http://www.politickerma.com en http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1984/hill-backing-jones State Rep. Brad Hill said Thursday that he will vote to keep Brad Jones for House minority leader, giving Jones more than half of the votes he needs to retain his post. "I'm with Rep. Jones," Hill told PolitickerMA.com. With Hill's vote, Jones has secured five votes among his caucus, including his own. He needs nine to retain his post as minority leader. Brad Hill Brad Jones House GOP Caucus House GOP leadership House minority leader Lewis Evangelidis Local Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:03:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1984 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1983/frost-backs-jones Republican state Rep. Paul Frost said Thursday that he is supporting Brad Jones in his fight to stay on as House minority leader. Holden Republican Lewis Evangelidis announced Wednesday that his is challenging Jones for his post. "I am supporting Rep. Brad Jones," he said. "He's done a great job as leader. He understands the importance of the balance it takes for someone to be minority leader. It's not just being partisan, you have to have a balance to make sure the members that serve under you are effective in the legislature." Brad Jones House GOP Caucus House GOP leadership House minority leader Lewis Evangelidis Paul Frost Local Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:34:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1983 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1982/smola-evangelidis State Rep. Todd Smola is backing Lewis Evangelidis in his run for House minority leader. "I will be supporting Lew Evangelidis for minority leader," Smola told PolitickerMA.com on Thursday. Smola is the first Republican state representative to announce he is supporting Evangelidis, of Holden. Evangelidis announced Wednesday that he is challenging current minority leader Brad Jones, of North Reading, for his post. Brad Jones House GOP Caucus House GOP leadership House minority leader Lewis Evangelidis Todd Smola Local Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:41:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1982 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1981/demacedo-supporting-jones Republican state Rep. Vinny deMacedo said Thursday that he is supporting state Rep. Brad Jones to keep his post as House minority leader. DeMacedo, a Plymouth Republican, is the second member of his party to support Jones since state Rep. Lewis Evangelidis announced Wednesday he is challenging Jones for his post this year. State Rep. George Peterson is also backing Jones. "I think Lew Evangelidis is a great representative," deMacedo told PolitickerMA.com. "But I think Brad has done a great job. Despite the fact that I think the world of Lew, I do believe Brad has the ability to do a better job." Brad Jones House GOP Caucus House GOP leadership House minority leader Lewis Evangelidis Vinny DeMacedo Local Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:26:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1981 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1980/peterson-jones BOSTON - Republican state Rep. George Peterson said Thursday that he is sticking with current House Minority Leader Brad Jones. Holden Republican Lewis Evangelidis announced Wednesday that he is challenging Jones, of North Reading, for his post. "I am happy to support Brad Jones," Peterson, of Grafton, told PolitickerMA.com. "I fully expect Brad Jones to be leader in January. Absolutely." Peterson is the first Republican representative to publicly state which side he is on in the leadership fight. With the number of Republicans dwindling to 16 in this year's election, Jones and Evangelidis need to secure just nine votes in their caucus to be elected minority leader in January. Brad Jones George Peterson House minority leader Lewis Evangelidis Republican House Caucus Local Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:01:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1980 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1979/bennett-already-aggressive-door-knocking-campaign Doug Bennett, a Republican Boston City Council candidate, said Thursday that he has already knocked on more than 26,000 doors in Boston as part of his amped up grassroots campaign. Bennett, who lives in the North End, is running for one of the council's four at-large seats. Currently two at-large councilors - Michael Flaherty and Sam Yoon - are rumored to be considering a run for mayor next year, which would create vacancies. "What I am trying to do is maximize running a pure grassroots campaign," Bennett told PolitickerMA.com. "I'm trying to maximize my name exposure with people." http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1979/bennett-already-aggressive-door-knocking-campaign#comments Boston City Council 2009 Boston City Council at-large David Halbert Doug Bennett Felix Arroyo Jr. Jean-Claude Sanon Marty Hogan Michael Flaherty Sam Yoon Tom Menino Tomas Gonzalez Local Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:09:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1979 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1978/wade-return-kerry-s-office David Wade, a longtime aide to John Kerry known for his eye-catching statements, is returning to Kerry's office after a stint with President-elect Barack Obama's campaign. Kerry's office confirmed that Wade, who was the travelling spokesman for Kerry during his 2004 president run, will return to the senator's Washington, D.C., office. Wade served as Vice President-elect Joe Biden's spokesman during the presidential campaign this year. President US Senate Barack Obama David Wade Joe Biden John Kerry Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:33:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1978 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1977/kennedy-commits-coalition-healthcare