St. Fleur exits race, faces challengers in 5th

Yawu Miller

Just 24 hours after District Attorney Tom Reilly announced his selection of Marie St. Fleur as his running mate, the Dorchester Democrat’s political fortunes reached a nadir as she withdrew her name following media reports detailing missed payments on multiple tax liens.

Now, as Reilly is struggling to rebound from a major hit to his campaign, St. Fleur is facing three challengers in this year’s race for her seat. Barry Lawton, Althea Garrison and Cesar Cruz have pulled nomination papers from the Secretary of State in anticipation of running.

St. Fleur, who ran unopposed two years ago, is seen by some as politically vulnerable. Her tax troubles, unpaid student loans and a re-cycled news report that she was fined for attempting to sell her car to her campaign committee eclipsed the news of her selection as Reilly’s running mate.

Her announcement ending her candidacy for lieutenant governor came Wednesday at Reilly’s Congress Street campaign office. Although St. Fleur would have been required to step down from her seat while running for lieutenant governor, by last Friday, she had pulled papers for re-election.

Despite the increased political activity in her district, Ward 15 Committee member Judy Meredith says St. Fleur stands an excellent chance of re-election.

“She is very well liked,” Meredith said. “She knows a lot of people. People are ready to support her.”

Garrison, who is running as a Republican, said that St. Fleur’s decision to re-enter the race for state the 5th Suffolk District would not deter her own plans to run for the seat.

“I filed papers,” she said. “I made the decision. I’m a leader. Leaders don’t change their minds.”

St. Fleur will likely prove a tough adversary for her challengers. She currently has $19,000 in her war chest — not enough for a state-wide run, but a good start for a district race. Her power of incumbency and name recognition will also work in her favor.

Although Garrison and Lawton have both run for the seat before, both were beaten by St. Fleur when she was first elected six years ago. St. Fleur, who has stayed loyal to former House Speaker Thomas Finneran and current speaker Sal DiMasi, is currently a vice chairwoman of the Ways and Means Committee, which allocates funds in the state’s budget.

Meredith says her committee assignment and her experience in the House make her an asset to the district.

“She gets things for her district and the nonprofits in her district,” Meredith said.

While the disclosures of her overdue tax bills, including an unpaid automobile excise tax, may have damaged her state-wide viability, Meredith noted that state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, who was committed to a half-way house after facing charges of failure to file federal income taxes, lost little support in her Senate district, beating back challengers who had hoped to capitalize on the bad publicity.

Meredith said Ward 15 Democratic Committee members are committed to supporting St. Fleur’s re-election.

“We’re going to work hard to make sure that she retains her seat,” she said.

Others in the neighborhood said St. Fleur’s 24-hour change of plans has ignited political ambitions in the local Cape Verdean community.

“People felt some excitement about the seat,” said one local activist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “In the local Cape Verdean Community there was some talk about running a candidate.”

While St. Fleur may likely face a contentious battle for re-election, Reilly too is suffering from fallout from his decision to select the rep as his running mate. Reilly, who reportedly courted millionaire businessman Chris Gabrielli to serve as a running mate, told reporters he did not know the extent of St. Fleur’s problems with her personal finances.

Reilly maintained a low profile over during the last week, as he was pilloried in the press. The fallout from the St. Fleur debacle carried through into the Democratic caucuses, with delegates in Watertown — Reilly’s hometown — questioning his political instincts.