Newton native and Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim has announced his intentions to challenge Secretary of State William Galvin in the 2018 Democratic primary, the Boston Globe reports.
Zakim is the son of the late Leonard “Lenny” Zakim, head of the Anti-Defamation League, and the namesake of the Zakim bridge.
I like Galvin and voted for him in the past. Regrettably, he threatened to delay implementation of the 2016 vote that legalized cannabis, and managed to insult many “yes” voters in the process. That’s when he lost my vote. Now it’s up to Josh Zakim to earn it.
Sometimes a name can be a liability instead of an asset. I have no opinion about the abilities of Josh Zakim, since this is the first time I have heard his candidacy mentioned. On the other hand, we have an inclination in this state to adopt legacies and dynasties without really trying to measure the individual’s potential. I will say that Galvin has, during his tenure, “Galvinized” the Department of Motor Vehicles, turning it from a poorly run customer inconvenience into a sleek and modern operational interface with the public. I am annoyed with the delay of implementation of the marijuana mandate, but won’t move my vote to Zakim unless I see that he is better competitively positioned than Galvin to slim down outdated and wasteful procedures while maintaining the well oiled machinery already working for Massachusetts!
Two corrections:
1. The title of the office is “Secretary of the Commonwealth”; and
2. William Galvin has been Secretary of the Commonwealth since 1994, was a member of the House of Representatives from 197 to 1991, and has never been in charge of the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
*1975 to 1991
I’ve called Secretary Galvin’s office several times for assistance on a variety of matters. The folks there have always been articulate, informed and infinitely patient. I’m also impressed by how proficient they have been in directing me to exactly the right office and often to the right individual in various state agencies. On one occasion, I had only a vague idea of what I wanted and a wonderful woman in Galvin’s office put me on a conference call to three agencies where we worked together to finally hit the right contact.
Galvin also oversees the Massachusetts Historical Commission that I worked closely with in our effort to establish a Local Historic District in Newton Highlands. I’ve never interfaced with a finer and more dedicated collection of public servants. Bill Galvin is passionate about public service. His immediate office and the aforementioned Historical Commission exemplify what great and responsive public service is all about.
I share Mike Striar’s disappointment at Galvin’s delay in implementing the Marijuana referendum, but that’s not enough to be a game changer for me.
Bob, I think Galvin’s office has some great staff. However, it is my belief the Commonwealth can do better and that it is time for a change. I would strongly suggest that folks look into some of the actions Galvin’s office has taken over the years, especially regarding record requests, sunshine laws, various voting issues, and many other issues. The office is very resistent to change, doesn’t respond to legislative requests…I could go on and on.
20 years in one office is a very long time. Galvin very often gets credit for things his office has no part of. See above. I have no idea about Josh Zakim. I want to hear more, either about how Secretary Galvin will do better or Josh Zakim’s plans for the future.
William Galvin is “Secretary of the Commonwealth”. He played no role in delaying the implementation of the marijauna bill. That was a LEGISLATIVE decision, voted on by them and signed by the governor, supposedly to have time to work out implementation details. At any rate, Galvin is one of the best public servants in the state. Whatever he does he does with care, ingenuity, detail and on time. I don’t think that Lenny’s son should be ushered in because of his father’s name. Lets recognize a good guy when we see one !
@Jon– After the 2016 vote, Galvin threatened to delay certification of the ballot initiative that legalized cannabis. He then filed a bill with the legislature [H 1057] to make it easier for cities and towns to ban cannabis sales.
Prohibitionists have ruined countless lives and cost our state billion$ in wasted money. That’s bad enough. But when they attempt to undermine a legally binding ballot box vote–that is a genuine threat to democracy.
Mike, you can spin it as anti-democratic, I “hear” the angst in your voice; but you can also choose to see what occurred as part of the democratic process. Keep in mind, there always was an “opt in/out” component to the bill as voted on and approved. It needed to be clarified. Here’s a small piece of the explanation.
