Bob Trane- Candidate for State Representative

Bob Trane, Democratic State Representative Candidate, 34th Middlesex District

Over the past five months I have knocked on every door in Medford in the 34th Middles District. During that time I have been welcomed by voters who are calling for change on Beacon Hill. Medford residents wonder why things most important to them such as ethics reform, better schools, steps to improve the economy and tax relief are ignored. I tell them that quite simply the incumbent representative and legislature have put the needs of lobbyist, special interest and PAC’s ahead of the people’s interest.

In contrast, I start with the premise that no one will ever own me or my vote. That is why I have never taken donations from lobbyist, PAC’s special interest or powerful politicians. This independent stance will allow me to push for ethics reform, better schools and to stand up for taxpayers by focusing on bread and butter issues. These are just some of the issues that will continue to be my priorities. In short, we need change. I ask that the voters of Medford allow me to provide that leadership for a change.

The best indicator of what someone will do in the future is what they have done in the past. My opponent, Carl Sciortino has spent the last four years becoming an insider on Beacon Hill rather working on issues that matter to the people of Medford. He’s accepted thousands of dollars from lobbyists and special interests. And can we really trust a candidate who can’t even keep track of his nomination signatures to get on the ballot? Outside special interests are now funding his sticker campaign effort with thousands of dollars in donations and mailings.

A FLIP FLOP ON SPEAKER FINNERAN
In 2004, seeking to win election as state representative for the first time, Carl Sciortino positioned himself as anti-Beacon Hill reformer, blasting then-House Speaker Tom Finneran and promising his only political concern would be the best interests of the district:

Running for office, Sciortino specifically criticized his opponent (incumbent Vinnie Ciampa) for being too close to Tom Finneran, saying, “I feel his alliances lie more with House Speaker Finneran than with the people of our community.”

Running for office, Sciortino told voter’s politicians on Beacon Hill had betrayed their values to follow Finneran: “I believe we must return to core Democratic values, where the PEOPLE come first. Under Speaker Finneran’s leadership, I believe Democratic incumbents on Beacon Hill have betrayed Democratic Party values in exchange for political convenience. I am not a career politician. I am simply an active citizen who cares about the future of our community.”(as quoted from the Somerville Journal).

Celebrating his primary victory on September 14th, 2004, Sciortino declared: “The people of Medford and Somerville wanted a representative that would stand up for all our families. The people of Medford and Somerville were tired of the old politics of Beacon Hill.”

Then, just 24 hours after proclaiming victory over “the old politics of Beacon Hill,” Sciortino did something very unreform-like: he took money from Tom Finneran, the politician he had just spent months claiming to oppose. Official campaign finance reports show that on September 15, 2004 Sciortino accepted a $400 political contribution from Speaker Finneran’s House Victory Fund. (Reporting on the donation shortly thereafter, the Somerville Journal said Sciortino did not return phone calls seeking comment on allegations of hypocrisy. The Journal meanwhile carried an editorial cartoon poking fun at the situation.)

SUPPORT FOR SPEAKER DIMASI
Literally the very first vote Carl Sciortino cast on Beacon Hill was to put Sal DiMasi in charge of the Massachusetts House—and Sciortino has supported DiMasi as Speaker at all times since. On January 5, 2005, just minutes after being sworn in, Sciortino voted for DiMasi to lead him and the other 159 members of the House. For the 2007-208 session, Sciortino once again supported DiMasi, voting for him as Speaker on January 3, 2007 Speaker DiMasi has rewarded Sciortino for his support, donating to Sciortino’s political committee and giving him access to voter data as paid for by the Speaker.

SCOIRTINO HONORED BY DIMASI’S TRUST
In May 2007, Speaker Sal DiMasi tapped Sciortino to go to Quebec, Canada as a member of the Transportation panel participating in the “Council of State Governments’ Eastern Regional Conference (CSG/ERC)” in August of that year. Sciortino told the Somerville Journal: “I am honored by the trust Speaker DiMasi has placed in me.”

SEVENTY PERCENT OF SCIORITNO MONEY COMES FROM ANY WHERE BUT DISTRICT
There are two places that most of Carl Sciortino’s financial backers don’t call home—and their names are Medford and Somerville. Since launching his political career in 2004, Sciortino has taken in $61,307 in political contributions from people living elsewhere in Massachusetts or America, versus just $37,336 from residents of the two cities he is supposed to represent. In Carl Sciortino’s most recent filings from September 8, 2008 over 70% or $66,000 of his donations came from outside Medford or Somerville. That’s over $120,000 from outside the district. According to official disclosure filings with the state Office of Campaign & Political Finance donations did from the following cities; San Francisco, Philadelphia, Denver, New Haven, Youngstown, New York, Cincinnati, Telluride, San Diego, Bethesda, Plano, Atlanta, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Silver Springs, Rockville, Santa Ana, and Washington DC.

MORE THAN $15,000 FROM LOBBYIST AND PAC’S
Running for office, Sciortino has had help from more than twenty different Beacon Hill PACs and political committees, which together have given him more than $15,000. (Source: OCPF filings)

OPPOSED RULES REFORM
On January 23, 2007, the House debated its Rules for the current session, as proposed by Speaker DiMasi and his leadership. Sciortino voted to approve the Rules bill supported by DiMasi (H. 2007 Roll Call #14 1/23/07) and voted against each and every effort to amend them on which a roll call vote was held. One of the rules changes Sciortino voted against was an amendment to tighten the rule calling for yearly independent audits of House accounts by adding an explicit language that such audits “shall have access to the financial records of the House and each of its committees” and be done in accordance with the standards of the Comptroller of the United States. In a subsequent round of Rules debate, Sciortino voted against placing lawmakers’ Committee votes on the Internet, and against curtailing the special priority treatment legislators currently receive in being able to jump the line to give testimony at hearings.

BACKED PAY RAISE FOR LEADERSHIP
In March 2008, Sciortino voted for a supplemental budget containing pay raises for two leading members of Speaker DiMasi’s leadership team. The raises of $7,500 each were to go to the House chair and vice chair of the Committee on Revenues.