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October 20th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
we will be unable to keep the momentum going if we
elect kazanjian, mcmahom, lenzi, armand mercier bud lite
and of course the lovely rita. be careful folks,we need the five
incumbents plus keegan ali or kristen more coming later
October 20th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
I am still of the mind that the campaigns, or slates of campaigns, that can get their vote out in this election will win given the traditionally light turnout in off year elections.
Because Lowell chose not to have a preliminary election (The city could have tied it in with the Special MA5 election like Tewksbury did) then it really still comes down to a popularity contest and gives the folks with the well known names the advantage.
While I of the mind that voters should look to the future of Lowell when casting ballots, past history suggests otherwise and voters in Lowell cast ballots for names that they know or are familiar with.
October 20th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
The rumblings have Mendonca going down, with Kazanjian and Lenzi taking his seat and the open one. Not thrilled with that scenario, but that’s what the smart money’s on.
Can anyone tell me why it’s believed Keegan is a potential Lynch ally? Does it make sense that Joe Tully’s daughter, the same Joe Tully that is buddy buddy with John Cox, wouldn’t be part of the Cox crowd? What am I missing here?
October 20th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Ellie: you’re right on. K-man will have dumpster-loads of voters that day. He’s a lock. The one who should be worried is Mendonca. All these challengers are going after that 1 spot. Although I’d love to see two of the challengers succeed, my bet is that we’ll lose Mendonca. Pick the one you support most and push, push, push. As for the other K-man (Wallace), he is in the unique position of shaping this race in any way he sees fit. …”when they own the information they can bend it all they want…”. I’ve found that it isn’t always what he says, it’s what he doesn’t say that’s most important. My radar tells me that there’s a bomb about to drop any day now. The story about the conflicts of interest last week was only the beginning. Go after the guy with the most money, make him buy more ads to quiet the whispers and who wins? The paper!
October 20th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
PC, from what I hear, there are a few bombs set to be dropped and if the sun isn’t willing to report on it, I sure that LiL will gladly offer up the information, or perhaps the Herald or the Globe…
October 20th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Luv: My friends call me Prince. PC and me don’t belong in the same sentence.
October 20th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Historically, the Sun does drop bombs before the election. Usually just a few days before the election. And usually only to hurt those candidates who refuse to pledge allegiance to the Lowell Sun.
October 20th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Ironically, Prince that is precisely why you fit in so nicely.
October 20th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
PC…Peace Out….
October 20th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
First Kendall maneuvers the contract extension for Manager Lynch and makes candidates declare themselves. Now he tells the public the future of Lowell is about supporting this City Manager. It couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that the Cox factions will deny Kendall the kingmaker’s role he so covets?
Just more manipulation by the self serving Prince of Darkness. Mimi, you may agree with Kendall because you like Bernie (he not of the good old boys), but I don’t think you want to agree with Kendall morally or ethically. Because there’s no there there when it comes to Kendall and ethics.
One obvious example is the guy who has the best and least justifiable contract in Lowell - Kendall’s own son, Gary. If the Housing Authority fires Gary, he gets several years worth of severence pay. Now that’s good government.
I like Bernie too, but that shouldn’t stop us from carefully examining every Kendall opinion with several grains of salt!
Grizz
October 21st, 2007 at 9:55 am
right in lowell,, what you are missing is that johnny boy
has stated publicly who he is voting for , he has never mentioned
keegans name, besides he verbally attacked her outside a party and
accused her of not being with him !!! thats good enough for me
October 21st, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Grizz:
You are right, I like Bernie’s style of management. But guess what, I know Gary and I like him too; and I met Joann Keegan and like her too. I think it is only fair to judge everyone for who they are and their accomplishments, not only whose child they are.
As for Kendal wanting to play “kingmaker,” he is not the only one, there are a quite a few people in Lowell who want to be the Alpha Dog in this City; some are in the media, others are in business, others are political operatives, others are former City Managers…
October 21st, 2007 at 2:14 pm
… and some are bloggers.
October 21st, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Prince:
Of course, that is a given.
October 21st, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Mimi- You have obviously not been around here long enough (or have been living under a rock) because you clearly don’t understand what grizzled vet is talking about or the negative impact KW has had (and continues to have) on the city. If all of the KW candidates get elected, who do you think runs the city and ultimately decides the tenure of a City Manager? Interesting that Gary W. is mentioned in this thread.
