Boston Globe Coverage of the 8th Congressional District Election

June 14, 1998–August 30, 1998 Home-grown candidate; Tracy targets workers and their pensions. Sunday Globe, June 14, 1998, City Edition, p. 1.

By Alan Lupo, Globe Staff Belmont and the northern tier of "Now," said the 37-year-old Boston. Two, she holds no Tracy, "it's a new generation's turn." (Alan Lupo is roaming the 8th high-and-mighty aspirations to The question is how Tracy Congressional District, writing a become interplanetary chief consul. expands her base from Allston and series of pieces about the Inside the folder, the subtlety Brighton, which, she estimates, personalities, issues and disappears. could count for 9 percent of the total communities that he encounters.) "Susan Tracy. She's not wealthy primary vote. Geography, however, It was only appropriate that or flashy. She's not a political rerun is not the only way to measure a Susan Tracy, one of 10 candidates or a celebrity. She's just one of us. base, she contended. seeking the Democratic nomination And always will be." "Constituency groups become in the 8th Congressional District, Translation: At least three even more important in a 10-person was munching on a cheeseburger candidates, Chris Gabrieli, John race," she said. "I won't ask for while her portly interviewer wolfed O'Connor and Thomas Keane, are support just because I am a woman, down a steak at The Stockyard. wealthy. At least three candidates, but it is an issue of fairness. We have Said dining was historically Ray Flynn, Marjorie Clapprood, 10 congressmen and two senators, 12 accurate because The Stockyard is a George Bachrach, and possibly a voices in Washington, and not one of restaurant on Market Street in an fourth, Alex Rodriguez, and fifth, them female. area of Brighton, where, from 1873 Charles Yancey, and sixth, Michael "There's an urban component, to 1957, cattlemen and butchers sold Capuano, are in Tracy's "rerun" too," she said. A person who and slaughtered livestock on a category. At least one, Clapprood, a represents this district should 60-acre abattoir easily accessible to former talk show host, is a celebrity understand urban, blue-collar issues. Watertown merchants and and "flashy." It's incredible that there are customers. For much of the interview, Tracy 17-year-olds who did well in high Beyond that, Tracy bills herself joked and laughed easily. She is school and who are accepted to as the meat-and-potatoes candidate down home, a hard worker who has college who don't go, because they in a race that features candidates as gained the admiration of some can't afford it. They put it off. We diverse as the district they wish to important Toms: House Speaker should be able to help them with represent. They are seasoned pols Tom Finneran, with whom she more work-study grants, more Pell and newcomers, of moderate means served in the Legislature; Boston grants." and wealthy, white, black and Mayor Tom Menino; and Tom Then there is the gay Latino, male and female, straight McIntyre, director of the Bricklayers constituency, spread throughout the and gay. (Union) International Non-Profit district and, unlike some of the Tracy is certainly playing for a Housing and a former vice president silk-stocking voters of Beacon Hill woman's vote, and, as the only gay of that union. and Back Bay and, at times, black candidate, that growing vote, too. Finneran, of Mattapan, is with and Latino voters in Roxbury and But what she stresses most are her her. Menino keeps his own counsel. Dorchester, inclined to vote. working-stiff roots, which she McIntyre told his own pal, Ray Many gays come from intends to parlay against her Flynn, that he had made a somewhere else. Tracy has pointed opponents, as her new campaign commitment to Tracy and would out that she lives where she grew up. brochure clearly illustrates. stick with it, and it does not hurt her "Most people move away to be "She's one of us," it says on the that there are many active and retired who they are," she said. "I hope to front page. "And always will be." bricklayers in Allston and Brighton. set a precedent that you don't have to Translation: One, she doesn't Years ago, Tracy was an intern do that, that you can stay and be all forget where she comes from, for Bachrach when he was a state that you can be. This neighborhood specifically, Brighton; in a larger senator representing a chunk of the has been wonderful to me. It's been sense, Boston; in a cosmic sense, district, and she later worked for proud and accepting." much of the predominantly urban Flynn when he was . Tracy talked of delivering district, which includes Chelsea, She also served with Clapprood in constituent services, of how a person Somerville, Cambridge, Watertown, the Legislature. elected to Congress "can make a 2 difference with the day-to-day stuff," too risky. We've got to make sure we had pushed for new solutions to old from helping get care for someone's have, and I know it's a cliche, that problems and had become known to sick mother to fixing a fouled-up safety net. We talk about portability some as a centrist Democrat. Social Security check. in health care. Maybe we should talk So, when addressing the issue of "Beyond that," she said, "if about pension portability." affordable housing in a recent forum, someone said to me, 'If you could do Even when discussing such Keane, noting that government funds only one thing, what would it be,' I'd issues, Tracy was at ease, always were drying up, said, "I'll fight for say the debate on pension and ready to interrupt for an anecdote, affordable housing, but we need new retirement issues. My father worked but, at one point, near the end of the strategies. for the railroad for 42 years. He has conversation, she stopped smiling. "Universities let students flood a decent pension, but there are not She stopped when her companion into the housing market," he said as many people who work that long for jokingly asked if she would remain an example. "Every year, the federal one place. And what about the others in the race at least until he wrote his government gives billions to who work for themselves and are story about her. There had been universities. It's time for a quid pro supposed to put away $4,000 a year rumors that she was feeling squeezed quo. They need to take responsibility in that IRA but find there are some between Flynn and Clapprood and by building housing for their things more pressing than putting speculation that she might drop out. students." away that money? "I am not dropping out," she Left perhaps for a subsequent "What do you do," she asked, said, jabbing her right forefinger at discussion was that, when "so you do not end up old and poor? her lunch companion. "I am in this universities try to build dorms, they Old and poor is not a good place to race to the end. I am not dropping often run into neighborhood be, and there are a lot of them in that out." opposition. place. It's especially critical for The often-tense relationship women with children who interrupt In his race to win the between universities and their work and lose out on years of Democratic congressional primary, working-stiff neighborhoods has service and pension money. Boston City Councilor Thomas been a nagging problem in such 8th "It scares me," she said, "that Keane has labeled himself a (Paul) District communities as Allston, they're talking about privatizing the Tsongas Democrat. The late US Brighton, the Back Bay, Cambridge Social Security system. That's way senator and presidential candidate and Somerville.

For these guys, the campaign trail is tough work - and a lot of fun. Boston Sunday Globe, June 21, 1998, City Edition, p. 1.

By Alan Lupo, Globe Staff court, and then he went to the can." Democrats are also trying to replace US Representative Joseph Kennedy, In describing how they never "We don't like to lose," said who is leaving. forgo even one vote, the East Boston Cannata. "Once our names are on the East Boston is a crucial, Tonys, Anthony "The Great" Albano dotted line, we work. We have a lotta high-voting section of the district, and Tony Cannata, reminisced about fun doing politics. We eat good. We which also includes Chelsea, how they dragged a young guy out of drink good. But we work. If it can't Cambridge, Somerville, Watertown, a courtroom where he was about to be fun, who needs it? After working Belmont, and a slew of Boston be sentenced, brought him to the all day, who needs another job?" neighborhoods. Some observers polls, and then returned him to court, This year, this legendary East suggest the contest could be decided from whence he was indeed sent Boston pair are working for John in Eastie, a working-stiff away for a spell. O'Connor of Cambridge, an neighborhood that has long suffered "We pulled him outta the environmental activist who is from the environmental byproducts courtroom," Cannata recalled with spending big bucks to win the Sept. of Logan Airport, two tunnels, a much pride. "He was going away. 15 Democratic primary in the 8th highway, rotting docks, and nearby After he voted, we took him back to Congressional District. Nine other oil farms. 3