U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, a leading advocate for universal healthcare, announced late Wednesday that a bipartisan coalition prominent senators has formed to worked toward healthcare reform. Kennedy, the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP), was joined by the Republican ranking member of his committee, Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) as well as Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), who recently released a proposal for healthcare reform. US Senate Chuck Grassley Healthcare Jay Rockefeller Max Baucus Mike Enzi Orrin Hatch Ted Kennedy Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:29:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1977 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1973/tisei-wilkerson-resignation-relief BOSTON - State Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei said Wednesday that state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's resignation will allow the Senate to move forward with its business and hinted that the Senate would have voted to expel her if she hadn't stepped down. "It's a relief that Senator Wilkerson finally decided to resign today," Tisei, a Wakefield Republican, wrote on the Senate Republicans' blog. "Clearly, the fact that the Senate had voted unanimously to ask for her resignation showed that she has lost the support of her colleagues. I believe the Senate would have taken additional action had she not stepped down voluntarily." Tisei said that Wilkerson, who faces charges of accepting $23,500 in bribes, violated a code of conduct among elected officials. bribery Corruption corruption charges Dianne Wilkerson resignation Richard Tisei Local Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:50:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1973 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1972/jones-welcomes-evangelidis-challenge BOSTON - State Rep. Brad Jones said Wednesday that he welcomes state Rep. Lewis Evangelidis' challenge for his post as House minority leader. "I welcome Rep. Evangelidis' newfound enthusiasm and interest in participating," Jones, a North Reading Republican, told PolitickerMA.com. Evangelidis declared his candidacy for the post on Wednesday after meeting with the House GOP caucus in Jones' office. Jones said he was happy with how the meeting went. "I thought we had a good, healthy discussion," he said. "It was a wide-ranging discussion, and people are looking for a way to move forward." http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1972/jones-welcomes-evangelidis-challenge#comments Brad Jones House GOP Caucus House minority leader Lewis Evangelidis Local Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:39:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1972 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1971/evangelidis-declares-candidacy-house-minority-leader BOSTON - Coming right out of a House Republican caucus meeting in current Minority Leader Brad Jones' office Wednesady, state Rep. Lewis Evangelidis said that he is running for minority leader. "I have said that I would like to seek the leadership of this party," Evangelidis, a Holden Republican, told PolitickerMA.com. "We have an election every two years, no one has a right to be leader. And I would like to offer a vision and work with the caucus to lead us in a direction that will allow us to grow our numbers." Evangelidis declined to say how many Republican representatives were supporting his candidacy, but did say that the meeting was positive. Brad Jones House minority leader House Republican caucus Lewis Evangelidis Local Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:20:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1971 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1970/murray-says-shadow-over-senate-lifting BOSTON - Moments after state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's resignation letter was read in the Senate chamber Wednesday, state Senate President Therese Murray said the Senate is emerging from a trying time. "The shadow is lifting, and in time, hopefully not too long from now, the good work of the Senate and our commitment to the people will once again be the focus of all inquiry and conversation," Murray, a Plymouth Democrat, said. Wilkerson's resignation is the second to hit the Senate in less than a week. Jim Marzilli, an Arlington Democrat, stepped down last Friday  after details of a trip to Berlin, Germany, in October emerged. Marzilli is currently facing multiple counts of sexual harassment. bribery Corruption Dianne Wilkerson James Marzilli resignation resignations sexual harassment Therese Murray Local Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:59:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1970 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1969/wilkerson-resigns BOSTON -- Facing allegations that she accepted $23,500 in bribes, Dianne Wilkerson resigned from the state Senate Wednesday. Senate President Therese Murray convened the Senate just afternoon noon on Tuesday and a letter from Wilkerson to Murray was read. "Madam President, please accept this communication as formal notice of my intention to resign my position as the state senator of the 2nd Suffolk District...This resignation shall be effective today, Nov. 19, 2008." Dianne Wilkerson resignation Therese Murray Local Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:14:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1969 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1968/globe-kerry-be-named-top-foreign-relations-chairmanship  U.S. Sen. John Kerry may be named chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as early as Wednesday, the Boston Globe reports.   