Owens vs. Bolling, Sr.
Description:
Marcus Jones reports on the race for the second Suffolk senatorial seat between candidates Bill Owens and Royal Bolling, Sr. Jones. He notes that Owens held the seat from 1974 to 1982, when Bolling, Sr. won the seat. Jones notes that both candidates come from prominent families in the African American community. Jones reviews the history of both families' involvement in city and state politics. Jones' report is accompanied by footage of Owens and Bolling, Sr. at a campaign debate and by footage of members of both families. This tape contains additional footage of the campaign debate between Owens and Bolling, Sr.
1:00:07: Visual: Footage of William Owens (candidate for State Senate) at a campaign debate. Owens talks about the need for a senator to establish himself as independent from any party affiliation. The crowd applauds. Footage of Royal Bolling, Sr. (State Senator) saying that he has accomplished more in four years than Owens accomplished in the previous twelve years. Owens and Bolling are pictured at a campaign debate. Marcus Jones reports that this campaign marks the fourth time that Owens and Bolling have competed for the second Suffolk Senatorial Seat. Jones notes that the district was created in 1974 to afford minorities the opportunity to elect a minority representative to the Senate. V: Shots of the audience at the campaign debate; of campaign signs for Bolling and Owens. Jones reports that Owens beat Bowling for the seat in 1974 and 1976. Jones notes that Owens switched his party affiliation to Republican in 1982 to protest the fact that he was ignored by the leadership of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. Jones reports that Bolling beat Owens in the 1982 elections. V: Shot of Owens. Footage of Bolling saying that Owens claims to be independent of everyone; that no one can be independent of everyone. Bolling talks about the need to cooperate with the other Senators to push for legislation. Shots of the audience members. Jones reports that Bolling has been accused of being too close to Democratic Party leadership; that Owens is seen as too independent by some. Jones notes that the election has turned into a struggle for leadership between two prominent African American families. V: Footage of a young African American man saying that Owens's campaign was helped by the election of Shirley Owens Hicks (Owens' sister) to the House of Representatives. Footage of a middle-aged African American man saying that he can understand why politicians from prominent families campaign on their family name. Jones reports that the Bolling family has been politically active since Bolling won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1960; that his son Royal Bolling, Jr. was elected in 1972. V: Shot of Bolling Sr. preparing to speak in front of a legislative committee. Shot of Bolling, Jr. at a press conference. Jones notes that Bolling, Jr. lost his bid for an eighth consecutive term in the House of Representatives to Shirley Owens Hicks. V: Shot of Shirley Owens Hicks in a meeting of the Boston School Committee; of Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council) addressing a crowd. Jones adds that Bruce Bolling (member of the Bolling family) has been a successful Boston City Councillor. V: Footage of Bolling, Sr. saying that Owens has been afraid to make a stand when he thinks that the stand might be "adverse." Footage of Owens saying that no one has ever been confused about where he stands on the issues. The crowd applauds. Jones stands in front of campaign signs for Bolling, Sr. and Owens. Jones reports that an Owens victory would signal a sweep of the legislative elections by the Owens family; that an Owens victory would signal the first time that a Bolling family member has not represented the districts of Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan.
1:00:07: Visual: Footage of William Owens (candidate for State Senate) at a campaign debate. Owens talks about the need for a senator to establish himself as independent from any party affiliation. The crowd applauds. Footage of Royal Bolling, Sr. (State Senator) saying that he has accomplished more in four years than Owens accomplished in the previous twelve years. Owens and Bolling are pictured at a campaign debate. Marcus Jones reports that this campaign marks the fourth time that Owens and Bolling have competed for the second Suffolk Senatorial Seat. Jones notes that the district was created in 1974 to afford minorities the opportunity to elect a minority representative to the Senate. V: Shots of the audience at the campaign debate; of campaign signs for Bolling and Owens. Jones reports that Owens beat Bowling for the seat in 1974 and 1976. Jones notes that Owens switched his party affiliation to Republican in 1982 to protest the fact that he was ignored by the leadership of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. Jones reports that Bolling beat Owens in the 1982 elections. V: Shot of Owens. Footage of Bolling saying that Owens claims to be independent of everyone; that no one can be independent of everyone. Bolling talks about the need to cooperate with the other Senators to push for legislation. Shots of the audience members. Jones reports that Bolling has been accused of being too close to Democratic Party leadership; that Owens is seen as too independent by some. Jones notes that the election has turned into a struggle for leadership between two prominent African American families. V: Footage of a young African American man saying that Owens's campaign was helped by the election of Shirley Owens Hicks (Owens' sister) to the House of Representatives. Footage of a middle-aged African American man saying that he can understand why politicians from prominent families campaign on their family name. Jones reports that the Bolling family has been politically active since Bolling won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1960; that his son Royal Bolling, Jr. was elected in 1972. V: Shot of Bolling Sr. preparing to speak in front of a legislative committee. Shot of Bolling, Jr. at a press conference. Jones notes that Bolling, Jr. lost his bid for an eighth consecutive term in the House of Representatives to Shirley Owens Hicks. V: Shot of Shirley Owens Hicks in a meeting of the Boston School Committee; of Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council) addressing a crowd. Jones adds that Bruce Bolling (member of the Bolling family) has been a successful Boston City Councillor. V: Footage of Bolling, Sr. saying that Owens has been afraid to make a stand when he thinks that the stand might be "adverse." Footage of Owens saying that no one has ever been confused about where he stands on the issues. The crowd applauds. Jones stands in front of campaign signs for Bolling, Sr. and Owens. Jones reports that an Owens victory would signal a sweep of the legislative elections by the Owens family; that an Owens victory would signal the first time that a Bolling family member has not represented the districts of Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan.