O'Connor, an Irish-American parlay their years in the Albano, once a star high school millionaire married to Carolyn neighborhood along with Albano's and sandlot athlete, is very much Mugar, an American Armenian 25 years of helping a few generations alive. When he walks around Eastie, whose family fortune came from Star of high school kids who grow up and motorists yell for him and Market, would seem an unlikely remember. They play politics the pedestrians embrace him. candidate for Cannata and Albano to old-fashioned way: Work hard for a Cannata, straddling his chair push in this largely Italian-American candidate and, should he win, go to with its back pressed against his province. him for payback. chest, spread his hands about a foot Opponents say they are doing so The payback might be providing apart and said of his partner, "His only because they're being paid. a job or filling a pothole. Whatever it mouth is this big." Then, spreading Albano, 50, chief security officer at is, the officeholder solidifies his his hands further apart, "His heart is East Boston High, the father of three, position; the voters remember the that big." and raising a niece and nephew, and good deeds, and Cannata and Albano "We build relationships," Cannata, 56, a State House employee increase their already acknowledged Cannata said, "and they last in East and father of two and raising two clout. Boston. Respect was the key word in nephews, make no apologies for "That's what we bring to the the house. When you respect people, making a buck. O'Connor campaign," Cannata said. they respect you back. One hand "If the guy wants to pay me," "Somebody needs a light fixed. We washing the other is not a bad Cannata said, "that's OK. But this do it. Some mother wants her kid to axiom." has nothing to do with money. He go to college. We try to make it may be a millionaire 10 times over, happen. We don't always hit a home The loyalist but he talks our language. He's for run, but people know that with us, In the rarified atmosphere of a real. He's sensitive to East Boston's they got a shot at the apple." downtown high-rise, Harry Grill, problems. He is a fighter." To get out that vote, they and a attorney at the law firm of A few hours earlier, Cannata core group of pals, like Domenic Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, presents his and Albano had brought out a small Marchesi and Anthony Maffei, work brief, not a legal brief, but, rather, a army of sign carriers to the sidewalks on voter identification. They have a case for the candidacy of his friend, and safety island outside the Wood computer disc of trusted voters, and Ray Flynn. Island MBTA station. O'Connor, a they keep adding to it. In the weeks The ambiance of the 13th floor onetime community and consumer before election day, about 15 of them of One International Place is quite a organizer, enthusiastically rushed call about 1,000 to 1,500 voters and stretch from the neighborhood paths from one commuter to another, push their candidate. On election that Flynn has traveled from his handed out his glossy brochure and day, 20 or more persons work the modest home, first to went into his spiel. phones to call those same voters and the State House as a rep, then to City Later, in the back room of the 84 make sure they go to the polls. If Hall as a councilor and mayor, then Bennington Street Restaurant, anyone needs a ride, no problem. to Rome, as ambassador to the Cannata, like a proud father, exulted, "We never wanna hear," Vatican. "We got a candidate running around, Cannata explained, "that we lost by Through it all, Grill argues, shaking hands, it makes our job two votes because Mr. and Mrs. Flynn kept true to his essential easier." Francesca didn't get a call." beliefs, that a politician's job is to A couple of weeks earlier, the Beyond the phone calls, Cannata fight for those who are poor, two ran a time for O'Connor in the and Albano work the streets. They alienated, dispossessed, hard at work same back room. put up signs. They paste bumper at tough jobs and, often, out of the "We had over 100 people here," stickers on the backs of cars. They downtown loop. Albano said, "and 98 of them are send out "Dear Friend" cards, asking Now, Flynn wants to travel that with us. We lost Pixie Palladino to those friends to support their path to Washington to represent the Flynn, and another guy is still candidate. 8th Congressional District. To do borderline." "They call me to ask me who to that, say observers, Flynn must The "job" Cannata referred to is vote for," Albano said. "When they collect much money, resurrect a to get out the vote. These two guys, don't get a 'Dear Friend' card, they once-potent organization and who never lived anywhere but Eastie, think I've died." overcome both bad publicity and a 4 sense that he is a has-been running without concern for the working find them." for any available office and fighting families. He understands personally "When you knock on a door," for yesterday's liberal ideas. what people go through. He's part of Grill continued, "you get a sense of Harry Grill scoffs at what passes people's lives. He's been there for the what people's concerns are. We've for conventional wisdom. The sorrow, and he's been there for the never been into focus groups. We go onetime VISTA volunteer and Mass. joy." into the neighborhood, where people Fair Share organizer has been with Flynn is raising money, Grill live. We don't need people coming Flynn for 15 years. He was there, said, and is building an organization from Washington into Boston to tell managing the successful mayoral that includes both longtime loyalists, us what the people here think. campaigns in the halcyon days, and newcomers and a lot of labor union "He is the best politician in the he was there, fielding the tough members. The hallmark, however, of race, the hardest working candidate questions about campaign finances a Flynn campaign is not Flynn the and the one with the strongest record and an alleged drinking problem in organization man, but Flynn the to run on. I don't know how much the more recent unpleasant times. loner. It is not an insult, simply an money you need to supplement that, "He is as vibrant and as in touch adjective, and it is not peculiar to but I also know all the money in the with the voters as I've ever seen," him. His mayoral predecessor, Kevin world can't buy that." Grill asserted. "He thrives on the White, was once billed as "the loner Grill, raised Jewish in the one-on-one, on the marathon of in love with his city." Bronx, and Flynn, raised Irish campaigning. He's as connected as For Flynn and some other Catholic in Southie, might seem an he has ever been, and I've been with politicians, the key is instinct. It is odd couple, but they share the belief him since 1983." often personal and may resist that public service is not to be Flynn runs, said Grill, "because description or explanation. laughed at and that politics is less a he is concerned that in this drift to "He knows how to pick his science than an art form. the center, there is a sort of spots," Grill said. "He knows where "We're not technicians," Grill selfishness, that there are people the votes are, and he knows how to insisted, "but artists."

Bachrach sees strongest natural base in district. Boston Sunday Globe, June 28, 1998, City Edition, p. 1.

