(August 9)- The candidates in the special election race to succeed Joe Moakley in Congress have been invited to attend a forum at the Cleveland Community Center in Fields Corner next Tuesday (August 14). The event is sponsored by the AFL-CIO and the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Coalition. The forum will focus on the candidates' positions on immigration legislation and policy. The public is invited to attend. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the community center, located at 11 Charles Street, next to Fields Corner station.

The topic was the burden of prescription drug costs for elderly residents, a cause that Lynch says he will champion if elected. The appearance was part of a day-long barnstorming trip that Lynch's campaign organized to highlight the candidate's position.

Lynch teed off on President George W. Bush's tax refund, which he says could have been used to help relieve the pressure on the nation's 65 million needy elders.

"We have a financial and moral obligation to help the greatest generation," said Lynch, who called the prescription issue "the most pressing on the national agenda."

Lynch is hosting a neighborhood campaign kick-off at the IBEW Hall on Freeport this Thursday night (August 9). The $20 fundraiser features the band Mark Morris & The Catunes...One of Lynch's chief rivals in the congressional race, State Senator Brian A. Joyce, will host a "town meeting" next Monday at a VFW post on Bailey Street. Joyce will "discuss his candidacy as well as issues that are important to the Dorchester community," according to his campaign.

(July 28) Even though it is in Sen. Brian Joyce's district, Florian Hall felt like home turf for Sen. Stephen Lynch on Tuesday night, as the South Boston ironworker enjoyed vocal support at a candidates forum hosted by the state AFL-CIO.

Local pols including City Councillor Mickey Roache and State Rep. Marty Walsh were among those standing outside Florian in support of Lynch before the forum, which is a prelude to the AFL-CIO's August 9 vote on whether to put its considerable clout behind a candidate in the race for the ninth congressional seat.

Lynch is "a remarkable person and a great friend of working families," Roache said. "He comes from a labor background and has been consistent in his support for the issues working people care about. I think Dorchester is with him in this race. We need a fighter in Congress."

Joyce was not without sign-toting supporters outside the Hall, but inside, at the forum, applause was divided between Lynch and Sen. Marc Pacheco, who some would argue has the most impressive labor record of the four. Sen. Cheryl Jacques of Needham received a polite, but reserved, response.

Lynch played his personal labor background for all it was worth, beginning his opening statement by announcing his union card number and describing his entire family's extensive union membership. In his closing statement he asked the union audience to imagine that they were in his position, a union person poised to become the highest ranking union elected official in the nation. "When I go to the U.S. Congress, you go to the U.S. Congress," he said. "When I stand on the floor of the House of Representatives, you stand on the floor of the House of Representatives. ... There are a lot of lawyers in Washington, but there aren't too many ironworkers. There aren't too many people like us."

He also told his life story, describing how ironwork and welding opportunities disappeared in Boston during the 1970s, causing him as a young man to go on the road for seven years pursuing ironwork. After working everywhere from Maine to Louisiana to New Mexico to New York City, in one of the most dangerous trades there is, Lynch said he came to a realization: "Working conditions depend exactly on the strength of the local union. Where unions are not welcome, working conditions are poor and wages are low."

After returning to Boston, Lynch became the youngest ever president of the ironworkers local.

"As a member of Congress, you'll never have to guess where I stand," Lynch said, to strong applause. "I'll be where I've always been &emdash; on your side, on our side, on the side of working families."

Policy-wise, Lynch emphasized fighting against the Bush Administration's proposal to partially privatize Social Security.

Pacheco seemed angry at having to put his labor credentials up against Lynch's after many years of being considered labor's strongest voice in the State Legislature.

"People are watching," he said. "They want to know if what [AFL-CIO chief] Bob Haynes says is true. Does a labor record count? If the labor vote counts, I ask for the State Fed's endorsement."

He described how he took on a popular Republican administration, which had the support of the press, in sponsoring and pushing through a bill that slowed down privatization efforts in many areas. "I'm proud that my name is on that bill," Pacheco said. "My work has been made a national model."

Pacheco also said he was named recently to a national education foundation chaired by Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Joyce emphasized his strength in defending public education, and criticized Lynch for supporting vouchers. As a state senator, Joyce has won massive increases in state funding for schools in his hometown of Milton. "You can take this to the bank: I will be a leader in building up public education," Joyce said.

Joyce also said he will strive to win federal funds for in-home senior nursing care.

Joyce on several points tried to stake out positions that distinguish him from the other candidates, especially Lynch.

