I’ve been blogging regularly since January. I don’t profess to be a great writer or am foolish enough to think that people really care what I say. I write because I’ve found that I like it and I enjoy having a Blog. It appears from the numbers I see that people will read it and only a few will make comments.

I’ve stated in the past I may not agree with Elected Officials but I do respect anyone who has the courage to put their name on a ballot and serve the public. I have seen firsthand it’s a Thankless job where any idiot (like me) with a computer and free time can rip you daily for whatever you do and don’t do.

Sitting on the sidelines it’s pretty easy to take shots at the Elected Officials. Hey they chose to run and make themselves open to criticism and smart ass comments.

Elected Officials are not perfect and are pretty easy to write about and comment on. They will never please everyone.

Neither will a Blogger. I’ll get criticized for being soft or easy on someone and then get criticized for busting someone chops. One thing I try to do is just express my thoughts on the issue as I see it without trying to be overly critical and purposely mean. To often it’s easy to go for the quick cheap shot, a fact that I realized today, I do often in the attempt to be funny.

Most of the people I comment on I do not know personally and a few I do. Usually none of them will email me and say you’re wrong or stop busting my back. Most take it shrug it off and ignore me and other Bloggers. A few like Jim Leary, Fred Bahou and Victor Olson will respond which I appreciate. I wish more of them replied and talked to people on BLOGS.

One thing I do is admit when I screw up! If I am wrong I admit it. I’ve never claimed to know it all. I post my opinion and let it fly.

I got a call today from State Rep Tom Golden – Tom could have yelled and screamed at me, he could told me to F*%$ Off or to go to hell or told me I owed him an apology. He could have sucked up, made excuses for not getting backed to me and could have answered my questions and blown smoke up my rear and say I could contact him anytime. He could have followed the advise that other elect officials have given him “Ignore the As*h*le”

He did NOT. Instead he went through the questions I had and then went over calmly and rationally the objections he had to things I have written. Pointed out where he thought I had stepped over the line of good taste and civility.

For Example
BAD TASTE: The remark about his picture on the Milk carton
STUPID: Why I haven’t seen his picture and questioning his health. I should have though about the George O’Hare fiasco and said something else.
Asinine: Linking his sister to the FBI Investigation and making him seem prejudice toward Latino’s in the Lawrence Mayor issue.

He was a gentleman who could have easily continued to ignore my comments and emails but instead called and talked with me Man to Man.

One think was made clear today, Tom Golden stands up for himself, his family and his beliefs. He doesn’t yell, threaten, swear or call you childish names. He tells it like he see’s it and after we were done he Thanked me for listening and hoped that I would just consider more what I write and the way I write it

I believe I do owe Tom an Apology for some of the items I have written. A few went over the line. Going for the easy cheap shot or wise ass comment was wrong. I apologized to Tom privately and he stated he didn’t expect nor did he really want a public apology. I try to be fair and when someone points out I’m wrong I admit it, apologize and move on. Since I posted publically I feel I should apologize publically and told him so.

We will not be having coffee or a beer together anytime soon. Nor will we exchange Christmas cards or birthday greetings. Tom won’t be posting on my BLOG, nor will I be giving him a free pass when I don’t see eye to eye with him on issues. We will say Hello and not chit chat if we run into each other and I expect his family and his friends will treat me in the same fashion.

I will still have disagreements with him and question why he voted a certain way and I’m sure he will still get upset when I write something that he disagrees with and that is Okay. I still will take a chep shot (will try to do so less) and still try to be funny and still piss people off. It goes with the territory and I’m not trying to be their friend. I’m just an average guy who reads the Sun, the other BLOGS, City Life and listens to WCAP and then write what I want to on an issue. People will always get mad or support you.

If nothing else I have learned another lesson in BLOGGING and in life and will try to use that and make my writing better. I was schooled in Civility today by a person I have not always been civil to.I will continue to write and make the shots less personal and the content better written. I will try.

I will post over the weekend the status of the Bills I questioned him on and the answer to another question I asked.

For today I leave this Apology and Thank Tom for his response.

In a truly strange editorial that comes 4 days after Town Meeting, The Lowell Sun has an editorial that states:

Dracut boards should give up insurance perk

Mr. Zimini has been criticised on some local Blogs for his stance and his attempt at trying to curb this perk. I’m wondering why the SUN which like most of us knew the town meeting was on Monday June 7th waited until Friday June 11th to make their position? Mr. Zimini sure could have used the exposure say a week or even the Sunday before. To come out for it now after the meeting makes it less relevent and to cast suspicion on those who took the time to attend the meeting by inferring that ” Many were town officials, employees and/or their friends and family members” is mere speculation.

Interesting that the Dracut Forum had a post about the Tech School Committee Chairman that turned into a trash session on a Sun reporter including a post from an ex-selectman. Could this just be a little tit for tat by the Sun??

The Editorial in part reads:
Dracut selectmen and School Committee members could exhibit leadership and fiscal responsibility by refusing to accept taxpayer-funded health-insurance benefits, even though voters at Town Meeting agreed to maintain $2,000 stipends for those serving on both boards.

Certainly, the tight financial constraints with which the town, and residents, are grappling, warrants changes in long-standing benefits. This is particularly true for benefits granted to part-time officials.

What is the justification for providing part-time elected officials with the health-insurance option, but failing to offer the same benefit to part-time employees?

It is the stipend that allows elected officials to qualify for the town’s insurance benefit, which, of course, costs taxpayers far more than the small stipend. Additionally, there are former elected officials who have retired but are able to remain on the town’s insurance for the rest of their lives. This benefit drains the town of tens of thousands of dollars it could instead direct toward education, road repair or building maintenance.

If Dracut selectmen and School Committee members truly want to lead by example, they should give up the right to sign on to the town’s health-insurance plan.

Read the whole editorial and subscribe to the Sun to read more : http://http://www.lowellsun.com/editorials/ci_15275894#ixzz0qZ5BGav9

From the City Manager’s BLOG:

Presented by the I-495 Lowell Bridge Bundle Team: Middlesex Corporation, AECOM, Howard/Stein Hudson and MassDOT Highway Division

Tuesday, June 15, 2010 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Holy Family Parish Center, 122 Andrews Street

Arranged with the Assistance of the Sacred Heart Neighborhood Improvement Group and the Riverside Community Council in South Lowell

Presentation at 7 pm with open question and answer session to follow

For more information or special needs assistance please contact 617-482-7080 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              617-482-7080      end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext. 236

For More Information on the Bridge Project Please Visit http://www.mass.gov/massdot/495bridgebundle