By Alan Lupo, Globe Staff vote that way. You have a liberal to Joe Kennedy in that year's district." Bachrach, sipping congressional contest, Bachrach is The Town Diner at the corner of orange juice in one of the diner's again counting on his old state Mount Auburn Street and Bigelow booths, laughed and asked a Senate base of Watertown, Belmont, Avenue in Watertown serves rhetorical question: "Do you want to Allston, Brighton, and part of moussaka, which is Greek, and poll the people in this diner? Or the Cambridge to give him a leg up in meatloaf, which is working-stiff people in North Cambridge? Or the what, so far, is a wild-card race to Americana. Up Bigelow is a Greek people in Oak Square, Brighton?" succeed Kennedy, who is retiring. Orthodox Church and the Armenian These were the He has promised to stay true to Cultural Center. Across the street is less-than-predictably liberal areas of his beliefs and not, as other a sign advertising "Fresh Italian his state Senate seat and remain so in Democrats across the nation have Sausage, Sweet & Hot." the 8th Congressional District he and done, move to a centrist landscape This is as much a part of George nine other Democrats are seeking to for fear of alienating some voters. Bachrach's territory as the tonier represent in the Sept. 15 primary. "Bachrach doesn't back down," precincts of Belmont and Cambridge. Bachrach, an unreconstructed his campaign literature says. "He He was the area's state senator in the liberal, said those same people stands up. To entrenched political early 1980s, and when he voted for supported him "because they felt I power. To big money special liberal measures, he recalled the was being straight with them." interests. To political bullies like other day, critics would tell him, Now, 12 years after whipping 10 Newt Gingrich." "Hey, Bachrach, it's easy for you to other Democrats but finishing second In 1986, he was 34, single and 5 consumed with politics. Now, he is West Somerville, Allston, Brighton, community activist of Puerto Rican 46, married with two young sons, the South End, , Back roots kept smiling and promised, gray-haired and, like many parents Bay, and Beacon Hill. "Sure, I'm going to run again. It's the in politics, ready to admit to angst Factor in some hotly contested most fun I've ever had in my life." over how to best divide his time state races in places such as That was 1968, and life, he said between family and public service. Cambridge and West Somerville, the other night, has a way of He has been out of public office and that means a high turnout in his deferring one's plans. Now, Alex for a dozen years, and during that pockets of strength. If other Rodriguez, has decided to deliver on time, in 1994, he lost a Democratic "progressive" candidates fall behind, his 30-year-old promise. This time, primary for governor. Some sources reason, their voters could go it's for the 8th Congressional District observers contend he is yesterday's to Bachrach. seat, and this time, he's got a bigger news, that he cannot compete with Bachrach does not seem base of support, three decades of the name recognition of former intimidated by the odds. He recalled experience in local, state, and Boston Mayor Ray Flynn and former taking on both Governor Michael national government and social talk show host and legislator Dukakis, a Democrat, and Governor activism and the skills that come Marjorie Clapprood, or with the William Weld, a Republican, on the with maturity. multimoney campaigns being waged issue of adequate child care. He "I know how to organize a by activist John O'Connor and questions what may now be campaign," he said. "I'm not rushing. entrepreneur Chris Gabrieli and, conventional wisdom about the I'm a wise old bull, not a young possibly, Boston City Councilor benefits of charter schools and bull." Oh, yeah, he added, as he Thomas Keane. vouchers. He has no problem relaxed with his wife, Bettie Baca, on Others running are Somerville criticizing his party's leader, a couch in a South End house before Mayor Michael Capuano, Boston President Clinton, for failing to push making his formal annoucement to a City Councilor Charles Yancey, ahead with health care and election racially diverse audience one block former state Rep. Susan Tracy, and reforms. away, he is having a lot of fun again. former Commission He can point to a long record of One problem for him is that the Against Discrimination chairman fighting for home health care for the Latino vote is traditionally small; the Alex Rodriguez. elderly, day care for kids, handgun black vote, if it turns out, appears to Bachrach has heard it all. control, and against the death be divided by a few candidates, and "We are raising money at a good penalty, term limits, and tax cuts that the "progressives" could be split clip," he said, "and should get he contends hurt the most among Rodriguez, Susan Tracy, $300,000 by June 30 and are on vulnerable. "I've been around Bachrach, John O'Connor, and track to raise a total of $750,000." long enough," he said, "to know the Charles Yancey. His own poll, taken by Tom magnificent work you can do and the Rodriguez, attacking the math Kiley, shows him second behind horrific life you can lead in public and the presumptions, laid out a Flynn but leading among liberals and service, and I can't tell you I am not scenario in which he, now seen as an strong among "the more affluent, conflicted. But I want to be working underdog, could win. better educated, very progressive on affordable housing, health care, "I love that big money has constituency." That was his strength day care. It's what drives me." brought black and Latino operatives in 1986 and, he said, remains so. into the other camps," he said, for "I'm the tortoise in this race," he Rodriguez, 30 years later example. "It dissipates their strength. said. "I'm just grinding it out. We've Alex Rodriguez had been on this They do top-down politics. We'll do got the strongest natural base in the route once before. He had hit the the grass roots." district. We're working from the streets, knocked on the doors, made So, in his first mailing, bottom up." the speeches, exhorted people to elect Rodriguez didn't "tell people to vote Some speculate that if Bachrach him to the state Legislature. for me, but to watch me, listen to me. can nail down about half his normal He would win in his South End People remembered those letters. At base, his poll numbers will climb territory, but would lose to the the parade in Charlestown, they into the 20s. At that point, his people Irish-Americans from Mission Hill. came up to me and mentioned those will target other potential Even in losing, however, the letters, because they were personal, Bachrach-friendly areas, such as 27-year-old social worker and because I signed them." 6

Rodriguez said he knows the ethnics who said they'd be with him, everybody," he promised. drill, where to get lists of voters, how Rodriguez contended he could A short time later, at the Jorge to identify them by computer and challenge such Charlestown favorites Hernandez Cultural Center, he made then bore in on those likely to as former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn another promise, this time to a crowd support him. and Somerville Mayor Mike of whites, blacks, Latinos, and "Our computer message," he Capuano. Asians, to bring their passion for said, "will say, 'It's the votes, stupid.' Rodriguez believes he can social justice to Washington. It's not the process. It's the votes. expand his natural base from the This, he said, would mean And every day, my word to my folk South End, Roxbury, Chelsea, and fighting for a $6.75 minimum hourly is going to be, 'Did you get a vote that strip of Cambridge from wage, funding affordable and today? Give me the name.' " Harvard Square to MIT. mixed-income housing, protecting The campaign will start with "There won't be any vacations in small businesses from "undue 350 "friends of Alex," each of whom this campaign,' said the former burdens of regulation and taxation," will be challenged to come up with director of the Massachusetts improving education and 10 names by the end of June. Then, Commission Against Discrimination transportation. those 3,500 will deliver the names of and deputy assistant secretary in the "Remember," he said, "that 35,000 likely voters. US Treasury Department. "We'll go ultimately all humans are striving for Having worked the Bunker Hill from 7 in the morning to 12 at night. the same thing: just a little more Day breakfast and parade in We'll do it with organized chaos, by income so we can live comfortably Charlestown by engaging Townies, being able to move on the ground. and a lot more justice so we can live having met, he said, a lot of white "I am going to surprise equally."

Connecting through personality, ideas; Clapprood, Gabrieli look for ways to reach voters, stand apart from field. Boston Sunday Globe, July 12, 1998, City Edition, p. 1.

By Alan Lupo, Globe Staff other Democrats to run in the Sept. everything to do with familiarity. 15 primary to succeed him. Kennedy, There's a difference." In campaign mode, she is Tip in turn, succeeded Thomas "Tip" Clapprood, who recently moved O'Neill in heels. O'Neill Jr. from Sharon to Watertown, contends Marjorie Clapprood doesn't just O'Neill, a barrel of a man with a people know and respect her more shake a hand, she smothers it and thick shock of white hair and bushy for the content of what she has done holds onto it and then stares into the eyebrows, enveloped all comers, be as a politician and advocate for eyes of a potential voter and says, they old pals or total strangers. He women, gays, and the poor than for "Can I say, 'Hi?' I'm looking you in slapped backs, pumped hands and the flash and glamour that she the eye and asking you for your joked one into submission. When he exudes. vote." finished with a person, the subject As she worked the streets, as she She is an arm-grabber, a slapper would think he had been friends with hit the beauty shop, the barber shop, of backs and shoulders. the US Speaker of the House for a the cobbler's, the coffee house, the "She is about the best retail lifetime. bar and the bus stops, citizens campaigner I have ever seen in my Clapprood, a state representative responded to both familiarity and life," says Jim Spencer, one of her in the 1980s, the Democratic Party's celebrity. Some knew her from what consultants and a veteran of many lieutenant governor candidate in she had done; others simply campaigns. 1990, and a radio talk show host, has recognized her as a personality. Spencer should know, because the moves. Whatever the source of contact, he once worked for another top Her critics, including some Clapprood exploited it with the "retail campaigner," Joe Kennedy, opponents, call it celebrity politics. personal touch. whose announced intention to retire "It has nothing to do with "I listen to you all the time," a from the 8th Congressional District celebrity," she said the other day in barber told her, though she has been seat spurred Clapprood and nine Cambridge's Central Square. "It has off the talk show for months. 7