"I will represent the entire ninth district," Joyce said. "I am the only candidate who has successfully represented both the City of Boston and the suburbs. There is more than unites us than divides us."

Jacques stressed her underdog role in unseating a 30-year Republican incumbent in the State Senate, then taking leadership roles that are unprecedented for young legislators and women. She said she stood out as fighting for labor issues in a district that is not heavily blue-collar. In the Senate, after being told workers were being unfairly denied workers' compensation benefits, Jacques led an investigation that found insurance companies in Massachusetts were reaping twice the national average profit from workers' compensation.

"I've worked every day for working families," she said. "I roll up my sleeves and work hard to get the job done."

The purpose of the forum was for the members and leaders of regional Labor Councils to gather information on the candidates' views before an August 9 meeting, at which they will vote to decide who, if anyone, the state AFL-CIO supports in the September 11 primary. Two-thirds of the 63 Central Labor Council members must support one candidate in order for the AFL-CIO to render an endorsement.

The forum was a bit like a group job interview, as the candidates were asked to fill out questionnaires beforehand, submit their "resumes" (voting records), and answer a series of questions on labor issues.

The candidates were asked some tough questions about their records, from a labor point of view. Lynch had to defend his support for school vouchers, Pacheco his support for NAFTA, Jacques her support for tax cuts, and Joyce his wavering on the state tax rollback.

The candidates also were asked how, as a new member of Congress, they would fight the Bush administration's attacks on labor positions. They cited issues such as international trade, campaign finance reform, the so-called "paycheck protection act" (which would make it harder to collect union dues), and Social Security privatization as federal battles they would engage.

In response to a question by Haynes, only Joyce revealed how much money he has raised, and what his specific strategy for winning is. Haynes said the question is important because it relates to each candidates' viability.

Joyce said his strategy is based on being ideologically closest to the majority of voters, on representing the greatest percentage of Ninth District voters as a state senator, and on marshaling an expert field organization. Joyce has raised about half a million dollars, and plans to collect several hundred thousand more, in what he said is "a sad reflection on our democracy."

Jacques, who had only been officially in the race for a week, said she has been successful in raising money and support. "Voters of the Ninth had not found their candidate," she said.

Before the forum began, several hundred sign-wielding union members lined Hallet St., cheering for their union's chosen candidate as each arrived. After the rival chanting and yelling was over outside, and the signs were taken home, Haynes introduced the candidates inside the Hall, making clear that all four have voting records that prove they are good friends of labor.

"We're very pleased with their actions in the Senate," Haynes said. "Tonight is about finding out what we don't already know about their positions on labor issues. ... We live with the legacy of Joe Moakley &emdash; we hope we can find a candidate who can uphold that legacy."

Republican candidate Jo-Ann Sprague declined the AFL-CIO's invitation to participate. "We are a nonpartisan organization," Haynes said. "But we have trouble finding Republican candidates who support the issues we advance."

By Bill Forry

(June 28)- Questions about personal finances and integrity dominated the first public forum in the special election to replace Joe Moakley in Congress on Tuesday night (June 26). Hundreds crowded into the Old South Meeting House for the event sponsored by the Boston Society of Architects.

Before the forum, scores of supporters representing State Senators Stephen Lynch and Brian A. Joyce jockeyed for sidewalk space in front of the historic church. Joyce's presence was buoyed from a strong showing by the Adams Corner-based Carpenters Union local 67, whose members were out in force an hour before the forum began. Whether by design or simple coincidence, both Joyce and Lynch have almost identical campaign colors and signs.

Live and in person, however, the two men have markedly different styles. That was made abundantly clear at the forum, in which a panel of reporters grilled Joyce and Lynch, along with State Senator Marc Pacheco and former State Senator and Boston mayoral candidate Joseph Timilty.

Lynch, who has been dogged by daily revelations about financial and legal problems, was clearly stunned, yet defiant when asked about his non-payment of a student loan and taxes on stage. In the forum's most dramatic moment, Lynch denied a report in the Boston Globe that alleged that Lynch told a collection agent that he knew he owed money on a state-funded student loan, yet still refused payment.

"I never spoke to that gentleman," said Lynch. "That part of the (Globe) report is totally false. I never refused payment."

"That is garbage," said Lynch, who said he has steadily made payments on his estimated $80,000 in student loans over the last 20 years.

"I'm a person who pays his bills. This is one loan that fell through the cracks," said Lynch, who added that he plans to pay off his remaining debt before September 11, the date of the special election primary.

