A Standard Bearer for Massachusetts Politics

Anthony D. Galluccio State Senator (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.) Ted Kennedy's loss stirs up many different emotions both personal and political, and in the end they are one in the same. I remember a conversation with Senator Kennedy in his Washington office when I was Mayor of Cambridge. I told him some of the stories my father passed on to me about his brother Jack and the early campaigns in our neighborhood as young returning veterans. Even then it was obvious that Ted had difficulty speaking about his brother. As a human being he aspired to serve his fellow Americans and this came first for him. As a politician he embodied the brand of Massachusetts politics now ingrained in all of us. It is this personal attention to his responsibilities and his constituents that I admire the most. I remember calls to the Mayor's office when my staff would say Senator Kennedy is on the phone and I would pick up and hear "Mr. Mayor, how is everything in Cambridge...". He would then go on to update me on some issue or some funding coming our way. I also loved the Kennedy style of campaigning because Ted obviously ran the show. One summer I received a call late on a Friday to put together a rally in Cambridge for the Senator. I chose the parking lot at Fresh Pond apartments where we had just extended affordability. The location was also across from Russell Field where a home football game was being played. The rally was a huge success with hundreds of people coming out to greet and chat with Senator Kennedy. About a year later, I saw Ted at a reception in Cambridge and he said, "Anthony, I think more people were at that rally for you than for me!" I didn't think he would even remember the rally, but Ted Kennedy didn't miss a thing with local politics. He had a deep respect for local officials who were on the front lines. He remembered names and would pick up the phone to connect, and not just when it was time for his campaign. That standard of respect for public service is what Ted Kennedy embodied. Sacrifice, pain, humility and in the end, affection and love for ALL people is what defined Ted Kennedy for me. He set a standard that has forever changed the face of politics in Massachusetts. A standard we all should aspire to respect and hold true too. I will miss Ted Kennedy but it is my hope that his spirit will live on in all of us. -Anthony Galluccio