October 21st, 2007 at 4:28 pm
MVP:
No I do not live under a rock, actually I have a nice little townhouse in Lowell and I have been around (LHS class of ‘71, so I have been around). I perfectly understands what Grizz was trying to say; I do not disagree that KW wants to influence and perhaps at times control public discourse, what I am trying to say, he is not the only one. When Lynne speaks of the GOB, people get upset, but that is the case. There is such an element in this City. I question why he is singled out and I question what element is singling him out. Could it be those who are trying to do the same thing that they are accusing him of doing?
And I think it is totally unfair and I might add inaccurate to paint the City Councilors who support this City Manager to be under the influence of KW and thus receiving favorable treatment in the press. Obviously, you do not read the Sun and certainly do not listen to the local radio.
October 21st, 2007 at 4:30 pm
MVP: I think she gets it, but you don’t pick fights with guys who buy ink by the barrel. KW says it’s what’s best for the city but if you look around, it’s been what’s best for the Sun. He had the power in his fingers a few years back but it slipped away. He had his boy as assistant city manager, Sullivan would run the paper, Gary had the Housing Authority and Grady was in City Hall. King*** Taupier was still pontificating from Belvedere Hill. It all fell apart. Yesterday, he said that the Globe doesn’t understand Lowell. We just have to get a better understanding of him. Here’s a guy who had all his ducks in a row and now he’s back to square one, making mountains out of molehills, trying to sell ads and influencing elections.
October 21st, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Prince, please try to be PC in your language selection. Thanks, M.
And if you think that Lynne or I are afraid to pick fight with people who buy ink by the barrel, then let me give you the advice you once gave me, put the crack pipe down.
October 21st, 2007 at 4:47 pm
I thought I was.
October 21st, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Mimi- I did not say that candidates that support the CM are under the influence of KW. Go back and reread. I said that the candidates KW supports are under the influence of KW. And he will be telling them what to do, how to vote, etc.. once elected. It has been going on forever! It is well known and has been talked about for a long time. KW is not suddenly being “singled out.” You may have graduated class of 71 but you have apparently not seen things first hand or up close and personal too many times. I’m not sure who else you are referring to as far trying to “control public discourse.” There is not a single person who comes close to KW as far as having the desire to control discourse as well as ample means. Not to mention there is a long record of KW’s finger stirring the pot…..I would prefer to have my city governed by elected office holders (even if I may disagree at times) than by a man behind the curtain who is completely unaccountable to the people of Lowell. Unfortunately, that is the reality here and has been for a LONG time. If you buy into his propoganda, you help to perpetuate that reality.
October 21st, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Mimi, I didn’t mean to imply that you were afraid to pick a fight. I should have stated that a politician should not pick a fight with a newspaper publisher. Mea maxima culpa.
October 21st, 2007 at 5:38 pm
MVP:
I think the times are a changing…In the past you may not have had a chance to say these things publicly but here you are. Forgive me, but your comments about KW sound personal.
It is difficult for me to discuss this with you; you are dismissing my point of view because in your estimation, I have not had the opportunity to be “up close and personal;” I do not accuse you of the same.
It is almost a no-win situation, if I agree with the guy, I buy his propaganda? What about the times I disagree? I hope that when I got on a rant against those, including KW, who in my estimation, are trying to put undue pressure on Karla, you will join me? Or do you pick and choose your causes?
I do not agree that KW is the man behind the curtain; the people of Lowell through their elected officials are. I agree that at times, we are too lazy or disinterested to do our civic duty; but here on this blog we are trying to engage more people in the process.
October 21st, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Nice misdirection, fellas, but this isn’t about Kendall Wallace.
Lowell made an historic choice when we hired a professional public administrator, instead of another politician or politicians’ friend, to be City Manager. Some people are against that. They like the way Lowell politics have always worked, and don’t want to change that.
This election is about whether we are going to go back, or stay the course. That’s true, not because Kendall Wallace said so, but EVEN THOUGH Kendall Wallace said so.
There are incumbents I’ve never voted for before - like a certain crypto-Republican union-basher - who I will vote to re-elect. And there are certain incumbents who I’ve always supported - like a certain former mayor - who I absolutely will not vote for. And it’s all about whether they are a Cox candidate, or not.
October 21st, 2007 at 8:52 pm
My Slate of Nine…Broderick, Elliott, Millinazzo, Martin, Mendonca, Ross-Sitcawich, Stylos, Ali, Koch.
Let’s hear your picks!
