Test of an issue

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH -- Two years ago, state Representative Scott P. Brown let slip what he thought of Senator Cheryl Jacques, who is openly gay, and her pregnant partner.

"It's unusual for two woman having a baby," the Wrentham Republican said then. "It's just not normal, in terms of what's normal in today's society."

Now, Brown is running for the Senate seat Jacques vacated earlier this year, in a race that has become an early test of the political wattage of gay marriage in Massachusetts. Brown opposes gay marriage. His Democratic opponent, Angus McQuilken, supports it.

In a Legislature almost evenly divided on the issue, the victor may make the difference in the battle over a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. The race is fueled by issues far more sweeping than local school funding and by groups beyond the usual local suspects. Activists on both sides of the gay marriage debate see the contest as crucial and are watching the race closely, donating money, helping with organization, and trying to sway voters before Election Day, March 2.

The Coalition for Marriage, which has championed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage that Brown voted for earlier this month, will begin mobilizing supporters for him next week through churches in the district southwest of Boston. Campaign finance regulations prohibit the coalition from openly supporting a candidate, so the group will distribute literature telling voters where each candidate stands on the gay marriage issue.

"Obviously, Scott Brown has voted in the way we would like concerning the marriage amendment, and for him to be in the Senate would be a plus," said Ronald A. Crews, spokesman for the coalition. "What we've got is a candidate who is more in tune with our position on a variety of issues. Whereas Angus, from the statements I've seen him make so far, would not be with us on any issue that I know of."

Gay rights activists have sent donations and volunteers to McQuilken, who was Jacques's chief of staff. She vacated the seat to become head of the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group.

"Don't let Mitt Romney and the radical right make the special election to replace Cheryl

Jacques a referendum on gay marriage," read an e-mail appeal from some gay supporters of McQuilken last week. "We must stand against them and elect Angus McQuilken." "The gay community is getting involved in this race, because, for us, there is a very stark contrast between the two," said Arline Isaacson, cochairwoman of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus. "Angus supports full equality and marriage rights, while Scott Brown proudly announces that our civil rights should go on the ballot. So for us the options are clear. We have to support Angus."

It appears unlikely that the outcome of the election would change the balance of votes in the Legislature for the next constitutional convention, set for March 11. A Brown win would not change that balance, because his victory would create an open House seat that would not be filled by March 11. Thus, the number of legislators in the convention would remain at 199. In the convention earlier this month, Brown voted for two amendments that would ban gay marriage and against a third that would ban gay marriage, but establish civil unions in the constitution.

A McQuilken win, on the other hand, would add one more vote to the side that opposes the amendment, but it is unlikely he would be sworn in before the combined special session. The Governor's Council must certify the results, and the governor has to swear in the winner. Getting that done by March 11 is not guaranteed, said Brian McNiff, spokesman for Secretary of State William F. Galvin

McQuilken's vote would count if the constitutional convention is delayed or if the Legislature takes up the amendment again next year. Both sides are anticipating a close battle for the district, which includes Attleboro, North Attleborough, Plainville, Needham, Wrentham, Norfolk, Millis, Wayland, and parts of Franklin, Wellesley, and Natick.

The district was represented by Republican David Locke for 32 years, before Jacques, a Democrat, won it in 1992. Jacques was not openly gay until years after she won the seat. Governor Mitt Romney, who won 58 percent of the district in 2002, is supporting Brown and was in North Attleborough Thursday campaigning for him.

"I got a beef with a lot of things about a person who is not for reform, and I don't care if his name is Angus," a jovial Romney told a shivering crowd outside a local high school.

The contest is also a test of Romney's heft: After he took office, the Republican governor vowed to bring more Republicans to Beacon Hill, and his aides believe he can make a difference in this race.

But Brown said McQuilken has an unfair advantage, because the election is being held on the same day as the Massachusetts Democratic presidential primary, which is expected to boost turnout for his opponent.

Jacques has been campaigning for McQuilken, 34, who mentions her frequently on the trail, often speaking of his major role in the legislation his former boss got passed on Beacon Hill.

Both candidates say gay marriage is not at the top of voters' concerns, despite the enormous coverage spurred by the debate.

"I usually only hear about it when I get asked by reporters," said Brown, 44. "People are very concerned about health care and jobs and their ability to keep their children and families safe. It's an issue they're aware of because it has been so highly public, but it is certainly not the predominant issue."

Brown would not go into detail on why he opposes gay marriage.

"It's just a personal belief, based on my religious upbringing," he said. "It's just my feeling."

He also refused to say whether he still believes it is not normal for lesbian parents to have children.

"It's something that happened a couple of years ago," he said. "And I apologized, and it's water under the bridge, and we've all moved on."

When pushed, he said, "It's irrelevant, what I think," of lesbian parents.

McQuilken said legalizing gay marriage is important to gay families in the district, but to few others.

"I have come to know many of those families personally, and they know I won't support anything that will hurt their children and their families," McQuilken said. "But the vast majority of voters don't consider it an important issue, because it doesn't affect them. The important issues are education, health, and public safety."

As both candidates knocked on doors in the district last week, voters appeared more concerned with other issues. In North Attleborough, Brown found voters who worried about the economy. "It's absolutely a factor, both abortion and gay marriage, as it is for most people who have a moral conscience," said Barbara Belyea, 56. "But I don't give it as much importance as people working."

Jobs concerned the voters McQuilken met in Needham, too.

"My issues are housing and jobs," said Debbie Alexander, 55. "These are the issues I care about, and why we're taking up so much time on an issue that should be a right, it really disturbs me. We have judges who are supposed to make decisions, and they have. If a religion disagrees with that, there's nothing to force them to perform a ceremony."

But though both candidates might downplay the importance of gay marriage, the issues is of concern to some.

"I'm for Scott Brown because he's not for gay marriage," said Susan Mendes, manager of the Dancer's Drawer in North Attleborough. "I do not think actual marriage is proper for gays."