Mass GOP Names New Executive Director

The Massachusetts GOP has a new Executive Director.

Massachusetts Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Nassour has appointed Nick Connors to serve as the party’s executive director as the GOP works to reverse its downward spiral on Beacon Hill.

Connors served as field director for Kerry Healey’s 2006 campaign for governor and as a deputy regional coalitions director for former President George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign.

Connors also worked in The White House Office of Political Affairs, the U.S. Department of Energy as assistant chief of staff for policy, and as a special assistant in the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Nick Connors is the successor to Robert Willington.

Congratulations and good luck, Nick.

Wilkerson Arrested By FBI

State Senator Dianne Wilkerson is in a bit of pickle…now having been arrested for accepting bribes.

State Senator Dianne Wilkerson was arrested this morning after an 18-month undercover investigation by Boston Police and the FBI in which she allegedly accepted eight bribes worth $23,500.

The 15-year Democratic lawmaker allegedly accepted cash payoffs that ranged from $500 to $10,000 to help a nightclub secure a liquor license and to assist a private developer who wanted to build on state land. Wilkerson allegedly tried to influence legislation in the state Senate as recently as last week to help the developer in the Crosstown section of Roxbury, near the intersection of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue.

The probe included one cooperating witness and at least two undercover FBI agents. Investigators made audio and video recordings and took still photographs of Wilkerson allegedly accepting cash payoffs starting in June 2007 and continuing through this month.

One series of photographs displayed by federal authorities at a press conference this morning show Wilkerson allegedly stuffing a $1,000 payoff into her bra during a meeting with an informant at No. 9 Park restaurant that was surreptitiously recorded with audio and video. The 10 $100 bills were not in an envelope and clearly visible in the photograph dated June 18, 2007.

According to a 32-page affidavit, Wilkerson also brought along a grandchild when she accepted a $1,000 kickback on Aug. 31, 2007, at the Fill-A-Buster restaurant, which is directly across the street from the State House.

“Public service is a privilege. Voters and taxpayers expect that elected officials will do what is right for their constituents, not what is financially best for themselves,” US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan said this morning at the press conference. “Citizens place extraordinary trust in those it gives the greatest authority. And with that authority comes the obligation to act with fairness and honesty.”

Wilkerson is expected to be arraigned this afternoon in US District Court in Boston. She faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted with more potential charges pending.

Wilkerson’s campaign manager Boyce Slayman confirmed that Wilkerson was led away in handcuffs.

The Massachusetts Republican Party issued the following statement in response to Wilkerson’s arrest. “The Massachusetts Democratic party has become a haven for criminals and corruption,” said MassGOP Executive Director Robert Willington. “This is not the Government that the people of Massachusetts deserve, and it is certainly not what the people want. Beacon Hill is broken, and full of lawmakers who simply want to tax and spend, when they’re not taking bribes or getting sweetheart deals from their friends. The choice for voters is clear: throw the corrupt Democrats out. Only then can we restore confidence in our Government.”

PolitickerMA.com is keeping an eye on this story.

Civil Rights Injunction Against Marzilli Rejected

A Middlesex Superior Court Judge has denied a request for a civil rights injunction against state Senator James Marzilli. The injunction would have barred him from harassing all women in the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts Republican Party Executive Director Robert Willington responded, saying “Today, the taxpayers of Massachusetts paid Jim Marzilli $180.10.” Since Marzilli was indicted 50 days ago, taxpayers have paid him over $9,000. There are still 134 days left before his pension increases.

For more information, visit MarzilliWatch.com.

How Sweet It Is…

Imagine this…. you are the executive director of the state’s pension fund. You earn over $300K a year (and that is probably more than you really should be making), and you get a $64,000 bonus check–all this while state pension fund lost a billion dollars. All in all not bad, not bad at all.

Despite presiding over a $1 billion loss last year, the executive director of the state’s pension fund will receive a $64,000 bonus on top of his $322,000 annual salary because the fund outperformed the market indexes and many other major state pension funds.

Michael Travaglini, who is already the highest paid state employee, and his two top aides will get a 20 percent bonus under benchmarks set by the nine-member Pension Reserves Investment Management Board in October. The other 23 members of the management staff will get bonuses of 16 percent.

The bonuses are kicking in as Travaglini is campaigning for salary increases of up to 5 percent for the agency’s staff, according to agency documents. But facing questions from the Globe yesterday, the board’s chairman, State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill, pulled the pay increases from the agenda for today’s meeting.

The bonuses and the recommended raises come after the $50.6 billion fund registered a 1.8 percent loss for the 12-month period ending June 30, its first loss in five years. The pension board has noted that its investment returns place it among the top tier of public pension funds around the country.

Cahill did not respond to a Globe request for comment. His spokeswoman, Alison Mitchell, would only confirm that the treasurer had pulled the salary proposal from the agenda. Travaglini did not return calls seeking comment.

Massachusetts Republican Party Executive Director Robert Willington issued the following statement via press release:

Governor Patrick campaigned on a pledge to end the ‘Big-Dig’ culture, and has clearly failed to do so. Only in Massachusetts would the brother of a former Democrat Senate President be rewarded for losing one billion dollars. This loss casts further doubt on the intelligence of the massive borrowing proposed by Governor Patrick. Instead of holding self-congratulatory press conferences, maybe Governor Patrick should hold another one with Treasurer Cahill to explain the billion dollar loss, and why they are asking the taxpayers to contribute another $1.5 Billion to the pension fund this year.

In a time where everyone is making sacrifices, and most of us may not see a 20% bonus check this year (if any at all) because of these tough times, why isn’t anyone on the Hill learning about sacrifice? I guess you have to be someone’s brother in this state to avoid the gauntlet.

Oh, and I love the part about Michael Trav’s campaiging for pay increases of 5%. Hello!?!?!

Mass GOP Files Ethics Complaint Against Speaker DiMasi

The Massachusetts GOP filed a complaint with the State Ethics commission today¬†in response to yesterday’s Boston Globe story which detailed how Speaker Sal DiMasi “may have helped fast-track legislation on behalf of a friend who extended him a $250,000 line of credit at a low rate.”

Rob Willington, Executive Director of the Mass GOP, released the following statement:

“Once again Speaker DiMasi has shown that when it comes to the Democrat party, ethics are optional. I won’t hold my breath waiting for the Democrats to do anything about it, because they have shown a complete unwillingness to do the right thing, even when blatant violations are staring them in the face. The voters will remember their arrogance this November, and Republicans will be there to remind them.”

A copy of the letter to the ethics commission is posted in the extended entry.

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