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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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VOL. 83 NO. 33
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014
Senate president will not seek re-election RODRIQUE NGOWI Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray announced Saturday that she will not seek re-election to the chamber when her term expires at the end of the year. Murray is barred by term limits from serving as president beyond March 2015. She was elected senator of the Plymouth and Barnstable District in 1992 and became the first woman to head the chamber in March 2007. She didn’t reveal her plans for after she leaves one of the most powerful political posts on Beacon Hill. As president, she is responsible for assigning fellow senators to committees and naming the chairs of the committees. The president also helps craft the Senate’s legislative agenda, pushing bills and having a say in budget priorities. “I will continue to serve through the remainder of my term, and I look forward to working on the issues that I am most passionate about for many years to come,” Murray said in a statement. Murray also sought to define her legacy by highlighting some of her achievements while in office. “From protecting children and families to reforming our health care system to supporting economic growth and development, it has always been my top priority to find the best solutions for my constituents,” she said. Gov. Deval Patrick led Massachusetts political leaders in paying tribute to Murray’s work in the Legislature. “Therese Murray has been a force for good in the state Senate, and someone I have been pleased to call a colleague, partner, and friend,” Patrick said in a statement. “I am confident that she will continue to make Massachusetts better — both in the remainder of her term and beyond.” House Speaker Robert DeLeo praised Murray’s work in the Legislature over more than 20 years and wished her the best of luck when she leaves Beacon Hill. Boston Mayor Martin Walsh thanked Murray for her tireless public service and commended her on a remarkable career in the Senate. State Sen. Stanley Rosenberg is expected to succeed Murray. The
“Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay.” — Simone de Beauvoir
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Daley taking private sector job Rick and Christine Onofrey, Dan Allie and Chris Keefe attended the Lincoln Day Brunch sponsored by the Westfield Republican City Committee and held at the East Mountain Country Club Saturday morning. (Photo submitted)
GOP gathers in city for political brunch By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Massachusetts GOP leaders reacted Saturday morning to news that Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) will not seek re-election when her term ends at the end of the year. The politicians attended the Westfield Republican City Committee’s Annual Lincoln Day Brunch at East Mountain Country Club. “Now that Sen. Murray is stepping out, Vinny is going to be running a similar campaign to mine last fall. He’s been in the house for a long time,” said Senator Don Humason, Jr. (R-Westfield) referring to Viriato “Vinny” deMacedo (R-Plymouth), a former colleague of his in the House of Representatives who has served since 1999 and has announced his candidacy for Murray’s senate seat. “He was a ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee. He’s known in the State House. I think he’ll make a fine senator.” “There are multiple elections for Senate seats coming up this fall,” Humason said. “Gail Canderas (D-Wilbraham) and Stephen Brewer (D-Barre), their seats will be up, as well, and I know several Republicans who will be running.” Representative Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick) also weighed in on his colleague’s candidacy. “Vinny does a great job promoting limited government and jobs in his district,” he said, adding that the potential for Republicans to grab more seats in the upper house is good for the state. “It balances the legislature,” Boldyga
said. “A lopsided super-majority of either party is never good. It benefits the constituents of Massachusetts.” Saturday’s event was emceed by Humason, who started things off with a group prayer. The event served to commemorate the life of President Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican President. It was also a spotlight of sorts for several candidates vying for public office this year. Westfield native Mark Fisher, a Shrewsbury businessman and tea party candidate for governor, is considered by many to be the top challenger to Republican gubernatorial frontrunner Charlie Baker. Baker has selected Karyn Polito, a former representative also in attendance, as his running mate. “Democrats own this state – that means they own all the problems. They can’t blame the Republicans for anything,” Fisher said after describing himself as a “full platform, no excuses necessary conservative” Republican. “Whether it’s the fraud and the abuse and the scandal in EBT cards, food stamps, illegal immigration — they own all the problems.” “(Lincoln) told us that we can’t please all the people all the time,” he said. “There are people in the Republican Party who believe we have to have a big tent, that we have to please everybody… I subscribe to the full platform theory. We don’t have to please everyone. We appeal to everyone.” “I’m a tea party member, and I look to the tea party to infuse life into the Republican Party. We can’t hold them at bay,” he said.
