Maura Hennigan

What Patrick's win says about 'Net activism and other thoughts

adamg — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 09:53:15 -0400

David Weinberger says Patrick's victory shows the power of the 'Net:

... This is also a win for Internet politics. Patrick ran a grassroots campaign that's making smart use of the Net. Plus, he's been more direct and more human than candidates often are, which, right or not, I take as being part of the Net ethos. Patrick is going to stir up some powerful enthusiasm in this state. ...

Gene Koo discounts the 'Net effect:

... For all the ballyhoo out there that Patrick "used the Internet" to organize, the truth is that he built a traditional grassroots campaign, something a lot of Democrats have forgotten how to do. I was there on Sunday in downtown Boston making calls for Patrick at Neighbor to Neighbor; in the next room were a volunteer making calls in Russian and the Chinese Progressive Association making calls in English and Cantonese. That's grassroots organizing.

Patrick and Murray vs. Healey and Hillman

adamg — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:51:33 -0400

Statewide results from Channel 4.

Tom Menino gets ready to host a unity rally in, holy mother of pearl, Adams Park in Roslindale (Roslindale - it's the new black - and I am so there, any UH readers who are going, let me know).

Kristie Helms will be there:

How happy is my latte-sipping, East Coast elitist, blue state little heart tonight? ...

City of Boston results:

Convicted felon William Celester loses to grandma Willie Mae Allen in the 6th Suffolk state rep's race. Incumbent felon Dianne Wilkerson clings to victory over Sonia Chang-Diaz in the 2nd Suffolk senate race (look for Chang-Diaz to call for a recount). Reilly downfall Marie St. Fleur wins another term in the 5th Suffolk state rep's race. Steve Lynch proves he's no Lieberman; squashes Lamontish Dunkelbarger in Boston's end of the ninth congressional district. Maura Hennigan looks to enjoy her retirement years in the Superior Court criminal clerk's office. Mickey Roache gets another term in the rocking chair at the Registry of Deeds.

City of Newton results.

Blue Mass. Group open thread.

Sco liveblogged from the Patrick party.

Hub Politics blogged from Kerry Healey's party.

Patrick's victory speech.
Gabrieli concession speech.
Reilly concession speech.
Healey victory speech (victory speech? Yep).

Herald Managing Editor Joe Dwinell explains why he didn't vote today.

Old city councilors never die - they just run for obscure offices that have no business being on the ballot anymore

adamg — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 09:17:14 -0400

Yeah, you know there's a primary on Tuesday for governor and other statewide offices. If you live in Suffolk County (Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop) and vote in the Democratic primary, you also get to decide who will represent your party in the races for country Register of Deeds, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court and Clerk of the Superior Court - Criminal.

What? Maybe in 1652, it made sense for these offices to be elected, but now they seem to be largely a way for old Boston city councilors to pick up a few extra dollars on the way to retirement.

In the deeds election, you've got former City Councilor (and Police Commissioner) Mickey Roache hoping to cling to power against a tough challenge from Michael Makan, who disagrees violently with Roache on, um, steel vs. wood shelves for property records or something. I don't know.

Maura Hennigan, who gave up a safe city-council seat to be slaughtered by Tom Menino in the mayor's race, hopes to make up for that by getting herself elected Clerk of the Superior Court - Criminal. Sure, she has no court experience, unlike her opponent, Robert Dello Russo (who currently works fulltime as asssistant clerk of the court), but I'm sure she'd do a fine job ensuring whatever it is the clerk ensures. Both are running to replace John Nucci. One guess what he was before his election.

One of the few people to spend more than 10 seconds thinking about this race is Mass. Marrier, who takes a dim view of Hennigan's bid:

... After failing, she inexplicably picked this clerk's spot to relaunch and redefine her political self. Forget that she has no experience or expertise here. She has attitude. Forget that she is running against a guy who actually understands the job and its duties, as well as the players. She's not coloring in the lines here. ...

In the SJC clerk race, you have incumbent Maura Doyle (South Boston Online bio) vs. Peter J. Walsh (South Boston Online bio). I won't bore you by repeating all the issues in this race.

