US Representative Joe Moakley is keeping mum on who — if anyone — he favors as his successor in the Ninth Congressional District. But James O’Leary, a key ally of Moakley’s, is organizing a fundraiser for potential candidate Max Kennedy.

The addition of O’Leary, who served as the general manager of the MBTA for many years, to Kennedy’s team suggests that some of Moakley’s muscle is lining up behind Kennedy. So far, Moakley has had meetings with two potential candidates for the seat: Kennedy and State Senator Marc Pacheco of Taunton. He’s also met with State Senator Marian Walsh of West Roxbury, who has since said she won’t run.

Without a doubt, winning the support of Moakley’s machine is one key to victory in the race to succeed him. Moakley’s office says the congressman, who is stricken with terminal leukemia, has no involvement in the fundraiser for Kennedy. “He’s neutral,” says Moakley’s district director, Fred Clark. But he also notes that Moakley’s friends may not be: “Joe has a lot of fundraising supporters in that district, and he’d have no objection to it.”

Issue Date: March 29 - April 5, 2001