Cop union puts screws to Kerry
By Andrew Miga
Thursday, March 4, 2004
Boston cops are using their presidential endorsement clout - which humiliated Michael S. Dukakis in 1988 - as a hammer to force Sen. John F. Kerry [related, bio] to help in their bitter contract talks with City Hall.
The Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, ratcheting up pressure on Mayor Thomas M. Menino, said yesterday that until their contract dispute is resolved the union cannot consider endorsing Kerry.
``We're tied up on the contract and until we get that done, we can't even think about making any endorsements,'' said police union president Thomas J. Nee. ``Our first priority is a contract, plain and simple.''
During the 1988 White House race, the Boston patrolmen's union shot to national prominence after giving Republican presidential nominee George H.W. Bush a rousing endorsement in Dukakis' backyard.
The union's formal backing - coupled with news footage of Bush surrounded by a sea of blue-uniformed officers - underscored GOP charges that Dukakis was soft on crime.
The former Bay State governor cringes at the memory. ``I can tell you this, John Kerry [related, bio] is not going to sit there and not respond to Bush. That was my mistake in 1988,'' Dukakis said.
The endorsement - which union leaders say is all but assured Kerry once the pact is set - is just one hardball tactic the BPPA is using in its stalled talks with Menino.
The BPPA, along with other city unions without contracts, picketed Menino's State of the City speech in January and has threatened to do the same at the Democratic convention set for the Fleet Center in July.
City unions placed an ad in today's Washington Post making it clear they'll shine a national spotlight to make the mayor and Democrats squirm.
Kerry aides were silent yesterday on whether they will intervene to bring Menino and the cops together on a pact - a task that would not be easy given the police demands for more cash and the mayor's insistence the city can't afford it.
But Menino aides say they would welcome Kerry's efforts.
``If (Kerry) wants to help, I'm sure the mayor would be very appreciative,'' said Dennis DiMarzio, Menino's chief operating officer who is also involved in labor talks. ``I would hope that both the city and the BPPA would look at (the convention) as a good reason to reach an agreement.''
Earlier this month, Kerry reached out to Nee seeking the union's endorsement. The pair exchanged phone messages.
``The senator is looking to sit with us,'' the union chief said. ``He and I will sit down. I've had preliminary stuff on the phone with the campaign. I'm looking forward to talking to him and the campaign.''
Nee is a strong Kerry backer, who helped put the senator over the top in his 1996 re-election race against then-Gov. William F. Weld.
``I know him well,'' said Nee of Kerry, a former prosecutor. ``I was his biggest cheerleader back in 1996.''
Dukakis said: ``John was a damn good prosecutor and he's been very close to law enforcement. I hope they have the good sense to support him, whatever their problems with the locals, the city.''