Common Wealth: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Mass Politics?

Friday, November 16, 2012

Adam Joseph Drici, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Every Friday, GoLocalWorcester takes a look at who's rising and falling in the world of Massachusetts politics.

Hot

John Kerry: Massachusetts' senior Senator received a lot of buzz this week as speculation swirls over whether he'll make the jump to President Barack Obama's cabinet during his second term. Kerry is a front runner for both the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, and it seems likely that he will end up in one or the other job next year.

Deval Patrick: The Governor was rumored to be a top pick to replace Attorney General Eric Holder in Washington, but Patrick has said that he will serve out the remainder of his term in Boston. However, Patrick will still play a big role in shaping the landscape of Massachusetts politics in the near future if Kerry leaves his Senate seat. The basis on which Patrick and company will choose an interim replacement for the senior Senator remains an open question.

Tim Murray: The Lieutenant Governor expressed his desire to take over for Patrick in 2014 at a breakfast meeting for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, but he opted not to formally announce his candidacy for Governor at this point. The former Worcester Mayor was an active campaigner for Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats running for state seats this Fall, and the time he put in may pay dividends when it comes time for his own run two years from now.

Scott Brown: If Kerry goes to Obama's cabinet, Brown may have another shot at a Senate seat through a special election. With the top Democratic candidate, in the form of Elizabeth Warren, already out of the way and his well-developed grassroots network, fundraising base and leftover campaign cash, it could be an easy run for Brown, if he chooses to go for it. Back-to-back losses could be devastating, but the Republican could also bide his time until 2014 and then choose between running for Governor or a return trip to the Senate.

Ryan Fattman: The Sutton State Representative has been called a rising star in the Massachusetts Republican Party, and his reelection last week helped to reinforce that image. Faced with the disadvantage of running as a Republican in a heavily-Democratic state, Fattman has stuck with the tried and true tactics of knocking on doors and getting to know as many constituents as possible, so that when they head into the polls, they will know him.

Not

Mitt Romney: The former Massachusetts Governor and twice-failed candidate for president put his foot in his mouth this week when he claimed that Obama's reelection was due to the President's "gifts" to young people and minorities. A number of top Republican lawmakers took issue with Romney's comments, which recalled the candidate's "47 percent" comment at a fundraiser earlier this year. It may be a good thing that Romney said he will not make another run for office, so that the GOP can distance itself from his missteps as soon as possible.

Massachusetts Unemployment: The state keeps adding jobs, but the unemployment rate continues to rise. It reached 6.6 percent in October, up from 6.1 percent this summer. With both jobs and unemployment inching upward, it seems that either some larger issue is at play or that current measures of unemployment fail to adequately measure the real situation on the ground in the Commonwealth when it comes to people still looking for full-time work.

Panhandling Ban: There seems to be no easy answer to the issue of panhandlers in Worcester. A full-out ban would also mean the end to the tag day solicitations many local groups and youth sports leagues depend on for fundraising, but the status quo is unacceptable to many. The best way forward may be the time- and resource-intensive outreach programs, such as the one the City Manager's office has instituted, to aid people in their efforts to get off the streets and get the help they need.

Worcester Infrastructure: Monday's water main break resulted in water being shut off citywide and raised questions about the state of some of the city's key pieces of infrastructure. Hundred-year-old pipes and valves that won't close do not bode well for Worcester if a similar break occurs in the near future. But capital improvements are costly, and the necessary extra cash can be hard to come by.