"I'd like your support," she said, helped her family and how she week to target voters, Spencer says. and he pledged it. Then she opened believes it should get back in the As of June 30, the campaign raised the door to the shop wider. Every business of helping others. almost $251,000, far short of the chair was full. All heads turned to "My politics are simple to read," $700,000 or more it had hoped to her, and she yelled, "I'm Marjorie she said in an interview that day. "If attract in such a multicandidate field. Clapprood, and I'm running for the a mother falls ill and needs hospital Clapprood is competing with 8th Congressional District. Are we care, I want to make sure she gets Tracy for the women's vote and excited?" that care. If a kid needs protection hopes to become the one prochoice Central Square is on the fault from bullies at school, I want to alternative to Flynn, who is line of urban America, more so than, make sure he gets it." antiabortion. say, Harvard Square or Kendall The 8th District includes some Square. It is a gritty, busy place, of the nation's most activist, Chris Gabrieli where whites, blacks, Latinos, "progressive" constituencies, fond of A woman standing near the Asians, straights and gays easily giving litmus tests to candidates for entrance to the Lori-Ann Donut Shop mingle. It is caught in the any and all offices. Some of those on Charlestown's Bunker Hill Street crosscurrents of those who would constituents are less enamored of looked with the shock of recognition gentrify it and those who would constituent services than they are of at the tall, bespectacled, curly-haired preserve it as is. more cosmic issues. man approaching her with Nobody raised that dicey issue Clapprood, who has fought for outstretched hand. the other day, not even as the family support systems, gay rights, "The guy in the commercial!" candidate fielded questions on health care for the poor, and she yelled, testimony to the enduring Cambridge Police Detective Frank pro-choice issues, would seem to be power of television. Pasquarello's weekly cable television a natural fit for such groups, but she "The guy" is Chris Gabrieli, call-in show. prides herself on what she regards as millionaire businessman, father of But one issue raised there served an independent spirit and is tougher, four, and one of the 10 Democratic to illustrate Clapprood's argument for example, on cracking down on candidates running in the Sept. 15 that she brings not only legislative pedophiles than some civil primary to replace Joe Kennedy in skills and passionate advocacy to the libertarians might prefer. the 8th Congressional District. job, but also a sense of politics as "Despite attempts to pigeonhole It turns out the woman does not personal, of government as an me," she said, "I am not a pigeon." live in the district, though she said extension of her own family history. The 8th, a predominantly urban she knows lots of folks who do, and At one point, Pasquarello district that includes half of Boston, she and they will see Gabrieli a lot worried out loud about mingling the cities of Chelsea, Cambridge and more, first, because he intends to drug addicts, alcoholics and others Somerville, and the towns of spend about $ 3 million on with serious problems with the Watertown and Belmont, is a television, and second, because he elderly in public housing sinecure for Democrats. The other says he will wear out shoe leather to developments. Democratic candidates are former meet voters personally. "The introduction of the Boston Mayor Ray Flynn; Somerville What had caught the woman's mentally ill, drug dependent and Mayor ; two Boston attention via TV had been Gabrieli's alcoholics to elderly housing came city councilors, Tom Keane and assault on health maintenance about," Clapprood contended, Charles Yancey; former Brighton organizations. He is pushing for "because we no longer provide for state Representative Susan Tracy; what he calls a "patients' bill of those with such problems. My father environmental activist John rights." His criticisms touched her, was a brilliant man, but he was an O'Connor; businessman Chris because she said she had been alcoholic, and the VA Veterans Gabrieli; former state and federal victimized by an HMO. Administration hospital took care of official Alex Rodriguez; and former This, he contended moments him until he died, and the state senator and 1986 congressional later in an interview, is the kind of government helped my mother with candidate George Bachrach. conversation he has been having five kids." Clapprood's staff has opened throughout the district, and it proves Clapprood repeatedly makes the three offices, from which people at to him that people care about ideas, connection between how government phone banks have made 3,600 calls a contrary to conventional wisdom. 8

"When we get past the inside in the race belongs to Somerville for them. That's a simple thing we politics stuff," he said, "and actually Mayor Mike Capuano, whose father should do, to go back and look at this talk to a woman like that, they tell was an Italian-American and whose formula. you their hopes and fears, and they mother was Irish-American. "Another example," he said, "is open up to you. The confluence of, and conflict that most candidates don't "I believe politics is changing. between, the politics of ideas and the understand what it is like to work for The politics of ideas is potent." politics of ethnicity, organization and themselves. This affects mostly Equally potent, many observers networks is especially obvious in a women and also older men who have would say, are money, organization, place like Charlestown. been downsized out of jobs. We and a voting base of friends, Across from the doughnut shop should encourage them, but they get supporters from previous campaigns, is the Bunker Hill Burying Ground, taxed on both sides of Social Security and fellow ethnics, straights, gays, which, for most of this century, was if they're self-employed. If they were women, or whatever labels a home to more Yankees and other working for a company, that candidate may choose to play up. non-ethnics than the rest of what had company would pay part of the tax. Gabrieli has more money than become an Irish-dominated, And their health care plans are any other candidate. He said he working-stiff neighborhood. That unbelievably expensive." wants to push ideas more than rely profile, however, slowly began Gabrieli, who comes from a on the traditional political support changing in the early 1970s, as think-tank background, seems to system of who knows whom, whose increasing numbers of middle-class enjoy the meet-and-greet of friends will agree to support whom, whites, many of indistinct ethnic campaigning, the proverbial pressing and, "I'm Italian, too." background, began moving into of the flesh. Having said that, Gabrieli Charlestown. After talking to the Randolph assured an interviewer that he was The working stiffs called woman at the door and then a second pragmatic. themselves Townies, They came to person, who turned out to be from "Am I not going to deal with the call their newer neighbors Toonies. Methuen, Gabrieli yelled, "This is a grass roots?" he said. "Of course I There has been both conflict and good coffee shop. People come here am. Am I not using ethnic cooperation between the two groups. from all over the state. Does anybody identification? Of course, I'm hoping Gabrieli, as do other candidates, here come from Charlestown?" my Italian name helps." contends he can appeal to both, that "I'm from Charlestown," a Actually, Gabrieli is a his campaign of ideas transcends woman said. Hungarian-American. Both his ethnic, racial and class barriers, that "Aha!" he shouted. "A voter." parents emigrated to America from all people worry about education, The doughnut shop crowd ate it Hungary, to which his father's family health care and how to make a up. had moved years earlier from living. Gabrieli will press on with his Venice. There are not believed to be "Take the Pell Grants, for "campaign about ideas," and even if many Hungarians in the 8th example," he said, referring to he should lose, he said, he will Congressional District. The Italian federal aid to college students. continue to push ideas onto a public name is bound to help among older "Many people today go to college that he insists is ready for what some Italian voters in places like East part time, or at night after working would call that Jeffersonian ideal of Boston. The only other Italian name all day. Those grants are not set up an enlightened electorate.

Touting personal touch as key to 8th; Congressional hopefuls Keane, Capuano play their strengths. Boston Sunday Globe, July 19, 1998, City Edition, p. 6.

