Democrats Protest Governor At Andover State Rep's Fundraiser

DANVERS, MA -- State Rep. Jim Lyons (R-Andover) has led the push for the removal of a Salem Superior Court judge seen as being too soft on crime. Gov. Charlie Baker has blamed the problem on the law, not judges. When Baker signed $15 minimum wage and paid family and medical leave into law, Lyons was one of the measure's most vocal critics. And Lyons is trying to repeal the bill that Baker signed that gave more protections to the transgender community.

So it was a bit of a surprise to political junkies when Baker showed up at a fundraiser for Lyons in Andover Monday night. Yes, both men are Republicans, but Baker is far more moderate than Lyons, who has been called the "conservative firebrand" of Beacon Hill. But politics, as the saying goes, makes strange bedfellows.

About 40 Democrats protested the event at the Lanam Club, including Democratic gubernatorial candidates Jay Gonzalez and Bob Massie, Third Congressional District candidates Alexandra Chandler and Sen. Barbara L'Italien, and Lyons's Democratic opponent Tram Nguyen.

"The governor...does not expect that everyone he works with on Beacon Hill will share his position on every issue and believes in working past political differences to deliver the best results for the people of Massachusetts. The governor has been proud to enact nation-leading bipartisan legislation to combat the opioid epidemic, extend additional protections to the Commonwealth’s transgender community, and protect women’s healthcare and access to family planning services," Baker's office said in a statement.

Baker is facing a challenge in next week's state Republican primary from Scott Lively of Springfield, who is seen as far more conservative. GOP consultant Brad Marston told the Boston Herald that Baker's support of Lyons, who is just one of 34 Republicans in the 160-member House, may have been a calculated move to shore up his Republican base.

"Gov. Baker can’t have it both ways," state Sen. Barbara L’Italien (D-Andover), who’s running for Congress in the 3rd District, told the newspaper. "He’s afraid to take risks."

Never miss another local news story: Get free local news alerts right to your inbox.

Patch file photo of Rep. Jim Lyons (R-Andover).

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).