Meanwhile, based on Galvin’s recent comments to the Phoenix, chances are slim to none that Bonifaz will be able to browbeat him into a high-profile public debate moderated by, say, Greater Boston’s Emily Rooney. “There were any number of events leading up to the [Massachusetts Democratic Convention] where we appeared simultaneously,” Galvin says, adding, “I don’t have an obligation to help John Bonifaz create attention that he can’t otherwise seem to get.”
He bobbles but never falls
If there were an annual awards ceremony for Boston politicians, at-large city councilor Steve Murphy would be a serious contender for Best Comeback. Less than two years ago, Murphy’s bid to become Suffolk County sheriff ended with an embarrassing loss to Andrea Cabral. Consequently, Murphy looked like damaged goods heading into the 2005 city-council elections. But in the end, Murphy managed to eke out a fourth-place finish — thanks partly to his aggressive work on CORI reform, partly to a little help from Tom Menino — thereby keeping his job and denying promising newcomer John Connolly a seat.
Now Murphy has a new item to add to his résumé: since endorsing Deval Patrick last month, he’s become a kind of informal Patrick coordinator for white, working-class Boston voters. Last week, Murphy and State Senator Marian Walsh (another once-conservative Irish politician who’s evolved into something of a progressive) hosted a Patrick event at the West Roxbury Elks club that drew upwards of 300 people. “We’re very pleased to have his support,” says Patrick spokesperson Libby DeVecchi. For his part, Murphy may be even happier to be a Patrick backer: city councilors are always campaigning, and whether Patrick wins or loses, Murphy’s decision to endorse the only African-American in the governor’s race should play well with Boston’s voters of color come Election Day 2007.
On the Web
Adam Reilly's Talking Politics blog: http://www.thephoenix.com/talkingpolitics
Dianne Wilkerson: www.diannewilkerson.com
Sonia Chang-Díaz: http://www.soniachangdiaz.com/
Samiyah Diaz: http://www.samiyah4senate.com/
John Bonifaz: http://www.johnbonifaz.com/
Bill Galvin: http://www.billgalvin.org/
Stephen J. Murphy: http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/cc.asp?id_name=Murphy
Deval Patrick: http://www.devalpatrick.com/
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