Left In Lowell

Meehan to Interview With UML for Top Job

13 Responses to “Meehan to Interview With UML for Top Job”

1. sco Says:
   January 31st, 2007 at 10:08 am

   I win!

2. Paul@01852 Says:
   January 31st, 2007 at 10:15 am

   The disturbing (to me) part of this is that UML recruited Marty apparently, not the other way around. I think Marty’s seniority and experience will be sorely missed. And I disagree with Lynne — I think Marty has made up his mind. The Globe noted that he made an offhand comment recently that the job in Washington gets tiresome at times. There’s been so much “smoke” related to this story lately that I have to beleive there’s some “fire” there.

3. Lynne Says:
   January 31st, 2007 at 10:53 am

   It’s possible, Paul…certainly, things are different now than before, but I for all Meehan’s huge war chest and ambitions to move upwards, you can’t say he really doesn’t believe in campaign finance reform, and has seen that just get chopped to bits.

   I do think Meehan’s political connections and understanding of appropriations would really help UML out, given that UML is trying to emerge as a leader in certain areas and trying to get out from under UMA’s shadow, as it were.

   Still, a tough decision to step down from an influential post in DC, despite everything.

4. Lynne Says:
   January 31st, 2007 at 10:53 am

   (Oh, and sco, but WHAT do you win?)

5. Mimi Says:
   January 31st, 2007 at 11:47 am

   I agree with Paul, where there is smoke, there is fire. Not only does Marty want this, I think it was his people who leaked this information to the press. All members of the search committee have signed a confidentiality agreement.

   Frank Philips’ piece in the Globe reads like a press release from the Congressman’s office.

   Having said that, I do think he would make a good Chancellor at U. Mass/Lowell.

   Now the issue who will succeed him? And what is going to happen to the $5 Million in his campaign fund.

6. Lynne Says:
   January 31st, 2007 at 11:56 am

   He keeps it, of course, for when Kennedy retires. I suspect if the opening came up in 6 years he might still be interested in public office.

   Or anyway, that’s what I would expect, I could be wrong.

   Interesting take about who might have leaked it - I was not aware about the confidentiality agreement, though it doesn’t surprise me.

7. Wes F. in North Adams Says:
   January 31st, 2007 at 12:01 pm

   I put together some thoughts on Rep. Meehan possibly taking this gig, using as an experience what a former Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives did as President of my alma mater from 1954 to 1977.

   WF

8. Atilla the Nun Says:
   January 31st, 2007 at 1:26 pm

   …and let’s not forget where Frank Philips cut his journalistic teeth….

9. yoyo Says:
   January 31st, 2007 at 1:49 pm

   Marty will show his true colors if he interviews for the UML job. Here’s the guy who broke his two term campaign promise, because we needed his seniority in Congress. Now that he actually has seniority and an important sub-committee chair he’s ready to leave. If he’s truly interested in making sure the 5th District is well represented he wont’t even take the interview. Otherwise the broken campaign promise will read for what it really may have been, a political ploy to keep his job. If Marty leaves his replacement will be the most junior member of the delegation, forced to try and keep the 5th intact when Massachusetts loses a seat in Congress. There’s more at stake here than UML. If Marty is true to his word and he want’s to make sure the 5th is well represented, he’ll not interview and hold on to his seat through redistricting. He owes the voters that much for allowing him to break his original campaign promise to serve only two terms.

10. Lynne Says:
    January 31st, 2007 at 2:07 pm

    To be honest, I’m not going to subscribe motivations for him staying or leaving. It’s true, two terms in the House is not near enough to get anything done, as he must have realized. My opinion is that he meant the two-term promise when he said it (out of disgust for previous incumbants I’m sure) and that he knows leaving now will hurt the gains in seniority our seat has gained. But that should NOT be a reason to discourage getting new blood into the seat. We complain about incumbants, but when they leave and there’s an open seat, we complain about losing seniority. Well, we can’t have it both ways…

    Not to mention, maybe he’d be personally happier leaving Congress and taking a job in education? It’s not like that’d be the first time.

    Look, there’s an argument to be had about the system, the promise Meehan did make (which personally I think was foolish but, being foolish, probably came from the heart) and how difficult it would be to regain the power the 5th has with a new Rep. But at the same time, I’m going to cut Meehan some slack unless I discover more cynical motivations.

11. Lynne Says:
    January 31st, 2007 at 2:08 pm

    “It’s not like that’d be the first time.” - I meant that an incumbant politician left for personal reasons, I wasn’t referring specifically to Meehan.

12. Ryan Says:
    January 31st, 2007 at 6:42 pm

    I think it would be a terrible, terrible idea. Before the election, when Meehan wouldn’t fork over any of his $5 million, I wasn’t pleased to say the least. I still think that even if he gave a million to the cause, we could have eeked out another seat somewhere.

    That said, since he was reelected and the dems took over, Meehan has suddenly become a rising star in the Democratic Party. Not only that, but he’s actually been standing strong for important issues - from making sure the Bush administration is held reponsible to getting Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repealed.

    While I’ll take your word, Lynne, and say that I’m sure he could be an effective Chancellor (whereas I had my doubts before) - he could be a far more effective Congressman in a Democratic Majority. I’ll defend the UMASS system as strongly as ANYONE else - and I want to see it succeed badly. However, I don’t think Meehan is an asset we should risk. There aren’t many things more important than higher ed reform in Massachusetts, but Meehan’s ability to effect so many collectively paramount issues concerning this country’s war and military is, in fact, one of them.

13. Lynne Says:
    February 1st, 2007 at 12:50 pm

    Good points Ryan…unfortunately, the real decision rests with Meehan, who, due to personal or professional reasons, might decide otherwise.

    I do think it would be a shame to lose him in the House, though, as well.

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