By Alan Lupo, Globe Staff that one of his competitors, Chris polls. That's about $133,000 per Gabrieli, was spending on television. percentage point. As he was driving a van from Gabrieli, a Back Bay "Why not just give every voter $ Somerville to Chelsea, Mike businessman, had spent about 250 each?" the Somerville mayor Capuano, candidate for Congress, $400,000, and reportedly had gone cracked, as he negotiated the back was talking about the heavy money up from 1 percent to 4 percent in the streets from his home base of 9 strength to a smaller but similar represents much of what the 8th Cambridge. community that could deliver a District has become, a diversity of So, he was heading back to heavy vote to him. "Hell, for $250, race, ethnicity, income and attitudes. Chelsea, which accounts for about some of my people might not even Capuano is banking on both his 5.6 percent of the vote, but which, in vote for me." personas to take him to Washington. his words, is "open territory." A week earlier, a special The intellectual side of him has "Nobody can lay claim to meeting of the Chelsea City Council mastered the arcane details of Chelsea," he told Mario Zullo, a opened with the Pledge of housing policy, community political player who runs Park Allegiance. Capuano and his wife, reinvestment, and industrial Cleaners. "It's open warfare here, Barbara, stood near the doorway and redevelopment, and he boasts of and I intend to win." dutifully recited it. He then turned to having improved the city's school Zullo and his wife, Elena, liked a reporter and, with a wide grin, system, created the state's first local that. Police officer Andy Troisi, born announced quietly, "I just took a environmental strike force, and and bred in Chelsea and brother of a count, and half the candidates didn't prompted cable television pol, had brought Capuano to Zullo's know the Pledge of Allegiance." competition. place and to the homes of family and The five-term mayor likes to The street-smart political side friends who had agreed to put up joke. He is serious about wanting to has created what he contends is a Capuano's signs. become the next congressman from finely honed organization that will "Whatever I can do," Zullo told the 8th Congressional District, where outperform those of other candidates. Capuano, "I'll do for you. It's nice to he is one of 10 candidates running in The only way to win, he has said see a good Italian boy." the Democratic primary to replace repeatedly, is to go door to door. Capuano seems not to be Joe Kennedy, who is retiring. But he "If street work still matters," he worried about Gabrieli or seven of sees no reason why campaigning in contended early in the campaign, "I the other candidates: George Somerville, Chelsea, Watertown, don't see how anyone can keep up Bachrach, Marjorie Clapprood, Tom Belmont, Cambridge, and half of with us." Keane, John O'Connor, Alex Boston cannot be fun. That was in late May. Rodriguez, Susan Tracy, Charles Capuano's critics say he can be Since then, Capuano has raised Yancey. abrasive. He has heard this before. at least $250,000 of the $300,000 he Ray Flynn, he says, is the person "If the people in Somerville had said he would need to get "a to beat, especially in Chelsea and really took that to heart," he said, place at the table." Charlestown, where the former "how would I be getting 70 percent His large, sprawling Boston mayor reputedly has strong of the vote there? I have a persona. I headquarters in Davis Square sports support among working stiffs. don't try to hide it like some may do an assignment board filled with jobs But as Andy Troisi, introducing in order to be everyman." for volunteers. Capuano to a Chelsea City Hall Capuano brings to the job both "Somerville accounts for about employee the other day, said, "He's the rough edges of a workingman's 16 percent of the turnout," he said. one of us, you know?" little city and the book smarts of "Part of my job is to get that vote up. "Yeah," the woman said. "I and Boston I believe in numbers. They say a lot. know. I've heard." College Law School. Those dual Let's be serious. A congressional In politics, "one of us" is high personas reflect the two faces of campaign can't turn out big numbers, praise. Somerville. unless Joe Kennedy is in it. My job is From the time he first served as to get my voters out. From Kennedy to Tsongas an alderman in 1977 to now, he saw "I'm guessing a turnout of It was bingo night at St. James Somerville change drastically. It 75,000," he said. "I can affect that in Armenian Church's Cultural and shifted from a tough industrial city pockets only. So it's the whole idea Youth Center on a tree-lined street in known for corrupt politics and of targeting where I go, who I go to." Watertown, and in the lobby, a wiseguys to a commuter community That means he must spend a lot woman, standing in line to get her increasingly populated by middle- of time in high-voting precincts bingo cards, touched Tom Keane on and upper-income college graduates. where he seems strong: Somerville, the chin, and exclaimed, "He looks Add in the arrival of immigrants Chelsea, Charlestown, East Boston, like a Kennedy." of color, and Somerville neatly and parts of Belmont and In Massachusetts politics, this is 10 not a bad thing to look like, should mean more federal money to not sure the others do." especially in the 8th Congressional fully operate kindergartens, run Whatever he brings, he must, as District, where two of the last four after-school programs to 6 p.m., and must the others, first get the votes. incumbents were Jack Kennedy and support the kind of nurturing that To help do this, he predicted, he will now Joe Kennedy. kids need even before they hit school. have raised by mid-July about "It's the plastic surgery," Keane So, by pushing for more federal $407,000. He has 13 paid workers joked, beaming. funds, on one hand, and supporting and more than 300 volunteers who Outside the hall, Tom Keane, tough standards and charter schools, do stand-outs with signs and drop the father, looking younger than his on the other, Keane reasoned that literature. 73 years, wore a perpetual smile as both Democrats and Republicans He is counting on a 10 percent he passed out his son's campaign could find grounds for cooperation. turnout in his Back Bay-Beacon fliers. Backing him up was daughter "What if the surplus disappeared Hill-Mission Hill-Fenway district, a Bridget, one of 11 Keane offspring. and we had to make cuts?" he asked number that some observers regard Showing up moments later was rhetorically. "The pat answer is to as too optimistic. Brian, yet another, who had cut defense spending. It's not going "The rap on my district," he managed three state presidential to provide the huge savings some contended, "is that they don't turn primaries in 1992 for the late Paul think, nor is it as politically feasible out to vote. They don't for local Tsongas. Back at the candidate's as they think. You would need cuts elections, but they do for national district office in across the board. elections." the Back Bay, was Betty Ann, the "If I had to choose the Where does he go from there for mother, working at a desk near the department of Housing and Urban votes? doorway. Development or education, I'd "I think the total vote will be Between the Keane parents, choose cutting HUD. I'd cut between 80,000 to 100,000 their 11 sons and daughters, eight programs rather than increase the maximum," he guessed. "So, the sons- and daughters-in-law, and deficit, because a large deficit equals winning margin will be roughly 20 some of the 19 grandchildren, the a lousy economy, which translates percent. I don't think Ray Flynn goes candidate already has a substantial into more families in trouble, more beyond 18 percent, and I think political organization. Add to them abuse, more crime, more desertion, Marjorie Clapprood and I have the members of Brighton's political Rufo more suicides." best potential growth into the teens." clan plus volunteers and paid Keane, for example, supports Keane said he has strength in staffers, and Keane becomes a NAFTA, the controversial North the South End, home base of player. American Free Trade Agreement, candidate Alex Rodriguez, and Bay If voters want to make which many Democrats have Village and boasted, "I'll beat Susan comparisons with those early opposed. Opponents feel it hurts Tracy in Brighton, where I have the Kennedy family efforts of legend, American workers. Supporters best organization of anywhere. I have Keane will not discourage them. He contend it is an inevitable element of a good organization in Cambridge talks less of Kennedy, however, than free trade, which, in turn, creates now." he does of Tsongas. Over and over more jobs and opportunities. He predicted he would finish (and over and over), he calls himself "The protectionist, isolationist first or second in Boston's black a Tsongas Democrat. This, he says, view," Keane argued earlier in the neighborhoods, home of fellow sets him apart from the "traditional" evening, on the way to Mattapan councilor Charles Yancey. Democrats against whom he is Square, "is doomed to fail, and we In Mattapan Square, Charles running in the Sept. 15 primary. can't protect our borders." Vann and Jeffrey O'Neal, two "It's economic pragmatism and Keane said his City Council campaign volunteers, guided Keane social liberalism," Keane said. "It's experience enables him to take a from one small business where the people think Democrats pragmatically local view of establishment to another. ought to go." government to Washington. Outside the Avenue Tavern, So, on what would a Tsongas "I come to the race with an Vann smiled knowingly and said, Democrat spend tax dollars? understanding that politics is very "People don't really know where the Education, he said, was his much local," he said. "I think Mike real voters are. Well, Joe Sixpack priority, and a balanced budget Capuano understands that too. I'm votes. Ray Flynn knows that. That's 11 the workingman back in there, the Inside the crowded, noisy bar, table, and O'Neal told one group, professional folks and the working Keane worked his way from table to "This is Joe Kennedy's clone." stiffs, and they vote."