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:43 am
my nine are broderick, elliott, martin, millinazzo, mendonca,
keegan, ross-sitcawich, ali, stylos,
that is a good council, fro lowell and lynch
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:53 am
Couldnt agree with you more Moonlight.. Lowell needs to flush out the fakers.
Our city has a great opportunity to change the face of the council for the next decade with competent, intelligent professionals.
I am proudly voting for Broderick, Eliott, Martin , Mendonca, Milinazzo, Keegan, KRS. Stylos, Ali.
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:37 pm
So Jack, who are the fakers? Sorry to tell you, but I think you are in the minority with your picks.
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Martin, Broderick, Eliott, Mendonca, Millinazzo, Keegan, Stylos, Ali, KRS.
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:17 pm
I only have one. Maybe 2.
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Prince Charming is holding out so he can nominate Mimi for President!
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:57 pm
If anyone had any doubt about the ‘good ol boys’ they weren’t listening to the local radio station this morning when the former city mgr was the guest…He did a smarmy 3 hour long political announcement for his slate of 3 egged on by the 24/7 fill in host and his whiny sidekick from Tyngsboro. I really think it will work against his group.
Eliott, Broderick, Martin, Millinazzo, Mendonca, Kristin, Ali, Keegan and…RMercier simply because her heart is in the right place although I disagree with her vehemently at times.
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:01 pm
I don’t doubt RMercier’s heart is in the right place, but I do think she’s an impediment to good government, not an asset.
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:11 pm
I know we are all passionate but can we refrain from some of the name-calling; otherwise the next two weeks are going to be a massive food fight.
We want our voices heard but our energy should go towards advancing those who agree with us.
And Luv, if nominated I will not accept, if elected, I will not serve.
I do not have the mettle required to be a good public servant; that is why I admire those who do.
October 22nd, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I agree with most of you that the best thing for the city is a pro Bernie Lynch council, HOWEVER- he’s human and we need to keep him honest so a Mercier and a Caulfield wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. We all know there needs to be checks and balances. I may not agree with Bud or really even like him. But he stepped up huge after the flood and he’ll get alot of votes because of it.
Rita, well she won the popular vote both of the last two elections. My guess is she finishes in the top nine.
Armand, He’s so entrenched, and he’s got the elderly and the “fiscal watch dog” mantle. Again a top nine finisher.
So I think that some of you are going to be disapointed out there. Myself included….
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:17 pm
GOP Footsoldier: to be honest, there are better ways to have watchdogs than to simply electe “opponents” of Lynch onto the board. For instance, if you think for a cotton-picking minute that someone like Broderick or Ross-Sitcawich wouldn’t hold his feet to the fire if he took a wrong turn…well, I can tell you that they aren’t the sort of people to ignore facts, and they would.
But the two of them (R.Mercier and Caulfield) seem to just shoot in the dark most of the time…obstructing things of USE to the city. Oftentime apparently at someone else’s behest (ie someone else’s idea). For instance, that motion to “make public” a document that is supposed to help the city in its LAWsuit to recover taxpayer money. That was dangerous ground to cover in a public meeting like that, given that we have to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars from contractors, but they did it anyway. Either they didn’t see the badness of what they were doing (not good in a city councilor) or worse, they did and did it anyway.
Either way, I’d rather replace such sorts of votes with votes supporting Lynch so long as he’s getting the results in the fashion which this city needs. Again, I think several incumbents and challengers are more than capable of the critical thinking necessary to make sure Lynch has the guidance he needs from the voters’ representatives.
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Can we puleeze dispense with the “Fiscal Watchdog” stuff. Even Rodney doesn’t use that in his ads anymore. As I’ve said before, the watchdog needs to be sniffing hydrants a little closer to home. But if you cant dazzle em with brilliance, baffle em with BS.
[edited by Mimi]
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:37 pm
I’m not buying it, Lynne. It isn’t about the character of the people involved, but the system.
The genius of the American political system is that we took the turf-protecting, self-aggrandizing nature of politicians, and set up a system of checks and balances that utilized their in-fighting to promote good government and avoid abuses.
The system can certainly get inefficient and go off on wild goose chases sometimes, but I don’t trust political allies, no matter how well-intentioned, to check and balance each other unless they’re being prodded by political opponents.
I think it will be good to have Cox allies on the council. I think 3 sounds perfect.
October 22nd, 2007 at 7:54 pm
So I’m going to pitch an idea: I think the City should let us voters split up our 9 votes any way we want.
