By David Swanson
Two weeks ago, I wrote about a candidate considering a run for Secretary of State of Massachusetts, an unusual candidate in that he is a national leader in the fight for voting rights and campaign reform. Today John Bonifaz officially anounced his candidacy! This is, as I argued two weeks ago, a race of NATIONAL importance.
Here is what the Boston Globe said today: “Activist lawyer to vie for secretary of state: “John C. Bonifaz, an activist lawyer and advocate for election law changes, said yesterday he will run for Massachusetts secretary of state, regardless of whether William F. Galvin seeks reelection. For several months, Bonifaz has been organizing a campaign that depended on whether Galvin decides to run for governor next year. Galvin, a Democrat, said he will make his decision shortly. With only $8,000 raised, Bonifaz said he will run a grass-roots campaign and has signed on national consultant Joe Trippi to help him. Bonifaz was critical of Galvin’s record on election issues, the secretary’s chief responsibility. ‘We can do better,’ he said. ‘I don’t share the view that his record is stellar. We should lead the nation.’ Galvin’s press secretary, Brian McNiff, said Galvin is proud of his record on elections.”
Electing Bonifaz would indeed mean leading the nation toward cleaner, more reliable elections and greater access to the polls. This is John’s website:
http://www.johnbonifaz.com
And here is his post on his blog today announcing his candidacy:
http://www.johnbonifaz.com/node/140
He says there, in part, and perhaps in response to the Boston Globe:
“I have also witnessed in recent weeks that the incumbent Secretary, William F. Galvin, is failing to live up to his responsibilities as the chief elections officer in the state. Here are a few key examples:
“In Lawrence, Massachusetts, thousands of voters were discouraged from participating in the municipal election on November 8, 2005, when the city, in violation of federal and state law, sent them late notices, days before the election, telling them that they were on the inactive voter list. The notices failed to inform the voters that they could still vote and gave the voters little or no time to be reinstated on the active voter list. A coalition of Lawrence city councilors sent a letter to Secretary Galvin on October 20, within 48 hours after these notices were sent, urging that he intervene. Secretary Galvin did not respond. As the election day neared and in the face of Secretary Galvin