The Globe seems perplexed by Gabriel Gomez, calling his campaign for the US Senate a “stealth candidacy” with no celebratory campaign announcement, no public schedule, and no interviews.
Gomez’s approach is unconventional, but not that surprising. The Cohasset businessman and former Navy Seal is a newcomer to politics who has a lot to do in a very short amount of time to get his candidacy off the ground. Topping the list is gathering 10,000 signatures by Wednesday to qualify for the Republican primary ballot. It’s a daunting challenge, what with the recent blizzard and weather reports indicating more snow due this weekend.
The other Republicans in the race, Rep. Daniel Winslow and former US Attorney Michael Sullivan, haven’t been making many campaign appearances, either. They are focused on gathering their signatures and setting up their campaigns.
Gomez has the added challenge of figuring out where he stands on a wide assortment of issues, which probably explains why he is moving slowly in making public appearances. According to the Globe, Gomez donated money to Barack Obama in 2008 yet more recently joined with a right-wing group of Navy Seals to denounce the president. Gomez also donated to liberal Democrat Alan Khazei in 2009 during the last Senate special election and asked Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint him as the interim US Senator.
In a statement announcing his candidacy, Gomez promised an aggressive campaign. He portrayed himself as someone who is not rigid ideologically but convinced the nation needs to put its finances in order by making deep spending cuts. His campaign seems to be built around the idea that he is not a politician. His tag line is: “Our country is better than its politics.”
Gomez released a video Thursday that shows him and his family out gathering signatures. The video was right out of the playbook of former Sen. Scott Brown. It showcased his good looks, his family, and his Navy Seal background, all in the controlled setting of a campaign video. Stealth may be good at this point.
— BRUCE MOHL
BEACON HILL
The New York Times spotlights Rep. David Linsky’s bid to tie gun ownership to insurance.
State officials declare Berkshire County a quarantine zone to contain a tree-killing insect, the Associated Press reports (via WBUR).
SJC Chief Justice Roderick Ireland tells lawmakers that Massachusetts judges deserve a pay raise, State House News reports (via CommonWealth).
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
The Dartmouth Select Board is finalizing a question to put before voters in April asking them if they want to maintain the governing status quo or make a change that could include an elected mayor.
The Lowell Sun, in an editorial, slams the Westford Board of Selectmen for withdrawing a measure that would have banned assault weapons in the face of a heavy turnout of opponents.
The Newburyport News asks whether Plum Island jetty repairs will usher in massive beach erosion, as a similar construction project did during the 1970’s.
NATIONAL POLITICS/WASHINGTON
The Patriot Ledger calls on Congress to resign en masse because, like the pope, it has become too ill to carry out its responsibilities. The Wall Street Journal notes that Congress is rushing toward massive budget cuts nearly no one wants because Tea Party reps in military districts are ready to swallow the poison pill that was supposed to keep them at the negotiating table — huge defense spending cuts. Paul Krugman calls the sequester “one of the worst policy ideas in our nation’s history.”
Another proud grandfather moment: Jimmy Carter reports that President Obama thanked his grandson, James Carter, for the infamous “47 percent” video that contributed to Mitt Romney’s defeat.
Nevada races to passes an online gaming bill before New Jersey, Governing reports.
A Colorado task force considers how the state plans to deal with legal marijuana.
ELECTIONS
US Rep. Ed Markey isn’t backing down from comments he made that likened the Supreme Court’s recent campaign finance decision in the Citizens United case to the infamous pro-slavery ruling in the Dred Scott ruling in 1857. Globe columnist Scot Lehigh joins the coalition of the unimpressed when it comes to reaction to Markey’s early days on the Senate campaign trail.
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
More than 1,000 high school students marched on the State House calling for more funding for youth summer jobs and more teen hiring by companies. The state’s youth unemployment rate is at a 45-year high. About 50 Lynn teens gave up a day of vacation to march, the Item reports.
Mayor Tom Menino wants to require commercial building owners to disclose their annual electricity and water use.
The postal service is going to launch a “Rain, Heat, and Snow” line of apparel.
Banks have swallowed $19 billion in mortgage write-downs under a year-old nationwide foreclosure settlement. CommonWealth previously detailed Attorney General Martha Coakley’s role in cementing the settlement.
EDUCATION
The state Board of Education will vote on Monday whether to put the Boston Renaissance Charter School on probation because of falling MCAS scores. CommonWealth has written extensively — here and here — about troubles at the school, the largest charter school in Boston.
HEALTH CARE
The National Review bemoans the decision by Florida Gov. Rick Scott, the latest Republican governor to adopt the provisions of Obamacare, now that the election is in the rearview mirror. The New York Times says opposition to the health care law in Republican-led states is melting away.
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
Cape Wind’s chief foe is paying the anti-Cape Wind legal bills of the town of Barnstable, CommonWealth reports.
A New Hampshire energy firm that recently signed a deal to site a bio-gas facility in Fall River’s technology park wants to scale back projected food waste to energy production by two-thirds, a stark difference from the original agreement.
A tiny purple crab is contributing to the decline of the Cape’s salt marshes.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
A 10-year-old Brockton boy thought it was criminal that his mom was sending him to bed at 8 p.m. during school vacation week so he called 911 on her.
The Quincy police chief says a recent shooting is an indication that gang war activity in Boston is beginning to spill over into his city.
MEDIA
Globe columnist Kevin Cullen waxes philosophic about his paper going on the block — and reveals that he was never bar mitzvahed. Meanwhile, the speculation on possible buyers begins. Keller@Large says any buyer of the Globe needs to recognize the paper’s place in the community.The Herald previews the arrival of Michael Golden, the Times Company exec and Sulzberger cousin who helped push out former CEO Janet Robinson, and who has been one of the biggest boosters of a quick Globe sale. He will not get a warm reception.
Walter Robinson, ex-Globie and a professor at Northeastern, is a Pulitzer judge.
