eacon Hill observers are fixated on Tuesday's presidential campaign results, not just for who wins, but for what it means to Massachusetts. Almost every political insider, including Governor Paul Cellucci's closest allies, are convinced Cellucci will be headed to Washington in some capacity if GOP contender George W. Bush wins. That would leave Lieutenant Governor Jane M. Swift in charge. Swift, who has strong opinions about the administration's top-level managers and staff, is sure to make some major changes, from senior staff to Cabinet posts. But, interestingly, she may be ready for a term limit herself. State House sources say she acknowledges her low standing among voters and that her political viability may be extremely low - a result of bad press and an Ethics Commission fine for her use of her staff for personal chores. Swift, sources say, has said she may forgo running for the state's top office in 2002, choosing to serve the remaining two years of Cellucci's term and then head back to the Berkshires to raise her family.
Ex-official stumps for Bush in Mich.
It's not just Cellucci who's dashing into action for Bush during the final days of the presidential campaign. Richard Taylor, an African-American who served as Transportation Secretary in the early years of former governor William Weld's administration, has flown to Michigan to help get out the black vote in Detroit and Grand Rapids, Mich., for the Republican candidate.
A partisan agenda seen in the for defeat of Cellucci's Question 4
Meanwhile, some Cellucci allies are convinced that opponents of his Question 4 income tax rollback have motives extending beyond altruistic protection of spending for worthwhile programs. They think there's a partisan interest in embarrassing Cellucci by defeating the question, which calls for reducing the state income tax rate from 5.85 percent to 5 percent. They may have a point. The Web site of Question 4's opposition contains a list of legislators who oppose the question. Every one is a Democrat - 25 of the 33 Democratic senators, and 76 of 132 representatives.
Company chief puts his money on 4
Richard Egan, chairman of EMC Corp., has personally pumped more than $50,000 into the campaign to pass Question 4. This year, Egan is earning $663,200 as chairman of the company, whose name bears his initial and has donated another $100,000 to the cause. Consider it a good investment. If the income tax rate were to drop, Egan would save nearly $6,000 a year, based on that base salary, although Egan's holdings in the company are enormous. It would take less than nine years to recoup his personal contributions.
Weeklies and current owner on different sides of drug question
Community Newspaper Co.'s chain of more than 100 newspapers, most of them weeklies, has editorialized in favor of Question 8, the initiative petition that would create funding and allow judicial discretion for drug treatment rather than prison for first- and second-time dealing offenders. What's interesting, however, is that Fidelity Investments, current owner of the chain, has donated $5,000 to the newly formed committee opposing Question 8. The mutual funds giant obviously allows its media properties editorial independence. The Boston Herald, known for its more conservative editorial outlook, is set to complete its purchase of the chain, probably next month.
Cape race for funds goes to the GOP
Late-entry candidates for the Cape and Islands state Senate seat had to scramble for money and workers in the race to succeed Republican Henri Rauschenbach, who resigned in September to join the Cellucci administration. Republican Edward Teague of Yarmouthport has clearly won the fund-raising battle with Democrat Robert O'Leary of Barnstable. In reports filed Monday, Teague, the former House minority leader, reported raising $108,074 and spending $34,854 in a 27-day period ending Oct 25. O'Leary, a Barnstable County commissioner, reported raising $25,114 and spending $20,205, as of Oct. 20.
Gun owners spending the big in battle against weapons ban leader
The gun owners of Massachusetts, with $20,0000 from their political action committee, are hoping to get some revenge against one of the architects of the state's assault weapons ban. Democrat state Representative Paul C. Casey of Winchester, a six-term veteran, is battling for his political life as he faces Republican Micahel J. Rotondi, a former town moderator. The Gun Owners Action League is furious at Casey for his leadership role in passing an assault weapons ban in 1998. The gun lobby has bought ads in the local paper, taken a poll, and is doing a districtwide mailing for Rotondi. How hungry are they to send Casey back to private life? Their budget for that district eats almost half the $50,000 that GOAL is spending on legislative races around the state. ''Of all our races this year, this is one that has the best chance of defeating an incumbent,'' said Kevin Sowyrda, political strategist, consultant to GOAL - and a licensed gun owner.
Judge disputes 'worst' possibility
It's not exactly a distinction most judges strive to achieve. But controversial Superior Court Judge Isaac Borenstein, known for his light sentences, may face the dubious honor of being profiled in an upcoming Reader's Digest story on ''America's Worst Judges.'' A reporter from the magazine confirmed that Borenstein is on the short list, but refused to elaborate. According to another Massachusetts judge who has phoned Reader's Digest to protest Borenstein's inclusion in the story, three of the Cuban-born, Ivy League-educated judge's rulings caught the magazine's eye: his sentencing of a Chelsea teenager to 3 1/2 years in jail for a hit-and-run accident that killed a South Boston mother of six; his decision to sentence an HIV-positive man who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy to four months in jail and then release him on time served; and his decision - later overturned by the Supreme Judicial Court - that a state law allowing DNA samples to be forcibly taken from convicted criminals was unconstitutional. Borenstein is predictably unenthused. ''I don't mind people disagreeing with me and I don't mind people taking the view that I've made some bad decisions,'' he said. ''But I think being labeled as one of America's worst judges is an unfair description of me.''
Globe Staffers Frank Phillips, Tina Cassidy, Brian C. Mooney, and Sacha Pfeiffer contributed to this report.
