Opinion :: Editorial
You have solid choices on June 16, please make oneWednesday Jun 10, 2009 We’ve reached a boiling point. Whether or not a jury of his peers convicts former House speaker Sal DiMasi of wrongdoing in connection to a contract awarded to Canadian software company Cognos ULC remains unanswered. But, the need for every possible voter to make his or her voice heard in choosing our elected officials has been determined. Vote on June 16.
In the May 19 Democratic Primary South End News endorsed Susan Passoni over the eventual winner, Aaron Michlewitz, who took that election by just 171 votes, according to official election results. Our decision to endorse Passoni was not arrived at lightly, because Michlewitz, DiMasi’s former constituent services director, brings many attractive qualities to the table, not the least of which is his depth of knowledge about the most pressing issues facing the district. But given the alleged ethical violations attributed to DiMasi, former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson and City Councilor Chuck Turner, we took issue with the North Ender’s answer to our question about whether or not he had received debate questions in advance of an April 21 candidates forum from state Rep. Marty Walz, and chose Passoni’s skill set instead.
Besides Michlewitz, the two other candidates in the June 16 general election also bring positives and negative attributes to the race. South End News recognizes that there is no easy choice here. David Trumbull, the Republican candidate, and John Keith, the independent, could offer a new perspective on Beacon Hill, one outside the grasp of the ruling party’s bosses and the potential for the continuation of that twisted phrase, "the culture of corruption," but when it comes to experience, they can’t match Michlewitz’s firsthand knowledge of the district.
Trumbull is far from a right-wing conservative. He has a history of working with Democrats, an important skill in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and he leans more toward the center than to an extreme, at least in his support of same-sex marriage.
"My platform is common-sense initiatives to restore confidence, get people back to work, and be a good steward of tax dollars," he said in March. "I believe in strong and limited government - strong enough to effectively protect the rights of all citizens and promote opportunity for all while limited to those things best done by government and leaving individuals, families, and local communities as much freedom as possible. I believe that the Republican Party comes closest to my ideals of ordered liberty."
Trumbull has national credentials and knows the players, from his experience chairing the Ward 3 Republican Committee and his role on the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Textiles and Clothing 13, an organization that advises the president on international trade. Though appointed under former President George W. Bush, he has continued to serve under President Barack Obama. Electing a Republican could send a message to the majority party, a message Trumbull himself echoed on June 3 after hearing the news of DiMasi’s indictment.
"This is what happens when you don’t have enough of a minority party to effectively cast some oversight over the majority," he said. "I think some voters are going to look at this and say we’ve had how many years of Democrats running things and look at the scandals we’ve had. ... Maybe we need this to look at some balance."
Trumbull is right. The State House needs more checks and balances.
But South Ender John Keith would also bring a voice from outside of the party ranks; perhaps an even freer one given his independent status. Keith knows the South End’s biggest issues, and he has private sector experience as well, having run his own real estate business and by creating the Boston Real Estate Blog, which he eventually sold. Keith doesn’t sound like a politician when he speaks - or writes - and could bring a different voice to Beacon Hill, one of his main selling points to voters.
"Boston and the Commonwealth need an independent voice who can take a step back and see issues and politics from the people’s perspective," said Keith after hearing the news of the former speaker’s indictment. "I respect DiMasi’s service to the Commonwealth, particularly his devotion to marriage equality and universal healthcare. I agreed with many of his policies, but the partisan culture of Beacon Hill has to change. There’s no voice to challenge the party leadership. I will never let the party bosses control how I vote. That’s what’s at stake in this election to replace Sal DiMasi."
There is a lot at stake. Replacing a 30-year incumbent is never easy. The smoothest transition would doubtlessly be made by choosing Michlewitz, DiMasi’s former employee. Michlewitz has many strengths, perhaps enough to outweigh the desire to send the party bigwigs a message. He knows the district, he knows the issues, and he knows the names and faces of many, many 3rd Suffolk constituents. However, given the recent history of corruption in the Democrat-dominated State House, South End News will leave the ultimate decision up to you.
If you want a seamless transition to a candidate who will walk into the State House on his first day knowing what to do, pick the North Ender. If you want to strengthen the minority party, vote for the Beacon Hill resident. If you want the candidate with the fewest allegiances to worry about when it comes to voting, pick the South Ender. There’s no wrong answer, but the choice is yours. All we ask is that you make it on June 16. If you don’t vote then nothing will change.
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