Editor's note: This is a weekly series focusing on the 2010 campaign for Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill. The primary is Sept. 14. The general election is Nov. 2.
It's been a busy summer already for Salim Tabit, R-Andover, who is running for the 17th Essex District state representative seat being vacated by Barry Finegold, who is running for state senate.
On Wednesday night, John Vargas at Bada Bing Bada Boom restaurant in Methuen hosted a fundraiser for Tabit. The candidate said "the food was great and the people were wonderful." He thanked Vargas for his hospitality.
This week, Tabit said, he'll be busy knocking on doors and chatting with locals.
Finegold endorsed by SIEU organization
The state's largest union of health care workers, known as the 1199SIEU, has endorsed Barry Finegold for the 2nd Essex and Middlesex state senate seat now held by Susan Tucker. Finegold, an Andover Democrat, participated in a regional candidates' meeting hosted by 1199SEIU members last month. The union has more than 35,000 members working in hospitals, nursing homes, and home care programs across the Bay State.
"As health care workers, we are proud to endorse Barry Finegold. He is the best choice for helping Massachusetts build a healthy future with affordable quality health care and quality jobs for working families," said Veronica Turner, 1199SEIU executive vice president.
Silberstein picks up another endorsement
Former Andover School Committee Chairwoman Debbie Silberstein, another Democrat running for the 2nd Essex and Middlesex senate seat, picked up another endorsement last week when the Humane USA-Massachusetts PAC announced it is supporting her candidacy.
"I am grateful to receive the endorsement of Humane USA-Massachusetts PAC in my bid to become state senator." Silberstein said in a press release. "I respect and value the work of this organization."
Her campaign was previously endorsed by the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus, the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women, the Massachusetts Teachers Association and MassAlliance.
Silberstein held events in Tewksbury on Monday and in Andover on Wednesday where she met with voters and listened to their concerns.
She will be at Carleen's CoffeeShop, 207 S. Broadway, Lawrence, to discuss the campaign on Thursday, July 29, from 8 to 9 a.m. The public is invited to come meet her and discuss issues facing the district.
Meas criticizes financial overhaul bill
Haverhill's Sam Meas, a Republican seeking to unseat Democratic 5th District Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, criticized last week's passage of the Consumer Protection Bill. He called the bill "a missed opportunity" for the financial markets, and said the legislation failed to address some of the key problems that triggered the recession.
"Like many people of good will in both parties, I wanted a reform package that would provide transparency, sensible regulatory checks and balances, and less government manipulation of the economic sector," Meas said in a press release. "But (this bill) does nothing of the sort. For example, there's nothing in the bill that makes any pretense at reforming Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and other institutions within the country's shadow banking sector. Nothing at all."
The former principal at Boston-based State Street Global Advisors also pointed out that the bill failed to tackle the "too-big-to-fail" paradigm and that it will not end the practice of government bailouts.
"In fact," Meas said, "this legislation could be interpreted by future Congresses as a green light for greater government intervention within the financial markets. Left unchecked, this might transform America's free market system into a mercantile form of crony capitalism."
Tomasek to host fundraiser
Republican Jamison Tomasek of Andover, who is running for Tucker's 2nd Essex and Middlesex state senate seat, will hold a fundraiser on Thursday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the Dracut American Legion.
The featured speaker will be WRKO Radio personality Todd Feinburg. A light dinner will be provided. A $10 contribution is requested.
Tomasek has won the endorsement of Citizens for Limited Taxation, an organization that supports candidates who commit to defend the citizens from intrusive and oppressive state government, and who take the CLT "No New Taxes" pledge. CLT also uses the CLT legislative rating to rank legislators based on their votes on tax issues.
