Builders Taking Sides

Published Mar 11 2008, 08:53 PM by David S. Bernstein

Mayor Menino took a little January breather after raising an eye-popping $1.1 million in campaign contributions in 2007, but has since picked up the pace again. Among his '08 donors so far are at least 33 people whose paychecks are printed by the City of Boston, including new School Superintendent Carol Johnson, BRA Director John Palmieri, and city councilor Stephen Murphy. A few notables from outside City Hall: James Aloisi, Bruce Bolling, Patrick Lyons, Ellen Parker, Linda Whitlock, and Colleen & Darnell Williams.

But most of the bucks have been coming from the building/trade/real estate/development industries: multiple contributions have come to hizzoner from execs at Bluestone, Bulfinch, Continental Wingate, CWC Builders, Dimeo Construction, ICON Architecture, and many more. Carpenters' unions have given $11,500.

But not everyone interested in big buildings is taking Menino's side. A few are giving to city councilor -- and likely mayoral candidate -- Michael Flaherty. His contributors so far this year include commercial real estate developer Robert Beal; construction monarch Jay Cashman; and Kenmore/Fenway area developer William McQuillan. And Flaherty has received contributions from bricklayers', electrical workers', laborers', and sheet metal workers' unions.