Healey's husband nets $5.8 million over two days in stock sale

BOSTON --As Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey engages in a multimillion-dollar ad blitz on behalf of her gubernatorial campaign, her husband has exercised a fresh round of stock options netting the couple $5.8 million over two days.

That comes on top of at least $14.3 million in similar stock sales during the past year.

Sean Healey, president of the Beverly-based investment firm Affiliated Managers Group Inc., bought and sold stock on Monday and Tuesday that netted $4.4 million in the first transaction and $1.4 million in the second. On Monday, he flipped shares he acquired that day at $38.73 each for a price of $91.64. On Tuesday, he similarly sold shares he bought at $38.73 for $92.25.

Both of the transactions were reported to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by AMG because they involve what is termed "insider" activity. Such transactions must be publicly disclosed because they involve executives with inner knowledge of company business that could affect its stock price.

Since Aug. 16, 2005, the Healeys have engaged in at least three stock sales that netted the couple, respectively, $9.1 million, $2.5 million and $2.7 million, according to SEC documents. The August 2005 and 2006 sales occurred on virtually the same dates, indicating a regular divestment schedule.

Sean Healey did not immediately respond to an after-hours message left with an assistant at AMG.

Tim O'Brien, manager of Kerry Healey's campaign, declined comment.

The lieutenant governor has said in the past that some of the couple's personal wealth would be used to finance her campaign. During her 2002 campaign for lieutenant governor, Healey donated $1.8 million to her political committee -- 72 percent of the total funds it raised.

On July 17, she began TV advertising for her gubernatorial campaign and, on the same day, wrote a check to her campaign for $2 million.

Two of Healey's Democratic rivals, Attorney General Tom Reilly and businessman Chris Gabrieli, are engaged in their own multimillion-dollar ad campaigns. Reilly plans to spend $4.4 million he had banked before the Sept. 19 Democratic primary. Gabrieli has said he could spend up to $15.36 million on a race, although he has said he expects to spend less.

Nonetheless, Gabrieli has pumped millions into his campaign, most recently $1.75 million between July 16 and July 31, the most campaign reporting period available for public review.

The third Democratic candidate, Deval Patrick, plans to begin a five-week, $2.5 million ad blitz on Friday.

Healey does not face a primary challenger, but her campaign staff has said she plans to advertise nonstop to Election Day on Nov. 7.