Healey bargains with potential rival in the race for governor

Fearing an independent candidacy that would siphon votes from her own gubernatorial bid, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey yesterday guaranteed Christy P. Mihos the support of enough convention delegates to qualify for the Republican primary, which is scheduled for next fall.

Mihos, a multimillionaire convenience store magnate, has indicated that he will challenge Healey for the GOP nomination, but he has threatened to run as an independent in the general election if he is blocked from the primary or feels that the state party is undercutting his candidacy.

Governor Mitt Romney has endorsed Healey. Romney and the White House have urged Mihos to forgo the governor's race and instead challenge Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

In a letter sent yesterday, Healey's campaign says it is prepared to transfer some of its delegates to Mihos at next spring's convention to ensure that he receives the support of at least 15 percent of the total, the percentage required to get onto the primary ballot. The letter, written by the state House minority leader, Brad Jones, Healey's convention chairman, says the guarantee ''should put your mind at ease and put to rest unfair criticisms of the party we have both worked so hard to build."

''The Republican Party has always been a 'big-tent' party that welcomes candidates from across the political spectrum, and competition and a free exchange of ideas are good for the party," Jones wrote.

In an interview, Jones added that ''to the extent there is a real or perceived issue relative to making the ballot, that issue is resolved."

''We want him in the party. We want him running as a Republican," Jones also said in the interview.

But Healey's promise is not enough, according to Holly Robichaud, a GOP consultant advising Mihos. Robichaud pointed out that Romney has endorsed Healey, and that the party chairman, Darrell Crate, is vice president and chief financial officer of the investment firm run by Sean Healey, the lieutenant governor's husband.

''Christy wants to run as a Republican. We just have concerns about the process. My concerns have not been alleviated yet," Robichaud said.

Robichaud complained that the party has been slow to provide accurate lists of GOP activists in the state, a crucial tool for Mihos.

''He's a lifelong Republican. I was on the state committee for 16 years. But we've got to make sure we get a fair convention," she said. ''If we don't have a list of delegates before the March 7 deadline for Christy to change parties, that will be an indication to us."

Scott Greenberger can be reached at greenberger@globe.com.