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – City Advancement Officer Jeff Daley said this morning that he has submitted his resignation to take an executive position as Director of Development with a Springfield construction company which constructs retail and restaurant buildings, as well as commercial office complexes. Daley said his resignation is effective on March 21, 2014 and that he anticipates that the search for his successor will be initi- JEFF DALEY ated in the next week to 10 days. “I’d like to get someone on board before I leave to ensure a smooth transition of ongoing projects,” Daley said this morning. “This was a hard decision, but this opportunity is hard to turn down.” Daley said that he will continue to work to advance the Elm/Arnold intermodal facility, as well as development of the Airport Industrial Park. Daley said his successor, nominated by Mayor Daniel M. Knapik and confirmed by the City Council, will also step into his shoes as the Westfield Redevelopment Authority executive director if confirmed by the WRA Board of Directors. Daley said in his letter of resignation to Knapik that “It is with a heavy heart that I hereby give notice that I will resign from my position as City Advancement Officer effective March 21, 2014 at 5 p.m.” “Serving your administration, the City Council and, most importantly, the citizens of Westfield has been both an honor and a privilege,” Daley wrote. “In three and a half short years I feel we have accomplished more than in the past 40 years. That being said, there is still much to do and that is why it has been such a hard decision to leave this position.” “I have accepted a position in the private sector as my skill sets are a perfect match for this position and it will allow me to grow professionally serving an industry that is growing globally,” Daley said. “It is an opportunity that presented itself as one that I could not pass up professionally or personally. “
See Political Brunch, Page 3 See Daley, Page 5
See Senate President, Page 3
Democrats launch statewide party caucuses BOSTON (AP) — Democratic candidates hoping to land a spot on September’s primary ballot are entering a critical stage of their campaigns as party activists begin meeting in small caucuses across the state this weekend. The caucuses will continue for the next month with the goal of electing 3,889 delegates and 1,525 alternates to attend the Massachusetts Democratic Convention in Worcester in June. The selection process is key to the political hopes of candidates who must win the backing of at least 15 percent of convention delegates to get their name on the Democratic primary ballot. Veteran Democrats like Attorney General Martha Coakley and state Treasurer Steve Grossman — both of whom are running for governor — should have no problem pulling in more than enough delegates than needed. The 15 percent threshold will prove more
daunting for lesser-known candidates, including Newton pediatrician Don Berwick, former federal Homeland Security official Juliette Kayyem and former Wellesley Selectman Joseph Avellone — each of whom is also seeking the governor’s office. If they don’t reach the threshold, their gubernatorial hopes will be cut short. That urgency explains the focus candidates have placed on trying to round up the backing of local party activists. That means not just traveling around the state to meet face-to-face with activists but also appealing to potential delegates through emails, on candidate websites and through social media sites like Twitter. Those online efforts are critical, given the sheer number of caucuses — more than 500 from Feb. 8 to March 2 — making it impossible for candidates to attend each, though most Democratic candidates are planning to
attend as many caucuses as they can starting Saturday. To help guarantee they get the 15 percent needed at the June convention, candidates try to encourage their supporters to run as delegates. Kayyem, for example, is urging her backers not only to run to become delegates but to also recruit other supporters to form a “Kayyem slate” to help improve her chances of electing enough pledged delegates. State Democratic Party Chairman Tom McGee said he feels good about the party’s chances in this year’s elections. In Massachusetts, Democrats already hold every statewide office, every congressional seat and overwhelming majorities in the state House and Senate. “The unprecedented number of qualified candidates we have is a testament to the deep talent pool of Massachusetts Democrats and to
the issues and ideas we as Democrats put forward,” McGee said in a statement announcing the caucuses. The caucuses are open to all registered Democrats in Massachusetts. Delegates apportioned to each ward and town must be equally divided between men and women. Republicans just recently wrapped more than 300 caucuses statewide. The 15 percent rule also applies to the GOP, which is having its convention March 22 in Boston. It’s not just gubernatorial candidates who are keeping an eye on the Democratic caucuses. There are several other crowded races for statewide office. Candidates in those contests must also clear the 15 percent threshold to get on the ballot. There are three Democratic candidates running for attorney general (Maura Healey, See Caususes, Page 3