Women's groups unsure of Healey

Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, seeking to become the first woman to be elected governor of Massachusetts, has refused to fill out the questionnaires of three prominent women's rights groups, prompting some abortion rights activists to question the GOP nominee's support of their cause.

Healey, a Republican who has repeatedly cast herself as a supporter of abortion rights, declined to answer written questions or be interviewed by the local chapters of the National Organization for Women, the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund, and the National Abortion Rights Action League.

Healey's campaign insisted yesterday that she is a strong supporter of abortion rights, but her reluctance to formally explain her position in writing is causing doubts among the groups who considered her an ally. To win in a Democratic state, Healey will need many moderate voters.

``Until now, we have had no reason to doubt Kerry Healey's commitment to a woman's right to choose," said Melissa Kogut, executive director of the abortion rights league in Massachusetts. ``Now she is running for governor. That is a very powerful office. . . . She needs to clarify where she stands."

Healey's campaign said it is flooded by hundreds of questionnaire requests and cannot answer every one.

``The lieutenant governor is prochoice," said Amy Lambiaso, Healey's campaign spokeswoman. ``She has always been prochoice. Her stance on those issues has not changed."

Yesterday afternoon, after inquiries from the Globe, Healey's campaign contacted the abortion rights league and requested a meeting. When asked again to fill out a questionnaire, Kogut said, the Healey campaign declined again.

Abortion activists are especially wary of candidates who resist taking a strong stand on the issue since last July, when Governor Mitt Romney proclaimed himself ``pro-life" and said that he viewed abortion as wrong in an Op-Ed article in the Globe. It was a striking contrast from his 2002 campaign for governor, when Romney wrote in a Planned Parenthood questionnaire that he supported the substance of the Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. Abortion rights activists repeatedly brought up Romney's responses from 2002 as he repositioned himself to ready for a possible run for president.

The National Organization for Women sent out questionnaires to candidates early this summer and gave them three weeks to respond. The abortion rights league also sent out questionnaires early in the summer.

The groups declined to provide the questionnaires to a Globe reporter yesterday. But generally, the activists said, they ask candidates whether they support funding for sexual education in schools, funding for teenage pregnancy prevention programs, access to emergency contraception, and restrictions on abortion rights.

The abortion rights league is publishing a voter's guide on the candidates that it will send to its 20,000 members. Candidates will be asked to come in for an interview based on the responses on their questionnaires. The National Organization for Women also plans to publish a voters' guide.

Planned Parenthood sent out questionnaires in May and gave candidates nearly two months to respond. To be considered for endorsement, a candidate must answer the entire questionnaire.

None of the three groups have decided to endorse a candidate. All three endorsed Romney's opponent, Democrat Shannon O'Brien, in 2002.

Terri Febo, copresident of the state chapter of the national organization, said she was a little surprised when Healey did not answer their questionnaire.

``If she is prochoice or says she is prochoice, then she shouldn't be afraid to fill out a questionnaire," she said. ``Now, we can only take her at her word."

Independent gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos also did not fill out questionnaires for the three women's health groups.

Many advocacy groups send out questionnaires to all candidates to determine which candidate best reflects the group's mission statement. The groups often will then endorse a candidate and mail out voter guides describing each candidate's platform to their members. The voter guide usually also is posted on the group's website. The questions and answers are not published.

``For regular folks who don't belong to these groups, it is a way for them to learn about the candidate's position," said Mary Anne Marsh, a Democratic political consultant. ``Whenever a candidate doesn't want to fill out a questionnaire, it is usually because they don't think they will get the endorsement or because they don't want to commit to their position on writing."

The National Organization for Women and the National Abortion Rights Action League said they do not support only Democrats. Some observers say the groups considered endorsing Romney in 2002.

Healey has come out in favor of abortion rights many times before. In April, Healey and running mate Reed Hillman gave the keynote address at the Massachusetts Coalition for Choice's ``Republicans for Choice" kick-off event.

When the Legislature sent Romney a bill that would make emergency contraception more accessible last summer, Healey told reporters that she repeatedly asked him to sign the bill.

``I am a strong advocate for prochoice, and I expect to bring that voice to the table when the governor and I and his other advisers sit down to discuss the bill," she said before Romney vetoed the bill.

Healey's supporters point out that she filled out a questionnaire from the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus, which endorsed her. The group, which endorses only female political candidates who support abortion rights, also interviewed Healey for 30 minutes on July 17. The group did not request an interview with any other gubernatorial candidate.

``She answered all of our questions very well," said Ann Murphy, cochairwoman of the group's political action committee. ``We had no reservations about her prochoice record."

Cristina Silva can be reached at csilva@globe.com.