If you only like three candidates, right now you have two choices - either you cast 1/3 the vote of someone who has nine candidates they like, or you can cast votes for candidates you don’t really like. We ought to change it, so that that voter can give 4 votes to their favorite, 3 to their second favorite, and 2 to their third favorite.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:44 pm
oh the fakers? thats easy… macmahon, kazanjian, lenzi. and poor bud,his tueasday night act is stalke an dtired, time to retire him like the highland players did…. Rita, i disagree with her 90 percent of the time, but she does have her heart in the right place..
[edited by Mimi]
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Her heart might be in the right place but sometimes I wonder where her head is.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:54 pm
I have started to edit comments when needed. Too many of you have crossed the line.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:21 pm
joe, what happens to ballots in which the voter miscounts and casts votes adding up to more than 9?
As I have stated in the past, the city should seriously consider district representation vs 9 at large seats. Think Belvidere will elect RM?, or the Highlands BC?
My prediction for the outcome of this election, in no particular order
Rita, Bud, Armand, Martin, Millinazo, Eliot, Broderick, AK, & either Lenzi or McMahon
That’s not what I want to see, but I think that’s going to be the 9.
That would give the Cox boys a 5 to 4 majority so if we don’t want to see that happen then Mendonca and one of the progressive candidates better start making some noise soon!
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:36 am
Lynne,
Why do you feel the need to pontificate to those who hint that they disagree with your point of view that your way is always best? Does it really mean THAT much to you? It’s not POSSIBLE that people can have differing views. A while ago you posted something to the effect of: “I have spent a long time thinking and re thinking my positions so to me and my husband they are correct.” Excellent, for ME my positions are correct. So don’t dismiss those that disagree out of hand as uninformed, or my favorite- that we’ve been duped or tricked into thinking this way.
I do agree with you however that there are better ways, but I was simply saying that just like in the big leagues with the GOP and Dems they keep each other as honest as possible in this crooked game. With one party rule on the local and state level, it’s a little trickier. So if Armand Mercier or Bud Caulfield gets elected (which they WILL I don’t care how many rain dances you do between now and Election Day, more on that in a second.) it’s not the end of the world.
As far as the “fiscal watch dog” thing goes- I agree it’s tired but it gets the elderly attention. When is the last time any of you have had a conversation with anyone over the age of 60 you AREN’T related to? How about a political discourse? I speak with older neighbors of mine all the time. They eat that stuff up with a spoon. That’s my point. They aren’t as involved as the limited numbers on this site and others like it- HOWEVER they out number you and me at the polls no matter how much you wish it wasn’t so. Some of you spout off about “geographical purity”, keep in mind when the majority of the voters in CITY elections go to the polls well, let’s just say old habits are hard to break.
Joe is right our political system pits the different factions against one another to make sure one side doesn’t wind up in total control. My prediction for the council-
Rita, Bud, Armand, Rodney, Millinazo, Martin, Broderick, Kazanjian, and Lenzi.
That’s not my nine votes but none the less my prediction.
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:55 am
GOP Footsoldier: Scanning above I see only one comment from Lynne of the 43 above and to the best of my understanding of english, it seems to give an opinion related to other opinions expressed here. It doesn’t indicate an “end of the world” as you put it. It doesn’t seem like she’s shouting down differing opinions, or anything even remotely like that. I think the sensitive one here is you, since you seem to take such an exception to what is on the face of it, an opinion that differs from yours. You are either reaching, or reading something in the text of what she wrote that isn’t there.
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:26 am
When she adresses me by name I feel the need to respond. Others have made the same assertions I have made in other areas on this blog (i.e. being dismissive). I agree with most of what she has said regarding this matter. I think I was not being sensitive in any way- just responding.
I find it odd however that you respond only to the first paragraph of what I wrote and not the merit or viewpoints of that post.
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:46 am
She disagreed with you and said so… she didn’t get all upset or in anyone’s face so I don’t see how merely disagreeing with you and saying so is in any way evidence that “it really mean[s] THAT much [to here]”. Her comment was just like you claim yours was - Just responding. I took that you were reading into her comment things that are not there as evidence that you were being sensitive, not her. She didn’t get upset that another person stated an opinion and did not take the mere stating of an opinion as evidence of someone being upset. If opinion stating is pontificating, how is it that she is pontificating and you are not?
I haven’t gotten into the meat of this thread so I didn’t have a comment on your viewpoints. Are you asking for my opinion? If so, why be so dismayed that Lynne gave hers?
