Latest news with #YourFuture
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Wu slams rival Josh Kraft over big bucks infusion: ‘Boston is not for sale'
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu didn't waste any time Tuesday making her feelings known over news that rival Josh Kraft was not only dropping big bucks on his campaign, but also was getting a leg-up from a super PAC on top of that. "Most Bostonians don't have a billionaire father to buy them a condo so they can move in to run for an office they've never voted for, live in a ward they don't know, and spend millions from their family wealth and connections to try to buy the election," the Democratic incumbent said in a statement released through her campaign. A bit of background: Kraft, a political newcomer and the son of billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, announced last week that he was putting $2 million of his personal cash toward his campaign for City Hall, according to published reports. Late last week, Your City, Your Future, a pro-Kraft super PAC, disclosed through a state filing that it was spending $1.42 million on text messages, digital, TV and radio advertisements, along with billboards, supporting the challenger. That personal donation effectively erased Wu's fundraising lead. Heading into last week, the Democratic incumbent was sitting on more than $2 million in her campaign accounts, compared to Kraft's $151, 161. "The power of incumbency is a real thing,' Kraft said in a Friday statement to The Boston Herald. 'While Mayor Wu appears to be running her campaign out of City Hall, I have a fully staffed campaign team, including a campaign headquarters in Nubian Square.' 'While my campaign just reached the $1 million mark in donations, a modern campaign that includes a strong and robust field organization requires more resources than I can raise in such a short time frame,' he said, adding, 'I have never felt more optimistic about my campaign and what lies ahead.' Wu fired back on Tuesday, saying the senior Kraft and his "fellow Trump associates are trying to buy Josh a job by trashing our city with millions of dollars of negative attack ads. And without grassroots support for his campaign of half-measures and grievances, Josh Kraft is now having to self-fund his campaign with millions more from his family wealth too." 'This is an unprecedented early start to outside money raining down on a Boston city election as Kraft runs the most negative mayoral campaign in generations,' Wu continued. Wu and Kraft, who officially made the 2025 ballot last week, have spent most of the campaign exchanging jabs on social media and in dueling public statements. That happened most recently during a forum earlier this month that took in issues ranging from the city's prohibitive housing costs to public safety. Here's who's on the ballot for Boston mayor, City Council — so far Boston mayoral candidates clash over city budget, housing and transit in first forum Angela Menino, wife of former Boston Mayor Tom Menino, endorses Michelle Wu for reelection Read the original article on MassLive.
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Kraft-aligned super PAC pours $1.4 million into attacks on Wu in mayoral race
The filings don't detail the ads' content, but the group also put $10,360 toward text messages, which some on social media have Advertisement When Wu won her first term in 2021, the highest-spending super PAC that year reported pouring $1.6 million into the race. Combined with another $125,000 it already spent on digital ads, 'Your City, Your Future' has already reported spending $1.55 million with still more than five months to go until Election Day. Advertisement The group's lines of attack echo Kraft's own campaign messaging. Kraft, the nonprofit executive and third son of billionaire He has also sought to undermine Wu's claims that Boston's Related : Super PACs and the campaigns they support are not allowed to coordinate. But the groups, officially known as Super PACs are allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, and, unlike candidates themselves, they can take donations directly from businesses. New Balance chairman and billionaire Jim Davis has already Advertisement The super PAC has also received high-dollar donations from other influential business leaders, including $150,000 from John Calnan, chief executive of the construction company J. Calnan and Associates, and $100,000 from Robert Hale, the chief executive of Granite TeleCommunications. Howard Kessler, a prominent philanthropist and financial industry executive; J. Derenzo Companies, a A spokesperson for the PAC did not immediately respond Monday to an email seeking comment. Super PACs and other outside groups have proven to be a force in mayoral races dating back more than a decade. In 2013, amid the crowded scramble to succeed long-time mayor Thomas M. Menino, outside groups spent $3.8 million, with labor-affiliated political action committees That included help from a mysterious political action committee that paid for $480,000 in TV ads supporting Walsh during the final days of the Boston mayoral race. The American Federation of Teachers later confirmed it was the Outside that year, dropping nearly $1.62 million. In all, super PACs and other entities, including traditional PACs that face Advertisement Matt Stout can be reached at
Boston Globe
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Sports businessman and friend of Robert Kraft, Michael Rubin, donates $1 million to super PAC backing Josh Kraft
