Politics

Baker super PAC mixes up photo in mailer

Mirra ad includes picture of another Republican

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WHEN YOU’RE sending out thousands and thousands of campaign mailers, mistakes can happen.

A super PAC affiliated with Gov. Charlie Baker recently sent out a mailer plugging Republican Rep. Leonard Mirra of West Newbury for reelection, but it carried a picture of a different Republican on the back side.

The mixup occurred when a photo of Baker, Mirra, and Rep. James Kelcourse of Amesbury was mistakenly bcropped to remove Mirra instead of Kelcourse. Super PACs can raise unlimited amounts of money but cannot coordinate their efforts with candidates, so the Mirra ad was not reviewed by the candidate himself before being sent out.

Gregg Lisciotti, a Leominster developer who heads Baker’s Massachusetts Majority PAC, issued a statement reiterating the PAC’s support for Mirra “because he is a strong, bipartisan leader.”

The Baker super PAC has poured more than $900,000 into state races over the last two months, most of it going to Republicans. Campaign finance reports indicate the PAC has spent $13,320 on behalf of Mirra.

The front side of the Mirra mailer includes a picture of Mirra and another of Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, and says the state’s top two Republicans “need strong partners on Beacon Hill like Lenny Mirra.” The mailer lists Mirra’s priorities as beating COVID, reopening the economy, and providing the best K-12 education.

The flip side of the mailer, which says “re-elect state Representative Lenny Mirra,” features a picture of Baker and Rep. James Kelcourse of Amesbury standing side-by-side. Kelcourse has also been helped by the Baker super PAC, which has spent $11,710 supporting his candidacy.

The front side of a Baker super PAC’s mailer supporting Rep. Leonard Mirra, with a picture of Mirra.

The backside of a Baker super PAC mailer supporting Rep. Leonard Mirra but featuring a photo of Rep. James Kelcourse.

Christina Eckert of Boxford, the Democrat running against Mirra, said she felt badly for her rival because of the mistake by Baker’s PAC. But she said the message of Baker’s support was still clear.

“The governor is very popular, so I‘m sure it’s a boost to Lenny,” Eckert said.

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About Bruce Mohl

Bruce Mohl is the editor of CommonWealth magazine. Bruce came to CommonWealth from the Boston Globe, where he spent nearly 30 years in a wide variety of positions covering business and politics. He covered the Massachusetts State House and served as the Globe’s State House bureau chief in the late 1980s. He also reported for the Globe’s Spotlight Team, winning a Loeb award in 1992 for coverage of conflicts of interest in the state’s pension system. He served as the Globe’s political editor in 1994 and went on to cover consumer issues for the newspaper. At CommonWealth, Bruce helped launch the magazine’s website and has written about a wide range of issues with a special focus on politics, tax policy, energy, and gambling. Bruce is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He lives in Dorchester.

About Bruce Mohl

Bruce Mohl is the editor of CommonWealth magazine. Bruce came to CommonWealth from the Boston Globe, where he spent nearly 30 years in a wide variety of positions covering business and politics. He covered the Massachusetts State House and served as the Globe’s State House bureau chief in the late 1980s. He also reported for the Globe’s Spotlight Team, winning a Loeb award in 1992 for coverage of conflicts of interest in the state’s pension system. He served as the Globe’s political editor in 1994 and went on to cover consumer issues for the newspaper. At CommonWealth, Bruce helped launch the magazine’s website and has written about a wide range of issues with a special focus on politics, tax policy, energy, and gambling. Bruce is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He lives in Dorchester.

Eckert said PACs run by the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund and 1199 SEIU Mass. PAC have sent out similar mailers supporting her candidacy.

She predicts voter turnout will be high this year, and she believes that will benefit Democrats like her. She ran against Mirra in 2018 and lost by 324 votes.

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