When challenged about whether voters could trust his word after changing his position on abortion, a well-prepared Senator Brian Joyce coolly cited his 1997 special election for state senate. Joyce said he voted against a measure to reinstate the death penalty in Massachusetts, despite advice to the contrary that he might sacrifice his political career in the process. Joyce said his position in that race earned him praise from the media for being a "profile in courage."

Joyce said he "thought it was important to be honest as a candidate for Congress" and publicly changed his longstanding pro-life stance to pro-choice before Max Kennedy exited the race on June 11.

Lynch, who has made a similar position shift recently by publicly supporting domestic partnership for gay couples, defended his right to do so on a case-by-case basis.

"All of us up here are lawmakers," said Lynch. "When legislation comes before us, each of us has a responsibility to review legislation in its own right, based on the individual law."

Lynch said that while he did "support domestic partnership, I don't support the whole gay agenda. I'm going to take each issue on its own as a congressman."

Senator Marc Pacheco of Taunton emphasized his 22 year career as a public official, telling the audience to "take a look at my record and compare it." Pacheco says he draws on his family's working class background and his own commitment to hard work as his inspiration in the race.

Lynch struck a similar theme throughout the 90-minute program, refering repeatedly to his childhood in the Old Colony Project and his 18 years as a union ironworker. Lynch said he would be the only member of Congress who had "strapped on workboots" for a living prior to entering politics.

Both Joyce and Lynch cited their work in Dorchester on several occasions. Both took credit for helping to secure more than $60 million in funds to repair the Red Line stations. Lynch, responding to a question about public "misconceptions" about his career, said he is often pigeon-holed as simply a South Boston politician.

"I don't get much press for working with the Vietnamese community in Dorchester," says Lynch. "There is an assortment of things I do that are below the radar screen for the media."

Joyce, for his part, said that people often "type-cast" him as another white, Irish, father from the suburbs and are often surprised to find that he "abhors any form of discrimination."

"I am more progressive than people think," said Joyce. "I am often surprised by how surprised they are (about that.)"

Timilty told the crowd that the Ninth Congressional district was "a microcosm of the Commonwealth" and a "very progressive district."

"Who's going to be a progressive voice you're going to need in Washington?" Timilty asked.

Timilty, a Dorchester native who now lives in Canton, says he is still deciding whether or not he will enter the race. He told reporters after the forum that he does not think anyone else in the race- including Brian Joyce- will appeal to progressives as he could.

"I don't think Senator Joyce would fill that," said Timilty.

There's no doubt that a string of negative press reports has left a few dents in Steve Lynch's armor- and may cause him significant problems south of the Neponset. In the city, though, there may be something of a backlash afoot.

Last week, Lynch captured the endorsement of the Ward 16 Democratic Committee, a politically potent bunch that will help Lynch get some much-needed traction as he forages for votes in Milton and points south. It's no accident that Ward 16 is now Lynch country, especially given the alternative: Sen. Brian Joyce, who twice thwarted Maureen Feeney's aspirations for the Suffolk and Norfolk chair. Feeney loyalists remain the dominant force in 16- and with Rep. Marty Walsh's added influence- Ward 16's nod was a walk in the park for the Southie pol. Despite Joyce's diligent efforts to make inroads in Neponset, the Ward 16 group voted 17-2 to back Lynch in the brewing brawl. Ward 13- which is chaired by Walsh and includes many Lynch stalwarts- will follow suit shortly, to no one's real surprise.

On Monday night (June 25), Lynch packed about 300 supporters into the Plumber's Union hall on Mass Ave. for an organizational meeting. The buzz in the room was that- despite the relentless Globe assaults- "our guy's still standing tall," according to one attendee. Observers said Lynch offered up a rational explanation for his well-documented financial woes that left most satisfied. Still uncertain, however, is how the news will play in suburban territories.

By Bill Forry

(June 21)-No matter what your persuasion, no one likes a politician who blatantly shifts their position based on cold, calculated expediency. And, nothing gets under voters' skins worse than an election year flip-flop.

That's the problem right now for State Senator Brian A. Joyce: press reports that he abruptly changed his abortion position from pro-life to pro-choice have left many with the impression that he is an opportunist. The inference is that Joyce is trying to fill the progressive vacuum left by Max Kennedy, who dropped out of the race on June 11.

There's no question Joyce has changed his position. The only debate now is how and why.

