Politics

For those who missed it at the St. Patrick's Day breakfast in Southie, here's the poem Gov. Deval Patrick delivered, followed by the song by Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray. (Updated to add, via the State House News Service, some verse from Sen. Richard Tisei, who is Republican candidate for governor Charlie Baker's running mate.)  Read more

Rep. Brian Wallace (D-South Boston), whose district includes parts of Dorchester, will not seek re-election this year, sources told the Reporter's Gintautas Dumcius today. See the Reporter's Lit Drop blog for more on this developing story. Wallace joins Rep. Willie Mae Allen and Rep. Marie St. Fleur as the third member of Dorchester's State House delegation to opt out of this year's state elections.  Read more

State Rep. Brian Wallace (D-South Boston) is not running for another term, sources tell the Lit Drop.

Wallace, whose district includes a piece of Uphams Corner and Harbor Point, has served in the House since 2003.

The seat is the third in the Dorchester and Mattapan area to open up in the last month. Wallace's retirement ended months of speculation of whether he was running again. It appeared to be recent, too: On his Facebook page, a second signature drive was scheduled for this weekend.  Read more

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, FEB. 26, 2010…..All guesstimates below ecstatic about the level of excitement among savvy lawmakers at a high state court ruling earlier this month, suggesting they alter the anti-obscenity laws to protect youngsters more thoroughly, are invalid and uninformed.  Read more

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, FEB. 26, 2010……Despite an unfavorable rating of 50 percent, Gov. Deval Patrick maintains his edge over a crowded gubernatorial field and holds a commanding lead over his new primary opponent, according to new poll results, which also show support for casinos and for two major tax cuts possibly headed for this year’s ballot.  Read more

Gov. Deval Patrick will be making two trips to Dorchester over the next few days. On Friday he'll be visiting residents and business owners, starting at 222 Bowdoin St. at 3:30 p.m. On Sunday, he holds an "urban town hall" at Rev. Bruce Wall's Codman Square church. The 7 p.m. meeting will also be broadcast on WWZN 1510 AM and www.globalministriesboston.org.

This week's Dot Reporter has a write-through of the news of Rep. Marie St. Fleur's departure, as well as a look at some of the names that a small group of activists have been pushing. That small group will likely be very involved in choosing the eventual winner. So who have they been talking about? Click here to find out that and whether some of them are interested. Also: There will be a "Greatest Minds" forum on March 1 to discuss the 2010 census and the two open House seats - St. Fleur's Fifth Suffolk and retiring Rep. Willie Mae Allen's Sixth Suffolk. The forum is scheduled for March 1 at the National Black College Alliance in Roxbury’s Dudley Square at 6:30 p.m.  Read more

Dorchester's two Congressmen on Saturday urged Democratic Party activists to hang tough and parry Republican attacks in what could be a punishing election year.

"I think we'll weather this storm," despite a "lunatic fringe," said U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston).

The comment led U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano to quip, "Steve, actually, I am the lunatic fringe."

The two U.S. representatives share Dorchester.

Capuano (D-Somerville) called for Democrats to get more active, saying that when he leaves his Washington office, he sees "10,000 teabaggers outside the Capitol."  Read more

State Rep. Marie St. Fleur, a self-described "Uphams Corner kid," isn't running for re-election, she confirmed on Saturday.

At a caucus of Ward 15 Democrats, St. Fleur said she no longer wanted the job. "I don't want to be in the way of anyone," she said. "The job can't be done halfhearted."

She noted that she has one daughter in college, another "on her way," and a son about to start high school. "So it's time for transitions," she said.  Read more

Rep. Willie Mae AllenRep. Willie Mae Allen, who represents parts of Dorchester and Mattapan in the state Legislature, will not seek re-election this year. The Mattapan resident, who has been elected twice to represent the Sixth Suffolk district, told the Reporter's Lit Drop blog today that she will retire at the end of this year's session.