Endorsements!
At yesterday's meetup, after talking and hearing from Maura Hennigan, John Connolly, Kevin McCrea, Sam Yoon, and Joe Ready (and the campaign managers for Gibran Rivera and Susan Passoni), members cast the initial ballots for the DFA Boston endorsements. Online voting for eligible members (those who have attended at least two DFA meetups, steering committee meetings, or fundraisers in the past 12 months, not including yesterday's meetup) continues through Sunday, July 10 at noon.
Results will be announced at the BBQ house party Sunday afternoon.
This is an open thread for members who want to discuss or pledge their support for the candidates.
DFA Boston Questionnaire Responses
Results will be announced at the BBQ house party Sunday afternoon.
This is an open thread for members who want to discuss or pledge their support for the candidates.
- Kevin McCrea
- Matt O'Malley
- Felix Arroyo
- Joe Ready
- Sam Yoon
- John Connolly
AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL
- Susan Passoni (Dist. 2)
- Michael J. Cote (Dist. 3)
- Gibran Rivera (Dist. 6)
DISTRICT CITY COUNCIL
4 Comments:
I've already cast my ballot (so to speak--we actually raised hands) for Maura Hennigan for Mayor, and in support of all of the City Council challengers who responded to the questionnaire--having read their thoughtful replies, I feel any of them would do a better job than the incumbents.
My personal picks, and some of the reasons for them...
I don't believe that endorsement is the same thing as a voting preference. We should not necessarily endorse everyone we fee like we'd vote for in the election. We should endorse only the ones we are unequivocally enthusiastic about.
There are some issues that I have worked for or intend to work for (or both), and it is very important to me to have city councilors that we can depend on when it comes to those issues. For example, I am spending many days this summer coordinating a signature drive for a civil liberties resolution in Boston. I cannot be enthusiastic about endorsing a city councilor who would not be a strong advocate for this resolution once elected. I feel similarly about non-citizen voting in municipal elections. Non-citizen voting was a well established practice in the US until the voting suppression movements of the early 20th century (the same ones that gave us literacy tests, poll taxes, banned ex-felon voting, and so on).
City Council at-large
Three of these candidates do not support, or outright oppose, the Community Stabilization Act. I don't need to know any more about them to make my decision. I absolutely cannot be enthusiastic about supporting the campaign of someone who, if they get on the council, will continue to prevent this act from passing. For this reason, I voted:
No on Kevin McCrea
No on Joe Ready
No on Matt O'Malley
I feel strongly that we need to endorse Felix Arroyo. His election was a huge progressive victory, and he's been with us reliably while in office.
Sam Yoon really impressed me at the two DfA-Boston meetings he attended earlier this year, and he brought a bunch of people to the endorsement meeting. He has a deep knowledge of planning, development, and the innards of the BRA. When I asked him questions in January and he said he needed to look into them more before answering, he was being honest - he did look into them more, and did answer. Read his questionnaire, and I hope you vote to endorse him.
I abstained on John Connolly, during the vote at the endorsement meeting. I could still be swayed one way or the other.
district councilors
YES! on Gibran Rivera. He is my favorite candidate in any Boston race this year, and the only one of these who I've already volunteered for (most of my campaign time is being spent working for Jesse Gordon for Cambridge City Council). Plenty of people I know from other progressive groups are also volunteering on his campaign.
In the district 2 race, I think we should not endorse. Although Jim Kelly, the incumbent, is the most conservative member of the city council, and Susan Passoni would be an improvement, I am disturbed that she opposes non-citizen voting in municipal elections, and it bothers me that she evaded the question about the Boston civil liberties resolution. I can't feel much enthusiasm for her campaign, knowing that if she gets elected, I she will probably oppose some of the initiatives I will spend my time on. Let's wait 'til next time, and try to beat Jim Kelly with a real progressive. So no on Susan Passoni
I abstained in the vote on Michael Cote at the endorsement meeting. I could still be swayed one way or the other. He seems intelligent and would probably make a good councilor, but I'm not sure I can depend on him to support progressive initiatives.
I just want to say thanks to everyone at DFA for the opportunity to answer your questionnaire and participate in your endorsement process. If there are any additional questions that I might answer that would reduce your concerns, or if there is any opportunity to meet with the DFA, I would be more than happy to accommedate as best I can.
I appreciate the concerns raised by cos. I am, afterall, a first time candidate. I also have spent so many years working in computer programming that I tend to prefer to avoid "reinventing the wheel", and look for solutions that are proven to work elsewhere. As such, I am sure I can be seen a cautious or deliberate.
An example would be on the recent lot frontage controversy for Dorchester, Roxbury, Allston-Brighton, East Boston and the Fenway. My initial feeling was that the BRA's position was wrong, and that we should not support the change that would have increased density while stripping community input on the process. But I still afforded them the opportunity to present, before raising my objections. My level of opposition took nearly a month to rise to its current position, when I began doing a comparative study of the 16 neighborhoods, to find the real reason why only 5 neighborhoods in all of Boston were to be effected. It was this research into the other communities that would not be effected that eventually demonstrated that not only was the BRA's position wrong, but the BRA were being deceptive in their presentation and contradicting years of positions they had taken in other cases. In this case, I took an solid position once I had the facts before me. In the truly hypothetical, I still tend to approach things with a ear towards both sides, and perhaps that was too present in my answers.
Anyway, if there is anything I can address that would help with your concerns, please let me know.
Dear devoted DfAers,
My participation dropped precipitously after the
democratic primary in 2004, so I'm pretty sure that I
do not meet your (sensible) endorsement eligibility
guidelines. Nevertheless, as former Jamaica Plain
coordinator -- from when DfA stood for Dean for
America, and even before we took on that name for the group that grew into the organization that you are so admirably continuing to actively support today -- I hope you will at least take a moment to look at my choices. My own time is unfortunately very limited, but I may be able to dredge up some support from lost DfA sheep in JP, especially if DfA is interested in the candidacies of Felix Arroyo and Gibran Rivera.
Mayor
No endorsement: Although I respect Maura, I believe
that DfA's energy is better spent on other races.
At-Large City Councillor:
Felix Arroyo His big win 2 years ago symbolizes to many the changing face of Boston politics -- or hope for such change. It is vital that we keep his voice on the council, hopefully joined by more allies!
Matt O'Malley has impressed me with his commitment and attention to the issues. He has some really enthusiastic supporters, and I believe he would make a fine councillor.
Sam Yoon gets my vote too, but if resources are
limited and the race gets tight, preserving Arroyo's
seat if far more important than pushing for these
latter two candidates.
District 6 only (I abstain on all others):
Gibran Rivera Jamaica Plain deserves a councillor
who can truly represent the progressive values and the diversity of our neighborhoods. As the district 6
councillor serves both JP and West Roxbury, this won't be an easy race. It is, however, one well worth
working for and winning. I recommend that DfA connect and coordinate with the good, independent people of Progressive Democrats of JP (loosely associated with Progressive Dems of Mass).
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