According to Joyce, the perception that he is an opportunist is false, because he went public with his change of heart before Kennedy withdrew. Joyce claims that he did so both on camera in an interview with WCVB-TV earlier in June- and in a story authored by Boston Phoenix political writer Seth Gitell, which ran last week. Gitell confirms that he interviewed Joyce on the subject on Friday, May 8- three days before Kennedy jumped out of the race.

"At the time, Kennedy was in the race and it served no political purpose for me, given that the pro-life vote would be conceded to Senator (Stephen) Lynch and pro-choice was clearly going to Mr. Kennedy," says Joyce. "This was also a week prior to any polling and prior to the surprise announcement of (Kennedy's) withdrawal.

"Any spin to the contrary, it's just simply not true," says Joyce.

In the article, Joyce told the Phoenix that he feels that a woman's choice to have an abortion "should not be my decision, and I believe it's not the government's decision either."

Joyce, whose voting record to date has been decidedly pro-life, said his change comes after a "thoughtful and deliberative process."

"I've grappled with it for several years," Joyce said. "I recognized as a candidate for Congress that I needed to be truthful to people and express the conflict I have felt. And I am learning a lot of other people feel that way, too."

State Rep. Marty Walsh, who is backing Sen. Lynch in the ninth race, still finds Joyce's timing suspect.

"It looks political," says Walsh. "One thing about Steve Lynch is he won't change just because there's a race going on."

If Joyce did flip on the issue to pursue liberal support, he may find the pickings on the slim side. Jamaica Plain's Marc Draisen, chairman of the liberal Commonwealth Coalition, is poised to jump in the race, and could siphon off a sizable chunk of Joyce's progressive base in Boston. And Taunton state Senator Marc Pacheco seems to be moderating his position to appeal to pro-choicers as well.

Joyce, for his part, claims he doesn't care who else gets in.

"I frankly don't pay too much attention to that," Joyce said.

"All I can do is develop our game plan and follow it."

Roache Endorses Lynch for Moakley Seat

Citywide councillor Francis "Mickey" Roache joined the growing list of Boston elected officials backing Steve Lynch in the race to succeed the late Joe Moakley last week. Former Mayor Ray Flynn and Citywide councillor Steve Murphy did so as well last week.

Roache issued a statement saying, "Stephen Lynch has a compelling personal story of hard work and determination towards achieving personal and professional goals...While no one can replace Joe Moakley, I have every confidence that Senator Stephen Lynch will work just as hard, and be just as successful as Congressman for this historic district, and I am proud to offer him my support."

By Bill Forry

(June 14)-Max Kennedy's abrupt departure from the race to succeed the late John Joseph Moakley in the ninth Congressional district this week sets up a classic showdown between two state senators- Stephen F. Lynch and Brian A. Joyce - who together represent a majority of Dorchester voters. Both politicians have well-earned reputations as tenacious campaigners, insuring that a special election to fill the vacant U.S. House seat- now set for early September- may be one for the ages.

Kennedy- who had been the focus of intense media scrutiny in recent weeks- bowed out of the race on Monday afternoon, citing concerns about exposing his young family to the rigors of a tough campaign. Wracked by newspaper reports about youthful indiscretions and a lack of poise in the media spotlight, the 36 year-old son of Robert Kennedy was also beset by more serious charges of carpetbagging. Max Kennedy had never lived in the ninth district until he bought a house in West Roxbury last month.

Governor Jane Swift, who is required to arrange for a special election to fill Moakley's seat, has set a primary election for Tuesday, September 11. A final election is expected to be held on October 16.

Open hostility to Kennedy's candidacy in Boston's neighborhoods is thought to be one of the main reasons Sen. Stephen F. Lynch was shown besting Kennedy in opinion polls conducted last week. Pundits say the idea of a well-heeled neophyte "parachuting" into the district actually bolstered the candidacies of both Lynch and Joyce, who have steadily cobbled together their own significant power bases through traditional grassroots politicking.

Left: State Senator Stephen Lynch with his wife Margaret marching in the 2001 Dorchester Day Parade.


Now, with Kennedy out of the race, the dynamic shifts and makes the brewing fight even "tougher", according to State Rep. Martin J. Walsh of Dorchester. Walsh, a strong supporter of Lynch, who says the South Boston politician now becomes the "favorite"- an unfamiliar role for Lynch.

"Max was perceived as the 800 pound gorilla and I think (Lynch) will have to work harder, because now he's going to be the perceived as the front runner," says Walsh.

Walsh, however, is careful not to count out Joyce- who like Lynch- has upset substantial rivals before in his relatively short, but successful public career.