Yancey hoping for big payoff on his '92 gamble; Sees loss to Kennedy as step to higher profile. Boston Sunday Globe, July 26, 1998, City Edition, p. 3.

By Alan Lupo, Globe Staff Yancey is, however, by his own both former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn admission, a stubborn sort. Ever and City Councilor Tom Keane can In less than two months, Boston since he began running for office in claim black support. Yancey's City Councilor Charles Yancey will 1979, he has been criticized for Somerville support could diminish in know if his 1992 gamble paid off. failing to make alliances on the the presence of that city's mayor, That year, Yancey ran against council and for having insufficiently Mike Capuano. George Bachrach, incumbent Joe Kennedy in the 8th honed political reflexes. Yet, when former state senator and 1986 Congressional District's Democratic the smoke clears, he remains smiling congressional candidate, is expected primary. He figured he would lose, and seemingly unruffled. to pull heavily in Belmont and and he did. The idea was to increase In an interview two weeks ago, Watertown. Then, there are the two his presence on the political he contended that his campaign has millionaire candidates, John landscape beyond that of 300 volunteers, that he would raise O'Connor and Chris Gabrieli, the representing Mattapan and part of more than $300,000 by primary day former of whom competes with Dorchester on the City Council. and that, "within a couple of weeks, Yancey and others for the bulk of the Maybe, he and others reasoned then, you'll feel a strong presence of the "progressive" vote. he would even get a jump-start on Yancey-for-Congress campaign." What separates him from the other candidates should Kennedy He contended that the large field rest, Yancey said, is his experience ever abandon the seat. helps him, that if he could capture 25 as a local legislator. This year, Kennedy announced percent of the vote, he could win. He "I have more experience in the he was leaving, and 10 Democrats won 20 percent of the vote in 1992, legislative branch of government are competing for the primary vote he said, and 20 percent "in a than any oppponent," he said, on Sept. 15 to represent Cambridge, multicandidate race is a big deal." pointing to his 15 years in office. Somerville, Belmont, Watertown, An analysis of that 1992 race "You also need someone who Chelsea, and half of Boston. shows Yancey won 18 percent of the understands the hopes and dreams of Yancey is one of them, and total vote. He won 22 percent in the constituents of the 8th District. though the district is close to 40 Boston, 16 percent in Cambridge, 14 I've lived my whole life in the percent minority, Yancey, who is percent in Somerville, 20 percent in district. In Congress, it's important black, and Alex Rodriguez, the only Belmont, 14 percent in Watertown, to know how to get things done in a other other minority candidate, are and 9 percent in Chelsea. hostile environment, and I've been still seen by most observers as the One theory is that with Kennedy able to get things done for my two stragglers in a race in which out, Yancey's old numbers either go constituents." white candidates, as is often the case up or, at least, hold steady. Politics, For a dozen years, Yancey has in these parts, have laid claim to however, is not a science. Numbers sponsored a book fair, in which minority supporters, volunteers, and are not always dependable. Also, 26,000 new books have been given to staffers. some candidates have strong children. Last year, he successfully The eight-term councilor has geographic, ethnic, or other fought for $10 million in capital raised only $21,900, the least of the identifiable bases. funds for a new Mattapan library. 10 candidates, and he represents a Two candidates, for example, Yancey asserts that beyond constituency that has the greatest are women, Susan Tracy and constituent services, he has been need for government attention while Marjorie Clapprood, and Tracy is ahead of his time on such issues as often displaying the most apathy on also gay. Yancey and Rodriguez split disinvestment in South Africa and Election Day. the minority community vote, and cosponsored another that prevented 12 tobacco representatives from passing black to the US House." Avenue safety island, a half-dozen of out free cigarettes. Whether that resonates will O'Connor's people were pumping for Finally, there is the obvious depend on what kind of vote Yancey their candidate. A few moments issue of race. can produce for himself in such later, a large red van with Gabrieli "I provide a vital voice," Yancey places as Mattapan, North signs plastered all over it drove by. said, "for people who have not been Dorchester, Roxbury, the South End, In the doggiest dog days of this represented in government and feel and parts of Cambridge. summer, every candidate is slogging neglected and ignored. This is an So last week, four of Yancey's and scraping for every vote; as opportunity for the 8th District to volunteers were holding signs in Yancey had noted, in a field of 10, a diversify its delegation. Roxbury's Grove Hall during the 20-to-25 percent vote just might win Massachusetts has never elected a morning rush hour. On the Blue Hill it.

O'Connor race is high-tech, organized. Boston Sunday Globe, August 1, 1998, City Edition, p. 1

