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Former president Clinton flying in for Lynch

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jul. 26, 2010

Former President Bill Clinton heads to Boston this Thursday for a rally for Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston).

Lynch's campaign says Clinton is headlining a "Labor and Neighbor" rally.

The rally is set for the Iron Workers Local #7 Union Hall at 12:30 p.m.  Read more

SEIU 1199 backing Turner aide for Sixth Suffolk seat

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jul. 26, 2010

The state's largest healthcare union is backing an aide to City Councillor Chuck Turner who is running for retiring state Rep. Willie Mae Allen's seat.

SEIU 1199 announced Monday that they are endorsing Darrin Howell, who is taking a hiatus from City Hall to run for office. The other candidates -- all are Democrats -- include Russell Holmes, Karen Payne, Kathy Gabriel and Divo Monteiro. No Republicans were nominated for the seat.

The Democratic primary is Sept. 14, effectively determining the winner of the November election.  Read more

Sept. 8 is the date for gov race debate

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jul. 23, 2010

And WBZ is the place. The debate will run from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The field of candidates includes Gov. Deval Patrick, the Democratic incumbent, Republican challenger Charles Baker, state Treasurer and independent candidate Timothy Cahill, and Green Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein.

The five in the Fourth Suffolk

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jul. 22, 2010

This week's Dot Reporter includes a look at the five folks running to replace state Rep. Brian Wallace, a South Boston Democrat who opted not to run for re-election.

The Fourth Suffolk District includes several areas of Dorchester, including parts of Uphams Corner, Harbor Point and the Polish Triangle.  Read more

South Boston Facebook Primary

By Mike Deehan
Jul. 22, 2010

South Boston may be an place where old fashioned politicking is still a candidate's best strategy, but that doesn't mean that new-fangled campaigning - via social networking for instance - doesn't play a role. National media outlets like to refer to the "Twitter primary," but it looks like Facebook is the social media king when it comes to the 4th Suffolk race.

Lynch challenger takes aim at 2002 Iraq vote

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jul. 20, 2010

One of U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch's challengers is zeroing in on the South Boston Democrat's 2002 vote on invading Iraq.

Mac D'Alessandro, a Milton Democrat running against Lynch in the primary, has launched a map on his campaign website that seeks to tally the costs of the Iraq War for each down in the Ninth Congressional District. For Boston (and by extension Dorchester), the cost is $2.04 billion, and thousands of police, teachers and firefighters.  Read more

In fundraising appeal, Arroyo camp hits back at coverage

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jul. 15, 2010

City Councillor At-Large Felix Arroyo's re-election campaign is hitting back at their coverage of him and the City Council's boycott of Arizona, saying he is "under attack from the right wing media."  Read more

Fourth Suffolk candidates' forum in Southie

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jul. 15, 2010

A group of neighborhood associations will be hosting a forum Monday for candidates running to replace retiring state Rep. Brian Wallace.

The 6:30 p.m. forum is scheduled for the James Condon Community School at 200 D St.  Read more

Fifth Suffolk candidate adds former City Council candidates to campaign

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jul. 14, 2010

Carlos Henriquez, one of the four candidates running to replace former state Rep. Marie St. Fleur, is bringing on a pair of veterans from last year's City Council At-Large race.  Read more

It's a girl for the Forrys

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jul. 13, 2010

State Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry this afternoon gave birth to a baby girl, Madeline Casey Forry.

The baby came in at 8 lbs, 20.5 inches. We're told the mother and baby are doing fine.

Rep. Forry, who has served in the House since 2005, is married to Reporter managing editor Bill Forry. They are also the parents of two young boys, John Patrick and Conor.

(UPDATED) Aide to Councilor Pressley mulling run for Tobin's seat

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jul. 8, 2010

Jessica Taubner, an aide to City Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley, is strongly considering a run for departing City Councilor John Tobin's seat.  Read more

Library trustees' chair supports proposal to expand board, give them fundraising powers

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jun. 30, 2010

The City Council on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill to expand the membership of the board of library trustees by four members and hand them fundraising powers.

