Left In Lowell

The Sun Editor, Jim Campanini, has once again failed to disclose a conflict of interest with regards to his role as editor of the Lowell Sun. Par for the course, I suppose, but this one’s a doozy.

A week ago, an editorial appeared in the Sun (we wrote a rebuttal) telling the legislature to consider Gov. Patrick’s plan for casinos in Massachusetts (saying, “Frankly, we see no way out of the state’s fiscal dilemma without engaging in a serious debate on legalized gambling.”). While there’s no evidence Campanini wrote the piece (in fact, it’s too well-reasoned and well-written to be his alone), the Sun’s editor gets the final say about what’s in the paper and the editorial page. So why does the public not know that Mr. Campanini appears to have a major stake in a stable of racers that frequent Suffolk Downs? (We found out thanks to a tip from an alert reader.)

This does, in fact, explain why we give a shit about horse racing at all in the pages of the Lowell Sun. Which could also be a conflict of interest, using the paper to drum up interest in a sport that the lead editor wants to promote for monetary gain, don’t you think? I mean, does the Lawrence Eagle-Trib spend as much time on horse race coverage?

Why does this matter for casinos? Well, Suffolk Downs is having some serious trouble staying open. Suffolk’s answer? They want to add the lucrative lure of slots, and they want it something awful. They can’t do that without Class III gambling made legal by the Governor’s proposal.

There’s just some lovely juicy tidbits showing how involved Mr. Campanini is with the G-Biscuit racing stable on the About part of their website. He is listed as a General Partner on the contact page. Then there is the Part 1 and Part 2 of the “About” page. Let me quote some…(bold mind)

The idea for G-Biscuit Stables didn’t happen overnight. In fact, it began with the “what if” daydreams of three friends, Matt Spencer, Nick Caraganis and Jim Campanini.
[…]
Barry said Delaware would be the place to set up shop for two reasons. It featured larger purses because it had slot machines and there were several other tracks within a 100-mile radius that offered racing.
[…]
The money was now flowing in from Frank’s family and friends, and Jim’s brother and his friends, Nick Narducci and Pat DiMasi, who goy in under the deadline. We had $45 grand in the bank.

Quite an investment.

Most partners have become friends. We plan dinners together, go to Saratoga together, and even play golf together when the weather suits us.

Frank Catapano, Joe Gazzola, Nick Caraganis and myself, Jim Campanini, can often be found in a foursome somewhere at either Orzo Trattoria on Route One in Saugus or in the Carousel, in season, at Saratoga.

Other members, living in Rhode Island, Puerto Rico and New York, remain connected in spirit if not in person. They share in this remarkable story for their unconditional support to the directors, trainer and horse agent.

The group’s initial investment of $43,000 has grown substantially under the auspices of John Rigattieri, our patient and expert trainer, and Barry Roos, our level-headed horse agent, partner and friend.

In using the first person occasionally, it’s obvious that this story of the stable was written by Mr. Campanini himself. Does that sound like the actions of a disinterested and objective journalist? No. It is, however, just one more example of how this editor is ruining his paper with conflicts of interest, whether it’s in politics and protecting his buddies, or in protecting his stake in horse racing.

I do not understand why this man is still leading the editorial team at the Lowell Sun. He’s so plainly not good at the job, and is using the paper for his personal gain besides. To the corporate owners of the Sun, if you’re reading this, you are limiting the profitability of your paper by keeping people like him. I can’t count the number of residents I know who have canceled their Sun subscription in the last two years. I myself refuse to pay for the Sun, and believe me, I would be the first to sign up were Campanini no longer its editor. There are great journalists at the Sun and their talents are being wasted. Mr. Campanini should be let go, and better, more able leadership brought in. Preferably from outside of the Merrimack Valley, if you’re asking for advice.