, and not just for gays, but for minorities and for women, but what about economic equality between racial groups and sexes? Also what are we going to do about wages?

    If we don't somehow find a way to adopt a living wage, this state is going to completely fall apart if social security is dismantled along with many other social programs. The rent costs in this state are so high and the cost of living is so high that the average person with a retail job has to live with a roomate.

    I think the solution is to instead of just giving the equality test to also give the living wage test which in my opinion is the cure to poverty in inner cities. I think the living wage is something the majority of people in this state want and some actually require.

    I'd like to hear your opinion on this since you are from my state and I'd like to further discuss this with you. I think this is the most critical issue of the Democraty party, and now that we have the grassroots on our side why not do something about this?

    by Lucian on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 02:38:10 AM PDT

    •  its a reasonable goal

      But living wage campaigns have not done very well in MA in the past. That doesn't mean that they won't in the future.

      At this point, I don't think we have the political clout to get something like that through in MA. That will take some time. Thats why getting the right people in the legislature is an important step. Part of what comes with electing people to the legislature is building  sheer electoral clout in terms of skilled activists, people who are accustomed to working together in campaigns, have a shared vision of building for power sufficient to be able to get across living wages and lots of other good things.  

      There are lots of things I want to fight for. But one thing I have learned is that you can fight til you are blue in the face, but if you don't have the clout, if you don't have the votes, you don't win. One of the historic failures of the progressive movement over the last few decades is not figuring out how to participate in electoral politics in a meaningful way. I think we are beginning to do that. I have spent the last two years wading in deep, as have others I know and work with. I am encouraged by recent trends, but I feel alot of neophytes have a ways to go in building thier knowledge and skills, and learning to work collaboratively. I include myself in that category.

      But I have taken the time to learn about entities like the Commonwealth Coalition and its role. I have helped to found a progressive electoral organzation called Progressive Democrats of Massachussetts. We and our allies, are systematically building the numbers of members of the progressive caucus in the legislature. We are doing well. From where I sit, I would guess that at least two out of three of the upcoming special electins will give us new members of the progressive caucus.

      Marriage equality is but one issue. It does not affect me personally, but it is one that is central to the campaigns at hand, and MA politics over the next little while. It is a huge issue for the right wing opponents of everything you and I care about, including stuff like a living wage.  The main reason I wrote about it today was because of the new information about the nasty rightwing group the Article 8 Alliance making noises about getting involved.  

      One MA group, Neighbor to Neighbor has a perpspective you would probably appreciate. They have organizers working in low income urban minority communities aroudn the state, and they systematically link economic issues with electoral development and empowerment. Tbey are also members of the Commonweatlh Coalition. They do terrific work.

      There are alot of years of progressive organizing that have gone on by varoius people and groups over alot of years. Our collective efforts are beginning to change things and make alot of things, not just one thing, but alot of things possible.

      by Frederick Clarkson on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 03:06:05 AM PDT

      •  What can we do to make this better?

        If you need funding we can get the funding through the internet. In terms of organizing we can learn from the success other progressives have had in other states accross the country.

        This state seems to have one of the most complicated political systems in the country. I havent been able to figure out exactly how and who controls politics in this state. I am able to diagnose the problems. I will work with you on the living wage issue when the time comes.

        The goal for now is to elect progressives into offices and this is something we should be able to do with help from the internet. We can raise money now which is something we couldnt do in the past. The head of the DNC is Howard Dean now and I don't know what influence this will have on progressive politics. I will continue to talk about and promote the idea of living wages in my blogs.

        I'm in Boston and I'm willing to contribute, I'm not exactly sure how to get involved with politics. Perhaps we need a guide which explains the process of how people from the new internet grassroots can get involved. Many people from this state are prepared to help elect or work for the right causes.

        by Lucian on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 03:18:11 AM PDT

        •  well,

          there are lots of points of entry.

          There are several DFA groups around Boston.

          Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts has a few groups as well.

