8th Essex Candidates Clash Over Endorsement Bias

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Four candidates in the race to become the next state representative from the 8th Essex District are calling foul following several high-profile endorsements of Tristan Smith for the seat.

Candidates Polly Titcomb, Jenny Armini, Terri Tauro and Diann Slavit Baylis said in a joint statement to Patch on Monday that Smith's endorsements — especially that of U.S. Sen. Ed Markey — highlight the"structural failures of our political system" because they argue the endorsements are based on long-standing political and financial relationships that make it hard for women, minorities and others newer to politics to break through and win statewide seats.

Tristan Smith's father, James Smith, is a former representative and current owner/partner
of the lobbyist firm, Smith, Costello & Crawford.

"We were disappointed to learn of Senator Ed Markey's endorsement in the race," the statement, which Titcomb authored and all four candidates signed, said. "The source of our disappointment is not the potential impact this endorsement will have on our candidacies, but rather what it says about the state of our political system and the structural deficiencies in our electoral process.

"Endorsements are inherent in campaigning. They become problematic when they surpass the professional relationship with an elected official (current or former) and evolve into a generational loyalty to one another's family that is maintained, if only in part, by significant financial contributions. However well-meaning, endorsements such as Senator Markey's perpetuate the representational inequality in our political landscape and highlight the structural failures of our electoral process."

The sixth candidate on the ballot — Doug Thompson — did not sign the letter.

Patch reached out to Smith about the rivals' letter and he responded with a statement saying he is proud of his diverse endorsements in the race — without mentioning the joint statement critical of the higher-profile political support.

"I started off as a candidate with little name recognition," Smith contended. "Today, my team and I have knocked on the doors of more than 10,000 voters throughout Marblehead, Swampscott and Lynn, and I have met with hundreds of residents, elected officials and former elected officials at the national, state and municipal level, local housing officials, local chiefs of police, teachers, climate activists and many others.

"Through those thousands of conversations at doors, on the phone, and at local coffee shops and events, I am grateful that I have been able to make my case that I am the best candidate to represent the Eighth Essex District in the House of Representatives."

Smith's other endorsements include those from John Tierney, former U.S. Representative; Thomas McGee, former Mayor of Lynn, State Senator and State Representative; Barney Frank, former U.S. Representative; and Buzzy Barton, Lynn City Councilor At-Large and City Council Vice President.

"There is no Republican opponent in this race, and the six Democratic candidates all share substantially overlapping priorities and progressive values," the candidates' joint statement said. "Under such circumstances, we cannot understand why such a high-ranking official would be compelled to influence such a unique and promising contest."

"To be clear, we are not suggesting that anything has occurred that is not within the bounds of campaign finance law. To the contrary, it is precisely these lawful exchanges that highlight the structural failures of our political system."

The four female candidates' statement notes that only 28.5 percent of the state representatives are women in Massachusetts and argued that what amounts to an old boys' network of supporting male candidates from similar backgrounds with long-standing family relationships is one reason for the disparity.

"Such underrepresentation is due to pervasive cultural and discriminatory practices that have historically inhibited women and other marginalized groups from running for office," the female candidates said. "Money in politics and progressive values simply cannot coexist. This includes the ability of wealthy candidates to self-fund their own campaigns. Significant self-funding has been seen even in this district-level race."

"In our view, reforming campaign finance laws is fundamental to achieving a more representative democracy. At a minimum, candidates and elected officials should exhibit sensitivity to the power imbalance by explicitly disclosing to the public the full context behind their support of individual candidates. The people of the 8th Essex district deserve an election and a choice between candidates free of undue influence."

Early in-person voting in the state primary began in Marblehead and Swampscott on Saturday and continues daily through Friday.

The state primary is Sept. 6 with polls that day open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)