The bill, known as a home rule petition, still needs the sign-off of the mayor, the state Legislature and the governor, was sponsored by City Councillors Michael Ross, Ayanna Pressley, and Felix Arroyo.

But it also has the support the head of the nine-member board, attorney Jeffrey Rudman.  Read more

City councillors propose expansion of BPL board, handing them fundraising power

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jun. 28, 2010

Several city councillors this week are proposing an expansion of the Boston Public Library board of trustees and giving them the ability to fundraise for the cash-strapped system.  Read more

Revised city budget includes additional money for summer jobs, custodians and libraries

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jun. 22, 2010

An additional 200 summer jobs for youth and 42 Boston Public Schools custodial jobs would be saved under the new budget Mayor Thomas Menino released on Tuesday.  Read more

Summary of St. Fleur's farewell speech to House of Representatives

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jun. 15, 2010

From the State House News Service comes a summary of the remarks former state Rep. Marie St. Fleur made Tuesday to her former colleagues on the House floor.

St. Fleur this week started a job in the Menino administration as its chief of advocacy and strategic investment. She served in the Fifth Suffolk District seat for just over a decade, winning a special election in 1999.  Read more

Library commissioners step into debate over budget amendments

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jun. 14, 2010

The state Board of Library Commissioners last week weighed in on the debate over amendments to the state budget aimed at preventing four library closures in Boston.  Read more

Coakley: Probe into Kineavy's email deletions almost done

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jun. 7, 2010

Attorney General Martha Coakley expects to wrap up a review of whether a top City Hall official was potentially violating the state's public records law through the regular deletion of emails in “weeks, not months.”  Read more

Wilkerson to plead guilty

By Gintautas Dumcius
Jun. 2, 2010

Former state Sen. Dianne WilkersonFormer state Sen. Dianne WilkersonState Sen. Dianne Wilkerson is expected to plead guilty in federal court tomorrow, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday.

The June 3 hearing is set for 2 p.m. at the Moakley Courthouse.  Read more

Getting things started in Fifth Suffolk

By Gintautas Dumcius
May. 27, 2010

Who are the candidates to watch for in the race for the Fifth Suffolk seat in the state House of Representatives? Which one is attempting to repurchase his home after foreclosure? And which candidate completely threw him under the bus on that through a response to questions she would take from a reporter only via fax?  Read more

Weekly Round-Up: 'Beloved of the People'

By Anonymous
May. 21, 2010

Recap and analysis of the week in state government
 Read more

Lower Mills civic group urges City Council to reject firefighter contract

By Gintautas Dumcius
May. 19, 2010

The Lower Mills Civic Association on Tuesday voted to urge city councillors to reject the firefighters' arbitration award.  Read more

Weekly Round-Up: 'The Transitional Element'

By Anonymous
May. 15, 2010

Recap and analysis of the week in state government  Read more

Lynch challenger D'Alessandro picks up campaign manager

By Gintautas Dumcius
May. 13, 2010

The Milton Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) has brought on a campaign manager, his campaign said Thursday.  Read more

Council pressing for delay on library closures

By Gintautas Dumcius
May. 7, 2010

Members of the City Council are pressing for a one-year delay of library closures, City Councillor Maureen Feeney said this week.

Feeney, attending a meeting of library closure opponents from across the city, said councilors had been in talks with the Menino administration about the delay.

Boston Public Library trustees voted last month to close four branches, including one in Lower Mills. Since then, opponents of the plan have launched a campaign to save the libraries in their respective neighborhoods.  Read more

So who turned in their nomination signatures?

By Gintautas Dumcius
Apr. 28, 2010

Just as the Reporter was going to press we got a copy the list of folks who turned in their nomination signatures for House and Senate seats to the Boston Elections Department.

Candidates had until 5 p.m. yesterday to get their signatures into local elections officials if they wanted to have their names on the ballot for the Sept. 14 primary and Nov. 2 general election. House candidates need to gather 150 signatures; the number is 300 for Senate candidates.  Read more