Challenger Latoya Gayle came out swinging against incumbent 1st Suffolk District Sen. Nick Collins early during a forum held last Tuesday (June 9) by the Wards 4 and 5 Democratic committees.
“We have a senator who stands in the way of progress, who bows to corporate interests and who prioritizes to wealthiest residents,” she said in her opening remarks, during which she emphasized her working-class origins. “As we approach to nation’s 250th birthday, we deserve a senator who is ready to push policy towards the ideals that were declared for we the people.”
Despite Gayle’s feisty approach, Collins remained focused on what he said was a record of service to the communities he represented in the district, which includes South Boston and much of the South End and Dorchester.
“I believe that this district needs someone with the experience and the ability to deliver for this district — millions of dollars annually in the budget for community programs, as well as public safety,” he said in his opening remarks. “I’m very proud of the record that we’ve built in this district. We have broad-based support because of that. Over 30 organizations, including the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, have endorsed our campaign along with many colleagues, including our predecessor Linda Dorcena Forry and former colleague Marie St. Fleur.”
Collins and Gayle participated in the forum at the Berklee College of Music with nonprofit leader and candidate Juwan Skeens, with all three speaking about their positions on policies facing the city and state.
In his opener, Skeens said he was motivated to become civically involved after his best friend was killed in 2007. “I’ve been running for office since 2023, calling attention to issues inside my community, and I have no plans on slowing down or stopping,” he said.
Asked by Boston Globe reporter Samantha Gross if he thought the Legislature should work with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu or push back against her, Collins replied, “I think it’s gotta be both.”
He added: “There are times where you’re working closely together, and sometimes you’re debating. And that’s an important part of this job. It’s not to be a yes person. It’s not to do everything somebody asks you to do when you represent 160,000 people.”
The question highlighted a central feature of this year’s Senate campaigns in districts representing Boston: Collins last year refused to support Wu’s push to raise commercial and office property taxes and lower residential taxes, leading to the Senate’s rejection of her proposal. Wu, in turn, has backed Gayle, with a public endorsement in June. The mayor is also seen as backing Brad Lander’s bid to unseat incumbent Suffolk and Middlesex Sen. William Brownsberger, who also rejected Wu’s tax changes.
In the Suffolk/Norfolk District, Wu is backing incumbent Sen. Mike Rush, who supported her tax proposal, over progressive challenger Persis Yu.
“I see Beacon Hill’s relationship to the City of Boston as a partnership,” Gayle said. “We share constituents and we get more things done when we’re working together and not in conflict and fighting.” She told the forum that she had gotten to know Wu after she launched her campaign in December of last year.
“We have a great relationship so far,” she said.
For his part, Skeens noted that he has known Wu since she was on the City Council and he was on staff with then Councillor Andrea Campbell. “I’m familiar with her work,” he said. “I do believe that the state could be doing a little bit more to support the City of Boston.”
Skeens ran against Collins in 2024, winning 21 percent of the vote. Last year, he challenged District 4 Councillor Brian Worrell and garnered 6.4 percent of the vote in the preliminary balloting, placing third in that race.
On most issues, the candidates for the 1st Suffolk seat appeared closely aligned.
Skeens and Gayle said they would support a real estate transfer tax. Collins said he would support a local option, allowing municipalities to opt into such a tax. Gayle and Skeens said they would support rent control. Collins again said he would be in favor of a local option on that issue.
Asked to grade the state Senate on transparency, Skeens gave the body an F, Gayle offered a D+, and Collins said he would give is a “Needs Improvement” grade.
The three agreed that the state should ban minimum lot-size zoning for new, single-family homes, allow same-day voter registration, allow public defenders to unionize, and subject the governor’s office and Legislature to the public records law. All were opposed to all-party primaries, re-criminalizing recreational marijuana, and cutting the income tax from 5 percent to 4 percent.
As to a question that appeared to refer to the proposed ballot question that would adjust limits on state tax collections to the average growth of wages and salaries in the prior year and include revenue from the Fair Share Amendment surtax, all three said they would support it.
Still, the way the question was worded, asking them whether they would “overhaul the state tax collection cap, known as 62F,” may have been vague. The Mass Taxpayers Foundation estimates if approved, that ballot question would have reduced the state’s revenue by $658 million last year.
On rent control, Gayle and Skeens indicated that they would support the statewide law proposed in the ballot question being advanced by Homes for All Massachusetts. Collins said he would support the compromise legislation lawmakers have discussed with Home For All Massachusetts that would allow local municipalities to opt into rent control.
The candidates will face off in the September 1 primary. With no Republican on the ballot, the victor will run unchallenged in the November election.
