Dan Conley Misses the Mark

District Attorney Dan Conley has never played the political game and that’s why we’ve always liked him. He has stood as his own man since being elected a decade ago and his mayoral campaign was shaping up to be cut from the same cloth.

Until this week.

Conley decided, perhaps against the advice of some his political supporters here, to take a position on the casino debate.

Conley went on the record in support of a citywide referendum vote on a casino at Suffolk Downs instead of standing with the community here and its elected officials to support a ward only, Eastie only referendum.

We don’t know who is advising Conley but they should know–for or against a casino, everyone over here on this side of the tunnel wants Eastie and only Eastie’s voice heard on the issue.

Conley’s waited a long time for his shot at mayor. He knows he needs more than just Eastie to win this thing. He has nearly $1M in his campaign war chest. He’s a hard campaigner and he’s a respected man in many circles and in this community.

However, many East Boston residents are disappointed with his decision to pander to the progressive left, to seem more liberal and to the editorial board at the Boston Globe to gain a possible endorsement.

He’s never pandered and he’s never apologized for not being an uber-liberal.

So why start now?

And why do it at the expense of Eastie and the people that support him here?

Conley’s decision may have more to do with realizing in a crowded field he doesn’t need the community to win and needs bigger voting blocks like Jamaica Plain or West Roxbury to pull out a win.

It’s just a shame Eastie was sacrificed.

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