“The marijuana law requires municipalities to vote to opt in or to opt out of on-premises consumption, and the law requires a petition process that conforms “to the provisions of the General Laws relating to initiative petitions at the municipal level.” The problem, Tassinari said, is that there is no state law dealing with local ballot initiative processes.
Galvin’s bill, she said, would make the process for adopting a local bylaw and then putting it before voters more easily understood, and would remove a requirement that a vote on whether to allow on-premises consumption be held only in conjunction with biennial state elections.
“We have proposed language which would provide a process for the local adoption of a bylaw or an ordinance … and then again we also have proposed language for a local ballot question on a petition that we think would work to come out to the same end as what the law itself intended,” Tassinari said. “This is to create a process. We don’t want to change the intent of what the entire petition was … we’re just trying to facilitate the process and make it a consistent process.”
Jon– Only politicians were “confused” by the ballot initiative that legalized cannabis. The wording of the ballot initiative was modified and approved by the AG before the ballots were printed. What we have seen since the vote is an effort by prohibitionists to undermine implementation of the law passed by a majority of voters. What your going to see next are elected officials who think they’re smarter than the voters, out looking for new jobs.
I know you’re worried about this Mike, but I’m not as pessimistic as you are. It will fly as planned and the legalization of pot will be complete. I would like to repeat, however, Bill Galvin is the best you can find for this position, certainly Lenny’s kid does not have the needed experience to assume the myriad of responsibilities that are demanded. You may have reason to prefer the kid, but let’s hear about his qualifications rather than trashing a uniquely talented Galvin. Also, your “….various voting issues, and many other issues” as criticism of WG do not count as they are vague as can be. So I have a busy day here; may the better candidate win.
Jon, I’m curious as to your actual interactions with Galvin’s office. Not an attack, so please don’t take it as such. I know of a great many folks who work on public records issues that find his office to be very frustrating for instance. Same thing for interactions with Massachusetts Historical Commission within his office.
You seem to be a huge supporter. Help me change my mind. Typically folks aren’t so enthusiastic about the Secretary’s position, good or bad.
Regardless, personally I love it when long standing politicians draw a challenger. Makes them up their game.
Mike I’m an historian and rely on not just public records, but specifically primary sourced historical records. I have dealt with him and his staff for both. Under his leadership, access has become refined and materials and artifacts organized as well as the best in the country. Out on the point beyond Umass Boston is a magnificent, smallish, stone building, not just to archive information, but to educate. NPS should be paying attention to this gold mine. Often hands on and interactive, they (Commonwealth Museum) offer programs and field trips that cover a myriad of topics. Most recent that I have experienced are “Suffragettes” and “Massachusetts Blacks during the Civil War”. The programs are specifically designed for specific age groups, primary thru high school. I could go on and on about this one accomplishment of his, it is due to him that this gem works as it does.
In the 20th century B,M,D records facility (different place), I had occasion just a month ago to help my sister in law retrieve a marriage record that had never been registered with the state (30 yrs ago) as it should have been. They did all the leg work for me and were able to provide a certified document in a matter of hours, willingly and graceously. I believe this is probably the place you have heard complaints about. Things have changed there dramatically during his tenure.
Additionally, throughout any election cycle the Sec of Comm Office keeps a website going that is filled with more than anything you ever wanted to know about the election process, how government works, candidates, districts etc. Again, since we don’t seem to have “Civics” in the high schools, its an invaluable resource.
As you know there is much more to his role than what I’ve put here, but these are the things that interest me and for which I credit William Galvin.
I agree with you that a challenger is always a good thing!!! In this case it gives me a chance to applaud the changes I’ve seen over the past 20 years; maybe things only a history person would appreciate.
Jon – it’s clear you like Galvin, and you seem to have a lot of familiarity with the office. But repeatedly referring to a 33-year-old Boston City Councilor and attorney as “Lenny’s kid” makes me unlikely to give any credence to your support of Galvin.
Competition makes better candidates… Galvin should be pleased for the opportunity to speak to Massachusetts’ citizens in a way he has not done so in years.
Why would any of us discourage that?
It’s the Brooklyn in me, no offense was intended; used as a term of endearment in some neighborhoods…..