Massachusetts Dem Gov Candidate Setti Warren’s Pay Raise Could Spell Trouble With Voters

A new poll asking Massachusetts voters for their thoughts on politicians giving themselves pay raises could spell trouble for Democrat gubernatorial candidate Setti Warren. While in office as Mayor of Newton, Warren gave himself a 28% pay raise, making it clear that he values fighting for his own paycheck, but not the paychecks of Massachusetts taxpayers. The poll shows that over 70% of Massachusetts voters would be less likely to support a politician who supported giving themselves a pay raise.

State House News Service reports:

“Thirty percent of voters said they would be much less likely to support someone at the polls who voted for his or her own 40 percent pay raise, and another 43.6 percent said they would be less likely, according to the survey conducted by Virginia-based Advantage, Inc.

The poll that was publicized Wednesday found 8.8 percent of voters would be more likely to support a politician who voted for their own 40 percent raise. The increase in lawmaker’ expense accounts, another provision of the pay raise law, was even less popular, according to the poll.”

While Warren has claimed to oppose Beacon Hill Democrat politicians’ attempts to give themselves a pay hike, that hasn’t stopped him from giving himself a raise. In 2012 Warren convinced Newton’s Board of Aldermen to give him a 28% pay increase while other city officials received only a 1.5 to 4% bump in salary. Setti Warren clearly believes he should be held to a different standard than other politicians in Massachusetts. But unfortunately for him, Massachusetts voters do not want a leader who will put their own salary ahead of the taxpayers’ best interests, and that is exactly what Setti Warren has done.

BACKGROUND:

In April 2012, Warren proposed a 28% salary increase for himself, raising his salary from $97,876 to $125,001. “Newton Mayor Setti Warren has proposed raising his own salary by $27,125 in the budget plan he presented to aldermen this week. Warren, a former candidate for US Senate, is recommending that his salary climb next fiscal year to $125,001, a 28 percent increase from his current annual pay of $97,876. ‘It’s not about me, it’s about the office of mayor,’ said Warren, who is halfway through his first four-year term.” (Deirdre Fernandes, “Newton mayor seeks $27,125 pay raise,” The Boston Globe, April 19, 2012)

Warren proposed increasing his own salary by 28% while requesting increases of 1.5 to 4% for other Newton public workers. “Most would see their pay rise between 1.5 percent and 4 percent But the mayor’s pay increase would be the heftiest last year, Warren was the city’s 214th highest-paid employee, trailing the school superintendent, police and fire chiefs, school principals, and numerous police officers. Superintendent David Fleishman led the city in pay, making about $254,574 last year.” (Deirdre Fernandes, “Newton mayor seeks $27,125 pay raise,” The Boston Globe, April 19, 2012)