          These are places to learn and get hands on experience with folks of a similar mind and in the same boat: mostly neophytes to want to learn. its interesting and exciting stuff.

          Boston politics is notoriously dense, but I find that even here in western mass, it still takes time to learn your way around, whos who, how to be effective. etc.  

          The Democratic party is a mysterious placeand it takes time to learn your way around. And it differs signficantly from place to place.

          There are currently hearings going on around the state regarding the democratic party platform. I don'tknow if living wage is in the platform, and if it is not, its too late for this time. But you could begin to learn how to influence the platform while thinking about the longer haul.

          I recently put all of the times, dates and places of the Dem platforms hearings in the calendar section of the Progressive Democrats of MA web site.

          I have found that just getting the electoral and the party calendar in one place has been helpful in figuring out the kinds of things that need to be done.  

          by Frederick Clarkson on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 03:30:29 AM PDT

  •  Thanks

    Thanks for the very informative diary.

    by ortcutt on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 03:58:50 AM PDT

•  Frederick

  How can we test these candidates to see what their opinion is on living wages?

  My diary posts on living wages are
  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/16/153517/618 and  
  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/16/42821/2424

  I think this is what we should fight for.

  by Lucian on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 02:30:15 AM PDT

  •  ask them

    I think you'll find good positions on this from Schofield. Not sure about Forry. But both have been endorsed by the Commonwealth Coalition, so its likely that her economic views are quite progressive. The CC does a very detailed questionaire, and the vote has to be unanimous in order to get an endorsement. You can call the CC to get details.

    by Frederick Clarkson on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 02:34:49 AM PDT

    •  Hm

      Well, how could we get a living wage?

      Even if these candidates are progressive, how can we find a governor which would support this? That would be the governor I'd vote for and I think any governor who makes this a core issue will win over Romney. Romneys trickle down bullshit never worked. He made many promises which he never kept and we can use this backlash to elect someone who will take the opposite approach to things.

      by Lucian on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 02:39:57 AM PDT

      •  I dunno

        if we will get a dem who would be willing to make living wages a major campaign priority this time. If Robert Reich had agreed to run again, he might have gone for it and, being a world class economist, been able to make a credible case for it.

        Maybe Deval Patrick has some surprises for us yet. But I am not holding my breath.

        by Frederick Clarkson on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 03:10:21 AM PDT

      •  Living Wage

        If our legislative leadership makes a living wage a priority, the governor's point of view won't matter. I'm not sure if this legislation belongs at a state level. A living wage in Cambridge is necessarily going to be much higher than a living wage in Fitchburg or North Adams, and we shouldn't have the legislature impose unrealistic standards on a diverse state.

        Both Carl Sciortino and Tim Schofield have run for office on strong progressive platforms. Outside of a very few districts, running solely on marriage equality is a ticket to irrelevance. Both candidates emphasized their support for state aid to education, affordable health care (Schofield favors single-payer insurance at the state level), and workers' rights.
        

        by brittain33 on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 06:32:57 AM PDT

  •  I'm Not Sure...

    whether you're posting on the right diary entry.  This one was supposed to be about the special election and equal marriage.  Maybe you can post a different diary entry on the special election and a living wage.

    by ortcutt on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 04:12:27 AM PDT

•  Article 8

  That's Cammenker, right?  What a fucking yutz.  Even in bluest Massachusetts we have troglodytic fundies.  This one is mouth foaming--he never got any of the notes about "moderating the tone." A lot of our opponents did that, but Bryan kept himself firmly in the Alan Keyes school.

  by MAJeff on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 06:13:38 AM PDT

  •  He was also the one who

    went to a Newton high school a few months ago with a video camera spying on an event about sexual orientation. Then when he was hustled out he whipped out the world's smallest pencil-violin.

    And he spoke with various other hacks at some Hitler Youth-hosted college event, where they pulled out everyone's favorite canards (we all eat shit, die at 40, Jesus will help you turn straight, etc.). Just more evidence of those "tolerant" College Republicans.