"You can't underestimate Brian Joyce," says Walsh. "He works tremendously hard, he's dedicated to advancing his political career. That's where Steve Lynch's work ethic will come into play."

"It makes it a better campaign, because (Lynch and Joyce) are like two hungry pit bulls going against each other," says Walsh.

Senator Joyce, who has already begun raising funds for the race, says he has been buoyed by polls that show him in close proximity to Lynch and Kennedy, despite the fact that media reports, he says, "have virtually not included me at all." Joyce interprets his solid showing to his performance as a state representative and, now, as a state senator whose district makes up about one-quarter of the congressional seat.

Right: Senator Joyce is sworn in to office surrounded by his young family.

"I'm sure the dynamics will change (with Kennedy out), but I don't know what impact it will have on me," Joyce says. "I think I should do quite well, because I sincerely believe that I share the life experience and values of the majority of residents in the district. The numbers favor me, but also the values and issues I've been fighting for favor me."

With Kennedy out of the picture, the three senators will be left to fight for the lion's share of the critically important support of organized labor. Joyce expects that individual union locals will endorse candidates, but believes larger, umbrella groups will sit this one out.

"I would expect that the AFL-CIO would not take a position in the race," says Joyce.

Lynch, however, disagrees, saying that his 18 years as an ironworker- and close, personal relationships with key union leaders- will likely give him an edge in endorsements, now that Kennedy is out.

"It's one thing to be a friend of labor. It's another thing to be of labor," says Lynch. "I think when all is said and done, if we list unions that support us, I have a feeling my list will be longer."

Lynch says that only Max Kennedy- relying on the clout of his uncle, the U.S. Senator- could have neutralized or preempted his access to the unions.

"Normally I would get almost automatic support in a race," says Lynch. "However, I felt like I was in a tug of war with Ted Kennedy for the last several weeks. And he's got a great record of accomplishment on issues affecting working men and women. To go up against that record was daunting."

Lynch says the other big difference with Kennedy out of the picture is that fundraising is no longer an albatross for Lynch and other potential candidates.

"There was no way to defend against a candidate who could simply spend several million dollars on TV. That fact is eliminated now," says Lynch.

Ward 16 Democratic Committee chairman James Hunt II says that it's "too early" to call any candidate a favorite, but says he has observed an "extraordinary" response to Lynch's candidacy. Still, he notes that in an abbreviated special election, the winner could be the one who gets to voters first and raises the most money to use on direct mailing, phone calls and other outreach.

"When you have three state senators drawing from different bases, raising substantial amounts of money is the key," says Hunt. "You have two very hard campaigners in Lynch and Joyce. Mark (Pacheco) is a little less known commodity in Dorchester, but all three know how to campaign and organize at the grassroots level."

A wildcard in the race is the possibility that another well-known political name could enter the fray absent Kennedy. New England Council president Jim Brett, a former Dorchester state representative and mayoral candidate, told the Reporter this week that he would not seek election to Congress.

"My sense is that changes of this magnitude will encourage others to get in," says Hunt.

Another variable, according to Ward 13's John Doogan, is the redistricting that could change the district's landscape enough to force one of the potential candidates out of the field. If the special election precedes the redistricting changes, Doogan believes that Lynch will be victorious.

"Steve Lynch was going to win with Kennedy in the race- and he will win now. That's the prime reason Kennedy got out," says Doogan.

Still, Doogan says he "wouldn't rule Pacheco out. He is very much beloved by Taunton and he will carry that heavily and will have strength in Brockton and a good deal of the votes in Easton."

Joyce, Doogan thinks, will suffer in many Boston wards from wounds that "never healed" from his 1998 and 1999 contests with Dorchester city councillor Maureen Feeney. Joyce's reputation as a dogged campaigner, however, has clearly won him the respect of his peers.

"I would say (Joyce) has the most severe critics I've heard of for any elected official, but he has yet to lose an election," says Doogan. "There's a group dedicated to disliking him- but he still keeps winning."

Lynch's hand in Boston was further bolstered this week by news that at-large City Councillor Steve Murphy- who had been eying a run for Congress- plans to endorse Lynch instead. Murphy says the timing of the campaign was not good for him, but that he finds Lynch to be the best of the field.

"For me it's important that someone rooted in the neighborhoods goes to Congress- and that person in my opinion is Steve Lynch," says Murphy. "Joe Moakley was a remarkable man and he never lost touch with the people. If someone were to epitomize the Moakley values and common touch, I think Steve Lynch would be it."