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:03 am
Think beyond support of this manager.
How much will it matter which 9 we elect next, if Manager Lynch decides to take a better job after getting a few more years experience managing this city?
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:44 am
ML,
I think if you go back and look at hot button issue posts with a fair amount of traffic and dissenting views you will find that Lynne has dismissed some people. Others who have yet to chime in on this matter have also voiced this point of view. I like that two people can look at a situation and one can say night the other day. It makes life interesting. My only point (originally) directed to her was that I disagreed and for her to not lecture me about why I’ve been duped into thinking the way I do. Again, if I’m called out by name I will answer. There was no malice or anything else intended and if you read into that there wasn’t. I was responding. Now I’d like to think you’ve said your piece and I’ve said mine. Let’s move the discussion back to the issue at hand shall we?
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:41 pm
You know… when you post a comment on a blog, where others my post to agree and/or disagree with you, and someone replies with a disagreement, and you take it as being lectured to… that is a pretty good working example of being overly sensitive. I don’t read you as being malicious, I read you as having misread her. She didn’t lecture you and by commenting you invited comment back. It is disingenuous to assume that anyone referring to your specific comment must be lecturing you if they disagree.
“has dismissed some people.”… now your changing the subject from her comment above to any comment she may have made over years of time. I’m well aware of the ‘others’ you refer to, but if you really want lend any credibility to the notion I suggest you and the ‘others’ should stick to specifics and avoid the generalities. The reason I didn’t let this one go as I have in the past is because I have detected among these ‘others’ this idea of Lynne that is framed in a certain way. There is a false narrative being created here and I’m getting a little sick of it. I find when looking at the specifics that this analysis is found wanting. Whether your reading into her comment was a result of having bought into this narrative or an attempt to sustain or strengthen it I don’t know, but it is clear that the ‘Lynne as pontificating lecturer’ isn’t true. But if enough people get away with painting her and this blog that way often enough, it becomes a lie that is accepted as narrative of ‘conventional wisdom’. So when I saw yet another of these comments framing (however inadvertently) what she said in ways that are absolutely not there, I figured enough is enough. But maybe I’m wrong, but I can’t find where, in her comment (the specific subject to which you reacted) she was ‘pontificating’ or ‘lecturing’. Given your reaction I find it hard to comprehend what she should have said in her disagreement that wasn’t ‘pontificating’ or ‘lecturing’. How exactly is it that she’s supposed to dissagree?
But sure, we’ll move on.
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Bobo
I think the make up of the next council will ‘help’ Lynch decide whether to move on to say Cambridge or be happy with a short commute from Chelmsford to Lowell.
If it ends up to be a 5-4 Cox council then I’ll predict the majority will increase pressure on Lynch to call it a day so they can get their boy, or one of his operatives, back in power. If Lynch hangs in there then at some point there will be a meeting in Lynch’s office similar to the one that ousted Cox.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Lynch has tons of municipal experience and with that comes a thick skin. He obviously has the skills to weather a storm. Don’t push the panic button yet.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Has anyone ever considered the 2 teams to be Conservative vs. Liberal and not Cox vs. Lynch?
Mr. Lynne,
I agree that in the above post, Lynne isn’t shouting down differing opinions, but she certainly has in the past and scared people off. I think more people would be willing to post if she changed her tone, here’s hoping she has.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:50 pm
“…has in the past” That is a different issue. Thanks for reading Lynne’s text for what it is and not what people would like it to be. I’d be happy to agree or disagree about ‘the past’, but I’d rather agree or disagree about specifics and not generalities. If enough specifics pile up in evidence then we can talk about generalities. In the meantime I would discourage people from painting a narrative based on generalities not backed up with specifics. When we succumb to this we make it possible for people to guide our understanding of the world independent of reality. This is how false conventional wisdom is created in the MSM and we should be holding ourselves to a higher standard here. I do suspect that this has been the case here recently. This causes me to further wonder if it is possible that Lynne’s actual texts of the past have actually been like this most recent example, and that the created conventional wisdom colored peoples reaction in being ’scared off’. I’m not fully convinced there was anything wrong with her tone before, and in the absence of specific criticisms to specific texts, I’ll stay that way.
I’m not sure what to make of your first point. For my part it’s more about smart ways to run a city versus not-so-smart ways to run a city.
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Shouting down differing opinions. Telling those who disagree to go to other sites if they don’t like it. Editing comments.
Political blogs at their best!
