BOSTON – CUNA put campaign funds behind what looked like a sure bet in the Massachusetts Senate race as recently as two weeks ago: Democrat Martha Coakley, who was defeated in a huge upset Tuesday by Rep. Scott Brown.
Trey Hawkins, political director for CUNA, which contributed $5,000 to Coakley’s campaign, explained CUNA’s support by saying the Massachusetts attorney general was heavily involved in consumer protection issues and investigating predatory lending practices, particularly in the area of mortgage foreclosure. "Throughout, she recognized the important pro-consumer role credit unions play, and made sure to distinguish credit unions as part of the solution rather than the problem," said Hawkins in an e-mail message.
Coakley was heavily favored to win the Senate seat vacated by last year’s death of Democrat Ted Kennedy, who held the seat for almost 47 years. Brown’s election is the first major seat held by a Republican in Massachusetts, where all 10 House seats and both Senate seats are held by Democrats, as well as the Governor’s office and control of both the state House and Senate.