Also up for re-election this year, although not with primary challenges, are Clerk of Superior Court - Civil Michael J. Donovan and District Attorney Dan Conley, who, surprise, used to be a Boston city councilor.

Revenge of the Undead Candidate

adamg — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 12:47:07 -0400

Third Decade doesn't get why Maura Hennigan is running for office again (this time for Suffolk Superior Court clerk):

... Is there a scientific term to describe someone who's addicted to running for elected office? ...

Or she could be tired of running for elected office and figures this is a good position to "retire" into. Look at former councilors Richard Ianella (now probate-court clerk) and Rosaria Salerno (now city clerk).

Hennigan barking up the wrong pole?

adamg — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 15:17:19 -0500

Kevin notes that Maura Hennigan showed up at a press conference about that electrocuted dog in Charlestown and wonders if Tom Menino might try to keep her from getting elected as Suffolk County court clerk if she keeps criticizing City Hall:

... When she announced her run there was talk over whether Menino would interfere in the county election just to deliver some payback, but with each press conference Hennigan crashes that seems more and more likely. What do you think? Will some well-funded and meticulously organized candidates suddenly appear for the clerks race?

Possibly, but let's not forget that Hennigan's been railing about fried dogs and potholes for years, so it's not like she's suddenly latching onto some new issue.

Jenn, meanwhile, wonders if there's some city she could move to that doesn't keep electrocuting dogs.

What will Menino say?

adamg — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 22:36:03 -0500

Kevin wonders whether Menino's inaugural address will include this:

... I will appoint Councilor Hennigan to a new cabinet-level position called Director of I Told You So. Her responsibility will be to review every department in my administration and tell them, again, what they are doing wrong. ...

Boston election results: What now?

adamg — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 21:42:33 -0500

Polls may show dissatisfaction with the state of the city, but you wouldn't know it from the results - Menino beat Hennigan 2-1 - overwhelming not only the hapless city councilor but people who either voted for her or cast blanks as a protest against the nascent Imperial Mayor.

On the city council, the big news is the election of Sam Yoon to an at-large seat. First Asian-American to hold such a seat. Felix Arroyo came in second to vote machine Michael Flaherty. For me, the big surprise was Steve Murphy's re-election. After his shellacking in the sheriff's race last year, he seemed to be on his way out. Shows you what I know - and how important the union vote still is in this town. At the district level, South Boston's Jimmy Kelly easily swamped the South End's Susan Passoni, as West Roxbury's John Tobin did to Jamaica Plain's Gibran Rivera (hmm, imagine if, somehow, JP and the South End were joined in a single district).

So what's it all mean?

Boston election results

adamg — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 20:41:27 -0500

Live results for the mayoral and city-council races.

Hennigan or him again?

adamg — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 10:02:06 -0500

John Connolly, or, at least, his sign, towers over other candidates at the Holy Name School in West Roxbury.

Around 8 this morning, the school, which houses a polling station with one of the highest turnouts in the city, was a beehive of activity. There were few voters, but plenty of politicians (and a Fox 25 news crew), all of them ignoring that quaint law requiring them to stand, oh, 75 or 150 feet away from the entrance to the polling place. Incumbent at-large Councilor Steve Murphy and wannabe at-large Councilor Matt O'Malley bracketed the stairs to the entrance (O'Malley even introduced himself to voters exiting the polls).

Murphy anxiously awaits the next voter:

What would an election-day hotspot be without a visit from Hizzoner?

Campaign notes: Almost over

adamg — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 09:04:40 -0500

Adrian Walker hauls out the newcomer cliche column and doesn't say anything new about people like Sam Yoon and Susan Passoni, just that they are new.

Adam explains why he'll be voting for Hennigan, Arroyo, Yoon, Connolly and O'Malley.

The Globe looks at the at-large race as a preliminary for the 2009 mayoral election and at efforts by service unions to get out the vote for minority candidates. The Herald basically says there's an election tomorrow.

A lot of the stuff Hennigan says about cleaning house is pretty much identical to what a new Mayor Menino said in 1993.