Don Howell's Blog

Vote or Stop Complaining!

You'll get what you vote for next Tuesday

On the corruption arrest of State Senator Dianne Wilkerson,
the Boston Globe reported on October 29, 2008:

"The alleged bribes, recorded by a witness cooperating with the FBI and undercover agents posing as businessmen, carry potential penalties of up to 40 years in prison and $250,000 in fines and seem likely to deal a death blow to Wilkerson's political career."

"But they also opened a window on an ugly side of city and state politics, one in which leaders such as Senate President Therese Murray, Mayor Thomas M. Menino, and the chairman of the state-appointed Boston Licensing Board, Daniel F. Pokaski, seemed willing to engage in back-room dealing. According to the affidavit, Wilkerson described the public process for issuing liquor licenses in Boston as merely "smoke and mirrors."

On a multitude of ethics charges (and investigations) concerning Massachusetts House Speaker Sal DiMasi (including Representatives "voting" while not in attendance - or even out of the country - in his plain sight), the Boston Herald said on July 30, 2008:

"DiMasi, facing a slew of ethics complaints and plagued with persistent rumors of imminent departure, personally called both Rep. Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) and Rep. John H. Rogers (D- Norwood) in the past three days asking them to cease lining up support and focus on the end of the legislative session ahead... (Note: this didn't include homeowners' insurance reform)?"

"While speculation swirls about DiMasi's future, he's made no recent disclosures to ethics officials about job negotiations, and sources close to the Speaker say nothing is in the pipeline."

On Dealing with House Leadership, State Representative Sarah Peake was reported by the Cape Cod Chronicle on October 23, 2008:

 "Peake said she is proud to have built alliances with Beacon Hill power brokers, but she has also shown she is willing to oppose them when doing so is in the best interest of the district."

Peake's votes, compared to adjacent district Rep Cleon Turner, coincided with the Speaker over 90% of the time. She has extensively engaged PAC's in her run against Shirley Gomes as well as against Aaron Maloy (over the past two years, according to OCPF, she has given to, or gotten money from, 57 PAC's, lobbyists and incumbents). Nearly 40% of her raised money (at the primary date) came from out of district. Given direct campaign activity from PAC's (including, the MTA, the MNA and those you may choose to look up on followthemoney.org, the true value of her campaigns is about $100,000 per.

HOW MUCH IS YOUR VOTE WORTH?

With 141 Democrats out of 160 serving in the State House of Representatives, most decisions are made behind closed doors out of public view. As if this is not enough, Peake voted to keep committee votes off the internet for the public to see. You can check on prior postings to see how hard even open session votes are to track.

One wants to change the system, the other believes being part of it is the path to advancement

I have heard everyone complain about "Big Dig" overruns lining cronies' pockets and how legislators don't listen to the will of the people.

YOU HAVE A CHANCE ON TUESDAY TO START TO CHANGE THIS.

Your choice on November 4^th is not pitting a "green newcomer" against a "smart" incumbent. Quite the opposite.

How often do you get a chance to really change the system?

Please vote for Don Howell on Nov. 4^th, or stop your complaining!