    People like this should always be closely watched, because their craziness is in part a ruse to make their enemies disarm before battle.  

    by JamesB3 on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 06:51:25 AM PDT

    •  I'm aware of the guy

      I teach at the college where he did that little performance (wasn't at the event, though).  He's been "raising hell" for years...particularly in Newton.  He got Jay Severin and the Herald to attack Newton H.S. for this same kind of conference several years ago.  He's a whackjob, but does have a following and knows how to get press.

      by MAJeff on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 09:48:30 AM PDT

•  Great diary

  It seems to have been hijacked, but the basic points are still there.

  What odds do you give the candidates endorsed by MassEquality? How are they faring in the campaign thus far? How are the anti-gay candidates faring?

  MassEquality is having a matching donor program until the end of the month. They are trying to get up to 200K, which will then be matched. So if anyone knows anyone who can donate a few dollars, please help out. These are very critical races for anyone who wants to reshape the Democratic Party. From what I've read, various groups over the past year have already made the MA Dem Party take a lurch to the left, after many years of being more about the machine and corporate favors.

  by JamesB3 on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 06:43:41 AM PDT

  •  The risk

    The risk is that, with such an open field, the progressive candidates split the vote and the anti-andmendment candidate (there's one in the race for Golden's seat and one or two in the race for Finneran's) will carry through with a small plurality.

    It's really hard to guess, though, because these special elections will be low-turnout low-publicity affairs.  It all depends on who gets their people out.

    by Jugwine on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 07:04:58 AM PDT

    •  Sorry

      pro-amendment, not anti-amendment.  Pro-amendment is the anti-marriage equality position.

      by Jugwine on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 07:05:55 AM PDT

  •  How they are faring

    The races are speeding along on a condensed schedule, the districts are small, and there's no independent polling... people can only guess. Both conservative candidates in the 18th and 12th Suffolk will have a voter base come out for them. It's a question of how much the other candidates divide the votes.

    I think Moran should have a decent chance of picking up conservative Brighton voters, even though he takes progressive stands. Personality-wise and career-wise he matches the district better than Glennon.

    by brittain33 on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 07:25:59 AM PDT

    •  Why has one seat

      attracted no serious pro-amendment challengers, and the other 2 have? Is the other seat in a liberal district? It's surprising that even the Republican supposedly opposes the amendment.

      I keep hoping that there is maybe one strong progressive candidate in the other 2 districts and most of the progressive and moderate voters will support them. Who do you think are the strongest? Those who are endorsed by MassEquality, or did they get the picks wrong?

      Hopefully nobody is running a "one issue" campaign. That seems to be a big talking point for the bigot brigades.

      by JamesB3 on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 08:08:08 AM PDT

      •  Conservative challengers

        Both the 18th and 12th Suffolk were previously represented by men who were strongly conservative on social issues. Both districts include longstanding conservative Irish-Catholic communities that vote at high rates in Democratic primaries. In both cases, someone is running to continue the legacy of the person who retired and who obviously made a go of it. Tom Finneran was the speaker of the House who held up even home rule petitions for DP benefits over the years; Brian Golden is a "Democrat" who flew around the country campaigning for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004.

        While Peter Larkin appears to have voted against marriage equality, it wasn't a cornerstone of his identity the way it was for these guys. Since both Dorchester and Brighton have experienced evolutionary pressures because of immigration and student housing, respectively, there may be more of a clannish "us against them" attitude among conservative voters there than in Pittsfield.

        by brittain33 on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 08:17:14 AM PDT

        •  Oh I see

          I knew about the backgrounds of Finneran and Golden, but not Larkin.

          If you had to guess how many seats will switch from anti-gay to pro-gay, would you say 1? Or 2?

          by JamesB3 on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 09:34:56 AM PDT

          •  If I had to guess...

            ...I'd shoot myself first. I have no idea what will happen.

            by brittain33 on Thu Feb 17, 2005 at 09:36:55 AM PDT