Wilkerson Will Not Quit

By Abe Scherzer

Michael Powell lives a block off Centre Street, in the heart of Jamaica Plain. He says he is a proud member of the community, but he has no problem with Senator Dianne Wilkerson running a sticker campaign against Jamaica Plain activist Sonia Chang-Diaz after already losing to her.

“If there’s a mechanism and it’s sanctioned by whoever makes the rules, then I think it’s fine,” Powell says. “Maybe she thinks she can get more votes, a better turnout. I think people just took for granted that she would win (the primary).”

Chang-Diaz defeated Wilkerson in Sept. 16’s Democratic primary. Chang-Diaz’s victory was confirmed in a recount last Saturday. Now, Wilkerson has vowed to run a sticker campaign to keep the seat she has held for 15 years.

Kevin Murray, 55, found walking down Center Street, isn’t a fan of Wilkerson, but still accepts her recent tactic. “I don’t hope she wins,” Murray says, “but I think she needs to have the opportunity to exhaust her options.”

Others aren’t as sympathetic toward Wilkerson. “I don’t like it,” says Marilyn Becker, 68, while standing on Center Street. “What I hear about her and her experiences with the law, I don’t appreciate her drawing-out the process.”

George Johnson, 36, of Jamaica Plain, starts off showing sympathy for Wilkerson. “I think it’s fair (she continues to run),” says Johnson. “Because of all the stuff she has done for the community, she wants to do everything she can to show she still belongs.”

Johnson then takes a moment to think. “It’s also very possible,” Johnson begins, “that she’s just kind of doing it out of spite; she’s being ungracious. She’s saying only she can have that seat.”

After Saturday’s recount, Chang-Diaz was pronounced winner over Wilkerson by a tiny margin of 213 votes out of a total of 18,386 ballots.

On Nov. 4, Chang-Diaz will also compete against William Leonard of the Socialist Workers Party that hopes to build a national labor party. Leonard is not considered a serious candidate for the seat.

Elisa Tosi, 49, found shopping on Center Street, says she wishes Wilkerson’s campaign would just disappear. “The electoral process is to vote, and she lost, period,” Tosi says. “Unless there’s some sort of obvious mistake they need to investigate, I think (Wilkerson) should just be done with it.”

“I’ve read about the things she’s done, all the trouble she’s gotten in,” Tosi says of Wilkerson. “Honestly, I’m just sick of her,” she says with a wry smile.