By Alan Lupo / Globe Staff 15 primary. O'Connor said, "with a 20-year His internal polls, he said in an resume to prove it. I've moved from On a safety island on Blue Hill interview at his spacious the bottom half of the race to the top Avenue in Roxbury's Grove Hall headquarters not far from Central tier in the last two months." neighborhood, Tom McGuire, Square, show him running third The secret, said O'Connor and campaign volunteer extraordinaire, behind former Boston Mayor Ray those who work with him, is to use tied one end of his Flynn and Marjorie Clapprood, a only a third of his $1.5 million for O'Connor-for-Congress banner to a former state representative and talk media advertising and use most of utility pole, grabbed the other end, show host, "and they're in a the rest in field organizing and and awaited the morning rush-hour statistical dead heat." research. traffic. "We're right on target," he O'Connor, who has organized He then proceeded to put both contended. "I knew from the get-go both locally and nationally for life and limb in jeopardy. that I was not the most environmental and consumer causes, McGuire would proudly display well-recognized candidate, the said he already had 750 to 1,000 the banner to the cars passing in handsomest, or even the richest." volunteers and hoped to have close to front of him and then run backwards Chris Gabrieli, a Beacon Hill 2,000 by election day to pull out his onto the other side of the avenue, businessman, is the richest. Flynn, targeted vote. thereby enabling motorists and Clapprood, Somerville Mayor Mike So, he is forking out $103,000 a passengers who just passed him to Capuano, former state senator month for 32 full- and part-time staff again see the sign in their rear-view George Bachrach, former state members, ranging from technocrats mirrors. representative Susan Tracy, and working the computers in his "Is there anything more fun than Boston City Councilors Tom Keane air-conditioned offices to this?" he bellowed, grinning and and Charles Yancey were presumed neighborhood wardheelers working dodging traffic coming from the to be better known. Former the hot summer streets. He is also other direction. Massachusetts Commission Against running a "school' for 18 young In John O'Connor's well-funded, Discrimination chief Alex Rodriguez people drawn from all over the high-tech campaign for the was well known before he left four country. They get board and $10 a Democratic Party nomination to years ago to work for the Clinton day for food, and their job is to help replace Joe Kennedy in the 8th administration in Washington. recruit more neighborhood Congessional District, McGuire and Handsomest remains an opinion, volunteers. the other five sign bearers on the with Keane, Clapprood and O'Connor already had a base safety island are the key to the Rodriguez thought to be contenders. upon which to build, he said, due to Cambridge activist's attempt to his 20 years of organizing around overcome the nine others in the Sept. "But I am the best organizer," issues ranging from fighting utilities, 13 to working with Armenian and Irish issue for 20 years, and I can't walk Meanwhile, O'Connor, whose groups, to sponsoring neighborhood away from that fight." stiffness in his TV ads belies a ball clubs. As would other candidates, he natural exurberance, is honing in on "The volunteers," explained would try to increase education such local issues as airplane noise in Natasha Perez, his deputy director, funding and improve access to health East Boston and air pollution in "are knocking on doors on their care. The difference? Chelsea and Charlestown. streets and phone-banking people in "I want Newt Gingrich," O'Connor and his campaign their neighborhoods." O'Connor said, "to say to his people, manager, Jim Braude, a veteran of Perez and her staff keep a 'We better give Massachusetts the progressive-issue campaigns in running tally of voters for, against, help it needs, or he'll make my life Massachusetts, also insist on a heavy and undecided; a total of voters unbearabale in Georgia.' " research component so that the recruited to the day; the number of In Georgia? candidate not only identifies signs placed and coffee hours Indeed, O'Connor contended, problems, such as air and noise scheduled, and the number of and Texas and a lot of other states pollution and inflated election-day volunteers recruited. where he has made alliances with pharmaceutical costs, but also comes On Sept. 15, the job of those grass-roots activist groups, ranging up with solutions. In the end, volunteers will be to make sure that from trade unions, to environmental though, it is, as with any campaign, O'Connor's 30,000 or so targeted movements, to those concerned with the candidate meeting the citizen. As voters get to the polls. That figure, Ireland (he's fifth-generation Irish) O'Connor talked issues with a she said, is even higher than the 25 and Armenia (his wife is reporter, a utility worker showed up percent to 27 percent needed to put Armenian-American). to check on a meter. O'Connor him over the top. "So," he argued, "I am the only jumped up, crossed the room, If it works, what, then, would one who is more than just another collared the guy, launched into a O'Connor bring to Washington? safe vote in the delegation. I am stump speech on utilities, and signed "I am going to continue the someone with a national network to the man up as a supporter. battle," he said, "to break up the pressure those congressmen from In a 10-person race, every vote utility monopolies, lower rates and other states who may not be with us." truly does count. clean our air. I have been at this

Ray Flynn: A survivor finds his stride. Boston Sunday Globe, North Weekly, p. 3

By Alan Lupo, Globe Staff one comes to expect of a candidate he was crazy. But now I see it's for Congress. At times, he seems to almost like a stroke of genius." From across the 8th be waging a stubbornly lonely An ally of Boston Mayor Congressional District come Ray campaign. , who has had an Flynn sightings, as if he were some Indeed, until recently, many had on-again, off-again relationship with bird that everyone thought was written off his political career and his predecessor, said of Flynn, "It extinct. saw him as yesterday's news. Most of never fails to amaze me about how One day, Flynn is seen jogging the nine other candidates in the right his political judgment is. He by himself near Harvard Square. One Democratic primary and most has an innate sense of the right race, evening, he and his wife, Cathy, are observers, however, see Flynn as the at the right time, in the right place." walking down a Watertown street. one to beat in the race to represent On another night, as a woman takes Watertown, Belmont, Somerville, When Flynn left Boston for his her dog out on Webster Stree in East Cambridge, Chelsea and half of Vatican posting in 1993, after a Boston, the first people she sees are Boston. 23-year career as a state Ray and Cathy Flynn. "When he first announced for representative, city councilor and There are times when the former Congress," said a supporter of one of mayor, he was one of the most mayor of Boston and ambassador to Flynn's opponents, Boston City popular politicians in the city's the Vatican is without the entourage Councilor Thomas Keane, "I thought history. By last year, however, his 14 popularity had plummeted after a years, and it really got to him. This Somalia or India, where he saw campaign finance scandal that sent seems to have rejuvenated him. poverty at its worst. one of his friends to jail, criticism of "He's out every day," Consalvo The other day, as he worked his performance as ambassador and said. "He's enthusiastic about Charlestown, shaking hands with the a scathing Globe report on his campaigning. He believes he has the Edison employees in a bar on the drinking. right experience for that district, Somerville line, posing with kids to For those with a sense of which always has been a district of whom he had donated shirts for a Boston's political history, the Flynn heavyweights, and he's got more street hockey tournament at the story was reminiscent of the saga of experience than the others running. James F. Donovan Court, , the late And he's proud of his foreign policy reminiscing with the guys at the mayor, governor, congressman and experience. That is something new Knights of Columbus in city councilor who had repeatedly for him, so it really has broadened Charlestown, greeting campaign attained hero status and fallen from him." contributors at a lawn party, Flynn grace, only to resurrect himself time This is essentially Flynn's verbally jogged from cosmic issues of and again. message, which is printed boldly on AIDS in Uganda and hunger in This comparison became his campaign signs and banners: "A Somalia to his penchant for especially poignant when, in the Proven Leader." remembering a local name or face wake of the criticism leveled against "While other candidates are and making sure that person got a him, Flynn announced for governor talking about these issues," asserted hello. in January. That campaign went Harry Grill, a lawyer and Flynn "I've always considered myself nowhere, and on April 29, Flynn loyalist, "Ray Flynn has taken as being for the underdog," he said, switched gears and said he would decisive action on issues of concern "but those experiences overseas run for the congressional seat being to people in the district, be it health convinced me that the sensitivity I vacated by Joe Kennedy. care, education, job creation." have for poor people is important in By then, as had happened with Flynn has loyalists in the black politics today. It made me a better Curley, some former friends and and Latino precincts of Mattapan, person. allies had deserted him, and the Dorchester and Roxbury, and "I have a son suffering from conventional wisdom was that Ray strength in the high-voting, white depression, and I was almost Flynn might be seen as a pitiable ethnic neighborhoods of East Boston, beginning to feel sorry for myself, figure, a shadow of his former Charlestown and Chelsea. While and then I spotted this guy in India, persona, running for any available Keane and millionaire businessman in a village where there had been an seat. Chris Gabrieli talk of new solutions, earthquake, pushing bricks away Three months later, the Flynn hammers away at his longtime from a mound that had crushed down conventional wisdom is that Flynn is theme of relief for working families on his house. He had lost his wife the lead candidate, with anywhere and the poor. and two of his children, and was from 18 percent to more than 20 What he adds to that urban desperately searching for his other percent of the vote already locked up, record of fighting for affordable child, who he assumed was dead. It a formidable percentage in a housing, health care, parks and was so hot, the bodies were 10-person field. "I've seen a playgrounds is a dimension that this decomposing, and wild dogs were dramatic change in his demeanor son of Southie never had dreamed he roaming the area. He wanted to find than when he was running for would attain. and cremate the child so the dogs governor and couldn't make any Flynn brought to his wouldn't get to the child. headway," said Robert Consalvo, a ambassadorship the same hands-on "I almost said, 'Thank God.' My Flynn friend and Boston style he had employed as a mayor. son has a family that's going to stand Redevelopment Authority employee. That had to rankle State Department with him. He's got good medical care "It seems he is a different person, traditionalists. For Flynn, it and good friends, like the Cardinal like the old Ray again in this confirmed his instincts that one does Bernard Law, who have spent time campaign. The zing is back in his not readily compromise when with him." voice and his step. It makes me feel reaching out to the least powerful, After he saw the people in India good to see him like this again. He whether they're in Charlestown's lining up by the hundreds to receive took such a beating the last few Bunker Hill projects or in Uganda, emergency aid, and after he heard 15 them saying, "Thank you, America," of campaigning." that his numbers have peaked. On he said he found it "mind-boggling A strategist for former state election days, they say, the to hear these politicians like Jesse representative and talk show host previously "undecideds" vote pretty Helms saying, 'Let's shut off aid.' " Marjorie Clapprood, seen as running much as do the rest of those at the Flynn asserted it is both a record second to Flynn, contends that some polls. In other words, they do not, of local accomplishments, which he potential Flynn voters desert him like lemmings, suddenly flock to or said his opponents cannot match, when they learn of his anti-abortion away from one candidate. and the personal and political history. Besides Flynn, Keane, Gabrieli perspectives he gained from his Flynn's camp retorts that as and Clapprood, the other candidates overseas experience that qualify him mayor, he never interfered in are Boston City Councilor Charles to go to Washington. Unlike some abortions performed at Boston City Yancey, former state Representative other candidates, Flynn shrugged off Hospital. Susan Tracy, Somerville Mayor questions about what vote total and "Yes, he's pro-life," said Grill, Michael Capuano, former state percentages he would need. who is pro-choice, "and he's also Senator George Bachrach, "I let others figure that out," he pro-woman, pro-family, pro-working community activist and former state said. "The strongest thing I have people, and pro-poor, and has a and federal official Alex Rodriguez, going for me is personal contacts strong record to back that up." and consumer and environmental with people that I've built up over the Flynn's people debunk the theory activist John O'Connor. years. It's still the most effective way

