write-in campaign

Several signs encouraging voters to cast their ballot for state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson were seen at polling places in Suffolk's 2nd Senate District, the Boston Globe reports.

Wilkerson ended her write-in campaign for re-election last week after being arrested on charges of accepting $23,500 in bribes.

Nevertheless, the Globe reported that a white flier stating, "What happened to innocent until proven guilty" was seen taped over signs of Sonia Chang-Diaz, the Democratic nominee in the race.

The Boston Globe just reported that state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson has suspended her campaign.

"As of this moment today though I am certainly announcing the suspension, the termination, cessation -- I want to make it clear that I am ending any further campaign," Wilkerson said, according to the Globe.

Wilkerson did not comment on whether she would resign from the state Senate.

The Boston Democrat was facing off against Sonia Chang-Diaz with a write-in campaign after losing the Democratic primary to Chang-Diaz in September.

Gov. Deval Patrick commended the state Senate Thursday for its vote asking for State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's resignation.

"On a bi-partisan basis, the Senate today unanimously re-affirmed that elected officials should be held to the highest ethical standards," the Milton Democrat said. "I support and respect their action."

Patrick endorsed Wilkerson in her primary against Sonia Chang-Diaz this year. He switched to supporting Chang-Diaz after she defeated Wilkerson in the primary and Wilkerson launched a write-in campaign for the general election.

Responding to state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's arrest Tuesday, Sonia Chang-Diaz, who defeated her in the Democratic primary this year and was facing her again in the general election, said the arrest unfortunately turns people away from engaging in the political process.

In a statement, Chang-Diaz said Wilkerson's arrest on corruption charges saddened her.

"My reaction to this news is simply one of sadness," the Jamaica Plain Democrat said. "Whenever the public's trust is violated, it's something that hurts the whole community and people's willingness to participate in politics."

An ethics complaint has been filed against Sonia Chang-Diaz for listing El Mundo has an endorsement on her website when she has not been endorsed by the paper.

State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's campaign told PolitickerMA.com Monday that the complaint had been filed by a voter.

The Boston Globe reported Tuesday that Brian Monahan, a Boston attorney, filed the complaint. Monahan alleges that a voter decided to vote for Chang-Diaz in the primary because of the endorsement.

The Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus, a group the endorsed state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson in her Democratic primary against Sonia Chang-Diaz, is not endorsing either candidate in their general election match-up.

Sheila Capone-Wulsin, the caucus' executive director, told PolitickerMA.com that her organization has opted to stay out of the race.

With the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus' decision, a plurality of Wilkerson's primary endorsers have decided to stay out of the general election race,according to PolitickerMA.com's tally. Nearly as many have switched to backing Chang-Diaz, however.

State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (D-Boston)

The Boston Phoenix published a long story Wednesday looking into state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's relationship with a real estate developer and her failure to file mandatory tax returns for a nonprofit organized she headed.

In particular, the Phoenix points to Wilkerson's relationship with Robert Kargman, the owner of the Commonwealth Capital Corporation, a real estate developer and mortgage lender. In Nov. of 2006, the Phoenix wrote, Wilkerson received a $66,900 mortgage on her condo from the company. Wilkerson sold the condo, which she bought in 1993 for $81,370, eight months later for $460,000.

The Phoenix goes into great detail describing Commonwealth Capital Corporation's history of political influence in both Washington, D.C. and on Beacon Hill. The company has more recently sought to buy up federal low-income housing contracts at low rates so it can turn them into luxury condos.

State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (D-Boston): Politicker Photo

 State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's campaign responded on Wednesday to charges that her campaign website still listed endorsements she has lost since Sonia Chang-Diaz beat her in the Democratic primary, saying the website was only for the primary and pointing to a new general election website.

The old website also no longer works.

On Monday, Hillary Chabot of the Boston Herald noted that Wilkerson's campaign website, www.DianneDelivers2008.com, still listed endorsements from Gov. Deval Patrick, House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi and state Senate President Therese Murray even though they are now backing Chang-Diaz.

In a statement made to PolitickerMA.com, Jeff Ross, a spokesman for Wilkerson, said that website was only used for the primary.

"There was an old web site that was the prior web-site. We have a new web site focused on information relevant and necessary leading up to Nov. 4, 2008 in our write in sticker campaign," Ross said.

John Connolly became the fourth Boston city councilor on Tuesday to officially declare that he is not endorsing either Sonia Chang-Diaz or state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson in their general election race after endorsing Wilkerson in the primary.

Boston City Councilor John Connolly (D-West Roxbury)"I am neutral," Connolly, an at-large councilor from West Roxbury, told PolitickerMA.com.

Connolly said that he will not actively work against Chang-Diaz because she is the Democratic nominee, but will not endorse her because of his longstanding relationship with Wilkerson.

"I am not going to work against the nominee of the party," he said. "I just have a certain loyalty to Dianne and believe that she has done a lot for her district."

Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty is backing Sonia Chang-Diaz in her general election match up against state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, Flaherty's office told PolitickerMA.com Tuesday.

"Michael supports Sonia and looks forward to working with her to tackle the pressing issues facing our city," said Jon Romano, a spokesman for Flaherty.

Flaherty, an at-large councilor from South Boston who is constantly rumored to be eyeing a run for mayor in 2009, did not endorse either Chang-Diaz or Wilkerson in their Democratic primary on Sept. 16.