Rubin, who lives in Conshohocken, Penn., has close ties with Kraft's father Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots, according to media reports and posts on Rubin's social media profiles. In photos shared on his public Instagram account in recent years, Rubin Rubin is also the co-chair and co-founder of the criminal justice advocacy group Advertisement Rubin's donation is not the first time Robert Kraft's associates have supported his son's political ambitions. The chairman and several top attorneys of the Josh Kraft was largely expected to receive support from a broad network of wealthy donors in his bid to challenge Wu, given the nonprofit leader's own relationships and his father's connections. Individuals can only donate up to $1,000 to a political candidate in a calendar year, according to state law. But those restrictions do not apply to super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, but are prohibited from coordinating with a campaign. A spokesperson for the 'Your City, Your Future' super PAC emphasized that its contributions and spending are publicly available on its state campaign finance page. 'Your City, Your Future is proud to support Josh Kraft and his vision for an affordable, livable, and safe Boston for all,' a spokesperson for the super PAC said in a statement. 'That is why people across Boston, Massachusetts, and even the country are supporting Your City, Your Future's efforts.' A spokesperson for Kraft's campaign declined to comment on Rubin's donation, but criticized Wu's leadership of the city. 'Josh is 100 percent focused on his campaign and holding Mayor Wu accountable for her mismanagement of city government and failed policies that are driving up the cost of housing among other things,' said Kraft campaign spokesperson Eileen O'Connor in a statement. Related : Advertisement Wu's team opted to take aim at Kraft's privileged background, a dig Wu has frequently reiterated in recent weeks. 'Not surprised that Robert Kraft is working his billionaire friends to buy his son a job, but Boston is not for sale,' said Wu campaign spokesperson Julia Leja in a statement. Fanatics did not immediately return a request for comment. Kraft has raised nearly $880,000 since launching his campaign in February, and had just over $150,000 in cash on hand at the end of April, according to his latest campaign finance report. Wu ended the same period with about $2.2 million in cash on hand. Niki Griswold can be reached at
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Seventh-graders experience Career Quest
ELKHART — Thousands of seventh-grade students were enticed with a wide array of possible career paths during an annual Career Quest event held Wednesday and Thursday at the Northern Indiana Event Center. The event, organized by the Horizon Education Alliance, attracted over 2,500 seventh-graders from across Elkhart County over the two days. Local employers from the business operations, construction, health care and manufacturing sectors hosted interactive activities for students. Seventh-grade students need to think about their future careers now more than ever because of the high school diploma changes, said Sarah Koontz, director of CareerWise Elkhart County. 'They're choosing pathways early, so in eighth grade, they're building their schedule for high school,' Koontz said. 'They're either going to do enrollment, enlistment or employment, and so they'll have to be thinking about that.' The Career Quest event helps seventh-grade students figure out what they like, what their skills are, and knowing what all the options are, Koontz said. Horizon Education Alliance hosted businesses from different sectors to show students they do not necessarily need to go to college to go into a specific field, she said. Career Quest was established in 2019, and has been hosted annually at Northern Indiana Event Center, except during the COVID-19 pandemic when it was canceled. Koontz said the event has always had a similar number of businesses each year, but the size of the event has grown. Each business is now providing multiple activities to showcase different occupations, instead of just one activity. Students also have the opportunity to become an apprentice at different businesses when they are in high school. Season Geans, a senior at Jimtown High School and an apprentice with Surf Internet, said her apprenticeship has helped her get into the business world, which is where she wants to be after school. 'I would definitely say that it's wonderful for the students to get out here and experience all the different jobs,' Geans said. 'I've had a couple students come up and ask about all the different jobs that we offer ... It's definitely amazing to see all of them interested in getting out into the field.' Horizon Education Alliance is a non-profit organization created by Elkhart County education and business leaders. It works across communities for the betterment of the whole county, and holds the belief that education is the key to unlocking the full potential of all residents. A representative of one of the construction companies at the event, Build Your Future, said Career Quest was a great investment of time for businesses and students alike. 'Our goal is to get in front of students, kindergarten through 12th grade, and just help them understand that there's potential careers in the building and trades industry as they go through their schooling,' said Kelly Barr, committee chair for Build Your Future. 'This is the best opportunity for us to get in front of the maximum number of kids, let them try some tools and talk to them about what we do as builders and tradespeople. It's very rewarding to come and engage with the kids.' Career Quest 2025 was supported by diamond sponsor Community Foundation of Elkhart County; silver sponsors Beacon Health, Brinkley RV, Grand Design RV, Ivy Tech, Lippert, Surf Internet, and Utilimaster; and bronze sponsors First State Bank and Nuway Construction.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Event to inspire women to stand for election
More women will be encouraged to stand for election to the States Assembly at an event in Jersey later. - the States of Jersey's official election guide - has set up the Their Legacy, Your Future event on International Women's Day to celebrate women who are political pioneers. It said current female States member would host a panel discussion, focusing on their experiences in campaigning to get elected. campaign manager Emily Thomas said: "International Women's Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate this and encourage more female candidates to come forward in future elections and be inspired to make a difference in our community." Ms Thomas said there had been an increase in women standing for election and successfully getting elected. said the event would offer a Q&A session and a behind-the-scenes tour of the States chamber. Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Government of Jersey Their Legacy, Your Future event