The Race for the Eighth, Boston Sunday Globe, August 30, 1998, City Edition, p. C1

By David Warsh represents also all the successive For months, it had been a waves of immigrants who came after three-person race, depending on The Eighth is the most famous - the Latin Americans and the whose partisans you talked to: congressional district in Portuguese as well as the Irish and Marjorie Clapprood, Flynn, and Massachusetts, possibly in the Italians. All that history means a Capuano (she's the radio talk show nation. Created by gerrymander in never-ceasing search for common host and former state legislator); or 1942, the district has been ground. George Bachrach, Flynn, and represented by James Michael No wonder that Gerald Sullivan Capuano (he's the durable liberal Curley, John F. Kennedy, Thomas P. and Michael Kenney wrote in "The who lost to Joe Kennedy in 1986). Or "Tip" O'Neill Jr., and, most recently, Race for The Eighth," their book Susan Tracy, Flynn, and Capuano Joseph P. Kennedy II. Now with describing the memorable year (she's a former state rep with strong Kennedy going back to private life, (1986) in which Joe Kennedy won liberal credentials). the seat is up again, and its new the seat, that it was possible "there The three millionaires - software occupant will immediately step into was not a more liberal district in the entrepreneur Chris Gabrieli, a national as well as a local role. United States." environmental activist John The significance of the district Has it changed? O'Connor, and Boston City stems, not so much from colorful With just over two weeks until Councilor Tom Keane - failed to history, but from the political energy the decisive primary - there is a attract much support despite liberal generated by the tension between the Republican, Philip Hyde III, on the applications of cash. The two oldest Americans and the newest. ballot, as well as an independent, minority candidates, Alex Rodriguez The Eighth contains half of Boston, Anthony Schinella, but neither has a and Charles Yancey, were unable to plus the old satellite cities of ghost of a chance in November - get beyond their small bases. Peter Cambridge, Chelsea, Somerville, and many persons believe the contest Galbraith, former ambassador to Watertown, as well as the leafy now has come down to a two-person Yugoslavia (and son of the famous suburb of Belmont. race. The final face-off between Harvard economist), dropped out of The congressman from the former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn and the race. Eighth represents the interests of the Somerville Mayor Michael Capuano So now it is simply Flynn and Arbella and of Harvard College, is a consequence of the large field. Capuano, because it is pretty clear 16 that none of the others has a chance College are far behind (though he embezzling. In Rome, it was said of beating Flynn, who long ago still jogs six or eight miles a day). that after weeks of not coming to the coasted to a lead in the polls on the For many years he was a state embassy, he had to call an aide when strength of name recognition. (Some representative and city councilor; he could no longer remember the polls still show George Bachrach in after three terms as mayor, he spent building's access code. the race, but as a lobbyist-lawyer four controversial years in Rome as On the fundamental issue of long out of office, he has little 's ambassador to the schooling, the mayors' records are street-level organization.) Vatican and occasional emissary to worlds apart. The Boston schools are On the surface, Flynn and global disaster spots, before still a mess, despite a determined Capuano are remarkably similar. resigning. effort by Tom Menino, who has been Both are hometown boys, Capuano is quick, hot, mayor since 1993; they suffered from husbands of strong women, sons of sometimes pugnacious. Flynn is considerable inattention on Flynn's parents who were themselves deeply slow, mild, low-key to the point of watch. Somerville schools, on the rooted in their sometimes being glassy-eyed. Flynn other hand, are up and coming; communities. Both have been is populist in his sentiments; average class size is 19, and six new successful mayors, with excellent Capuano is a lunch-bucket schools designed to serve as records on racial issues. Flynn rode technocrat. He likes budget and community centers as well have been into office on the strength of his policy debates; his mastery of the built. peacemaking during Boston's busing nuts-and-bolts of government Perhaps most significantly for crisis in the 1970s. Capuano has programs is Clintonesque. Flynn voters in the Eighth, the candidates presided over the smooth racial specializes in symbolic politics and differ sharply on the issue of integration of his city. Each the human touch. (As mayor, he abortion. Capuano is prochoice; possesses unmistakable star quality; made a habit of bounding into Flynn is prolife. Nor do they differ each is a person you're glad to be burning buildings.) only on life in the womb. Flynn around. (Disclaimer: I live in Within his administration, opposed various school sex education Somerville and have known Capuano Capuano is leaderly. He possesses a measures while Capuano lobbied slightly for many years; I work in good sense of how markets work and successfully in his socially Boston and have covered Flynn in how they fail. He initiated cable conservative city for sex education, various connections.) competition and privatized his city's as well as counseling on sexually There, however, the similarity garbage collection - but otherwise transmitted diseases, family violence, ends. brought city services in-house and gender equity. Capuano is 46, Flynn is 59. The through retraining and higher pay. The next person to represent the Somerville mayor still has kids at No city worker lost his job, and district could be in Washington for a home. A graduate of Dartmouth and flex-time, job-sharing, paid parental long time. Capuano plays well with law school, he has leave, and on-site day care became others; he would contribute to the been elected five times mayor of his staples of union contracts. strength of his state's delegation. city of 90,000, but much of his career Flynn, on the other hand, often Flynn is unaccustomed to team play. lies ahead. has been guided by his aides, for The Eighth won't lose reputation for Flynn's family of six children, on the good and ill. His city planner political originality with either other hand, has been raised; his Stephen Coyle was a spectacular candidate. But it has much to gain formative days as an All-American success, but his campaign from choosing the younger man. basketball player at Providence bookkeeper went to jail for