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:04 pm
You going to go tell Dick Howe that his moderating comments is an infringement on your god given rights to insult people? How about the Lowell Sun when it moderates comments on its website?
How about BMG when it (finally) bans a total wrench in the discussion works?
I think you ought to go read the new post, and if you really hate the way we run this blog, please, you are free to leave and/or start your own.
This is my house, and about the time when I start to feel like I don’t want to come around here anymore because of the tenor of the comments (this has happened several times over the last two.five years) is when I step in and make it clear that certain things are not appropriate. You have crossed that line so many times now, you’re lucky I didn’t just outright ban you. I keep hoping that you’ll figure out that we don’t want to ban you, but you keep making it clear you don’t want a good and open discussion, so we have to take steps.
We’ve taken a pretty big one, and it’s not just thanks to you, but you’re definitely a part of it.
October 24th, 2007 at 2:42 am
Very interesting discussion and credit to the “moderators.” I was just trying to give some historical background with regard to Kendall Wallace. You can have the right position for the wrong reasons. Why do you think Kendall has a Saturday column? To maintain influence and make elected and city officials pay attention to him. Remember, Kendall used to participate in the Sunday column and it was often used to attack enemies of his friends (Taupier, Tully, etc.). Kendall has chosen between building a public constituency (no) and cultivating the VIPS (McCallum, Campbell, Behrakis) to inflate his own power base (yes). He works with a City Manager until they become resistant to his views and then uses his column to savage them (Martin, Cox).
I don’t think Kendall is all bad. Many of his positions and the paper’s are responsible and the Sun has had a tradition of “sunshine” and transparency on behalf of the public. However, for Kendall, its all about the power of being able to make a phone call and get something done that benefits his interests. Does this make him unique? No. Perhaps he deserves credit because he has maintained this act over the years and still remains very influential.
Where Kendall has more often failed is in his endorsements of politicians such as Taupier repeatedly for a return engagement as City Manager, Kevin Sullivan of Lawrence, whom he also sponsored as dark horse candidate for Manager, and Eileen Donoghue, whom he supported for Congress. Did I leave out Kerry-Healy?
Kendall and the paper have more influence in the City Council race. There are more limited resources for Council candidates and many voices to sort out. The paper comes out daily. Does this mean that the pro-Bernie types are beholden to Kendall or controlled by him? No. However, if you are running for City Council and someone can say something nice about you on a regular basis, wouldn’t you pay attention to that person?
There are positive and moderating forces to all of this. There are other opinion leaders at the Sun. There are good young reporters who are more independent and value journalism - Matt Murphy is a great example. There are the blogs. The level of comments on Left in Lowell and richardhowe.com are heartening. Finally, there are newcomers, professionals and minority members getting involved in our community.
I am grizzled because I’ve been around Lowell politics for sometime. I’ve seen awful self-serving politicians and leaders, bit also many, many folks I respect and who have made a difference. A more progressive City Council will respect professionalism on the part of the City Manager and others. It will give us credibility and insure an element of fairness. But there is also something to be said about Councilors who are close to people, serve their constituents well, and have different opinions. The optimist in me says we will end up with a productive Council. Kendall Wallace may even contribute to that, as stated, likely for some of the wrong reasons. But with elections every two years and the press, cable and the blogs at their heels; public officials will be more responsive and the idea of a cabal and melt down is unlikely.
So let’s keep up the dialogue. Maybe in addition to identifying your favorites, we can call for a substantive debate. What are the most important three issues today in this race besides the political swing on the Council. Dick Howe had excellent suggestions about challenging the Councilors to define how they would respond to economic development challenges. What are the other issues? I know Lynne and Mimi are on this track as well with their survey. I call on the candidates to entertain us with real positions, not catchwords.
Grizz
October 24th, 2007 at 8:04 am
Grizz:
I agree with with your sentiments as it applies to the recent past; but I really think the “times are a changing.”
You write “There are positive and moderating forces to all of this. There are other opinion leaders at the Sun. There are good young reporters who are more independent and value journalism - Matt Murphy is a great example. There are the blogs. The level of comments on Left in Lowell and richardhowe.com are heartening. Finally, there are newcomers, professionals and minority members (my emphasis) getting involved in our community.”
That is so true and do not forget the local radio station where the ownership has recently changed and we will probably see a different direction there.
I do not know if all this will apply to this election but I think it is fair to say that Lowell is reinventing itself again.
October 24th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Well done, Grizz.