Talking Politics

House rules

by Seth Gitell

FINNERAN is happy with the election results.

If Massachusetts's 2000 House election was a referendum on the leadership style of Speaker Thomas Finneran, then the Mattapan Democrat won it. With the exception of Representative Ronny Sydney of Brookline, who lost to Frank Smizik in the Democratic primary, Finneran says his allies successfully fended off challenges from those who made him the issue in the local races.

In an interview with the Phoenix, Finneran cited at least four successful state-representative candidates who defeated his critics: Michael Cahill of Beverly, Paul Casey of Winchester, Marie Parente of Milford, and David Bunker of Holden.

"Each of their challengers tried to make me the issue," said Finneran. "I was attentive to it. Each of them had outstanding victories. It was a great night for the House."

Well, maybe for Finneran -- but not for the House dissidents who have been clamoring for more democracy in the representative body. Finneran also failed to mention the defeat of William McManus, an ally of the Speaker who ran as an independent.

The Speaker lashed out at his critics in the House, comparing them to Ralph Nader, the Green Party candidate who impeded Vice-President Al Gore in the presidential election. "I acknowledge there are a handful of critics who want to bring us back to practices and philosophies that are not widely held," said Finneran. "I'd call it the Nader philosophy. We've been trying to govern from the center -- not the far right or the far left."

Regarding Smizik, Finneran said he expects to meet the Brookline Democrat, who was elected on a platform challenging Finneran's "autocratic" leadership style. "My style and personality is such that I'm very open to any member," said Finneran. "I'll be more than happy to meet, subject to the requests."

Finneran will outline his agenda in his Speaker's address in January. In the meantime, we'll watch for the Smizik meeting and listen for what the House dissidents have to say.