Kerry, who has been rumored to be a candidate for secretary of state in President-elect Barack Obama’s administration, is in line for the committee position by seniority. Per Senate rules, however, Reid, a Nevada Democrat, must name Kerry to the chairmanship. US Senate Harry Reid John Kerry Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:51:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1968 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1967/sources-gop-caucus-meeting-1230-pm Three Republican staffers tell PolitickerMA.com that the House Republican caucus will be meeting today at 12:30 p.m. in Minority Leader Brad Jones' office. According to a report by the State House News Service on Tuesday, the meeting will address state Rep. Lewis Evangelidis' planned challenge to Jones for his post as Minority Leader. http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1967/sources-gop-caucus-meeting-1230-pm#comments Brad Jones House minority leader House Republican caucus Lewis Evangelidis Local Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:43:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1967 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1966/fundraising-key-gop-rebuilding-nassour-says NEWTON -- In order for the Massachusetts GOP to overcome its current woes, the party must focus significant efforts on fundraising, Jennifer Nassour, a candidate for chairman of the Massachusetts GOP, said this week. In an interview with PolitickerMA.com before the Republican State Committee's meeting Monday night, Nassour said fundraising will be key for the party to expand its now miniscule number of Bay State officials. "Money runs every business, and this isn't different than any other business out there," Nassour said. "In order to field good candidates, in order to win races, we also need money. But in order to get money we have to rebuild our brand." Jennifer Nassour Massachusetts GOP Massachusetts GOP Chairmanship Massachusetts Republican Party Local Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:04:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1966 at http://politicker.com http://www.politicker.com/gop-looks-governors-ideas-rebuilding The dust has barely settled on the 2008 elections -- in fact, in a few Senate and House contests, ballots are still being counted -- but possible presidential contenders are already building foundations they will need to put them ahead of the pack in time for the 2012 Iowa caucuses, a scant 38 months away. For Republicans, the early key to success is holding a governorship, and at least half a dozen chief executives are expected to at least consider a bid for president. http://www.politicker.com/gop-looks-governors-ideas-rebuilding#comments Governor Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:24:00 -0500 Reid Wilson 1965 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1964/romney-let-detroit-go-bankrupt The government should not bailout the American auto-industry and should choose instead to let it fall into bankruptcy where it can restructure itself to more adequately compete in the global auto market, former Gov. Mitt Romney wrote in a New York Times op-ed Wednesday. Romney, a Belmont Republican whose father was the president of American Motors, said by letting the industry slide into bankruptcy, auto companies can address two crucial problems. First, their huge disadvantage in costs relative to foreign brands must be eliminated. That means new labor agreements to align pay and benefits to match those of workers at competitors likeBMW, Honda, Nissan and Toyota . Furthermore, retiree benefits must be reduced so that the total burden per auto for domestic makers is not higher than that of foreign producers. That extra burden is estimated to be more than $2,000 per car. Think what that means: Ford, for example, needs to cut $2,000 worth of features and quality out of its Taurus to compete with Toyota's Avalon. Of course the Avalon feels like a better product - it has $2,000 more put into it. Considering this disadvantage, Detroit has done a remarkable job of designing and engineering its cars. But if this cost penalty persists, any bailout will only delay the inevitable. More after the jump. American Motors auto bailout George Romney government bailout Mitt Romney U.S. Auto Industry Governor Local Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:09:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1964 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1963/evangelidis-planning-challenge-jones-minority-leader Another Republican state representative has stepped up to challenge state Rep. Brad Jones for his post as House Minority Leader.  GOP sources told the State House News Service Tuesday that State Rep. Lewis Evangelidis is planning to take on state Jones. The news comes on the heels of rumors that Republican state Rep. Jeff Perry was seeking the position and speculation that the 16-member GOP caucus was split in support of Perry and Jones. Perry, however, said last Saturday that he is not pursuing the post. The State House News' sources indicated the caucus could also be evenly split between Evangelidis, of Holden, and Jones, of North Reading. Brad Jones House minority leader Lewis Evangelidis Republican House Leadership State House News Service Local Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:57:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1963 at http://politicker.com http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1960/murray-again-calls-wilkerson-s-resignation Upon the news that state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson has been formally indicted on corruption charges, state Senate President Therese Murray called on Wilkerson to resign. "With this news, I once again urge Dianne Wilkerson to resign from the Senate immediately," Murray said in a statement. Wilkerson has said that she will resign, but has yet to say when. corruption charges Dianne Wilkerson indictment Therese Murray Local Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:19:00 -0500 Jeremy P. Jacobs 1960 at http://politicker.com