Tomorrow I will do my predictions for many of the State and Local races and ask you to post your predictions. Let’s see who is the best prognosticator.

Jamison Tomasek the Republican Candidate for State Senator in the Second Essex & Middlesex District has tried to run a decent, issue oriented campaign against his opponent Barry Finegold. Jamison hasn’t published to my knowledge attack ads against the many Ethics Violations that Finegold has committed just in this campaign.

He didn’t send out a flyer with pictures of former Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy with his arms around Barry or flyers that mention Barry getting free printing done by the Lawrence School dept or advertising for campaign workers at Andover High School.

He didn’t send out pictures of Barry with House Leader Bob DeLeo or stories about how Barry worked hard to help DeLeo get the Speakers position and received a chairmanship. If you listen to Barry you would think he was at odds with Deleo yet when a survey came out in April of 2010 it showed that of the 214 roll call votes since DeLeo became speaker Finegold voted against the Speaker 3 Times.

Jamison didn’t want to go negative, he felt people wanted to hear his reasons and his ideas and what made him and Finegold different and it seemed to be working. Many feel that the race is now a toss up and that Barry needs Lawrence Mayor Willie Lantigua to again save him and get his machine to get the votes out in Lawrence.

Mr. Tomasek got a rude WELCOME to Politics Merrimack Valley style today. When the race gets close desperate people resort to desperate measures. So to try to help out their friend Barry Finegold a group that Barry has been close to ( Service Employees International Union) sent out a negative attack mailing against Jamison Tomasek.

According to Jamison : I am getting smeared by the SEIU in a mailing. It implies that I want to change laws and restrict a woman’s right to choose. I am pro-choice, and I have said so in a NARAL questionnaire. I am recommended by MACFL, mostly because I am against partial term abortion and abortion for minors without parental consent, as are most people! Everything was looking great and now this !

Jamison , all I can ask is why are you surprised at this last minute attack? Finegold has repeatedly shown he has no ethics in his campaigns. He has lied repeatedly about brochure printing and soliciting high school kids to work on his campaign. He took you for a weak opponent and told people in April you were going to lose to Rahilly. He has tried to distance himself from the Speaker who he supported and is in bed with the Mayor of Lawrence at least until the election is over.

Use this as a learning experience and in the final two days remind every one of how terrible the Mass House is under Speaker DeLeo and how much Barry Finegold is and was part of that problem. Pull out headline and stories like:

Boston Globe: Home / News / Local DeLeo escalates drive for speaker As they dined on filet mignon and drank from an open bar at the Maxwell Silverman’s Toolhouse Restaurant, DeLeo told his supporters that he was “comfortable and confident” that he will succeed DiMasi.

Lawrence Eagle Trib: February 12, 2009 Local reps win big chairmanships from DeLeo Barry Finegold, D-Andover — Chairman, Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Boston Herald: Putting the “fun” in fundraiser Rep. Robert DeLeo and lackeys Rep. Barry Finegold and Rep. James Vallee made a brief and we can only hope deliciously awkward appearance at Rep. John Rogers fundraiser at Anthony’s Pier 4 Tuesday evening

Remind Everyone that Finegold TWICE this YEAR voted to raise the Sales Tax and oppose new jobs and revenues and voted against the Casino bill. The Gloves are off Jamison, Finegold is scared and you can bet there is nothing he and his supporters won’t stoop to. You either fight back or take the beating.

Councilor Patrick Murphy’s motion on the Council Agenda this week simply states: Council resolve issue of requirements for preliminary election & consider random ballot order in general. I have called him and asked him to contact me and offered him this spot to expand and share his ideas on the motion. A few people have already commented in support of the motion.

It is a very powerful motion because I believe it is time we change the requirements for preliminary election in the city. I know people will say “You can’t put a price on Democracy” but I have. I can’t justify spending $40,000 – $60,000 to drop 2 people from the race.

I do agree it is time to resolve the issue of requirements and change the Charter. I propose we change the charter and INCREASE the cut off to 23 before we have a primary and that we cut the final to 14 thus eliminating 9 instead of 2.

I chose the number 23 because it is roughly two and a half times the number of councilors and cutting it to fourteen leaves you one and a half times the number of councilors you need. In today’s climate with web pages, Blogs, email, YouTube candidates can get their message out and allowing all who run to stay in the race until the general election is fair to all and gives everyone a chance if there are 19 or 20 people.

I would agree that IF the charter changes to 23 instead of 19, then I’d support having a drawing for name placement on the ballot in the general election. If we end up with a primary, we draw names for spots anyway.

If we have a primary then in the General it should stay alphabetical with Incumbents being listed first. They have served and deserve to be listed first for that reason. They deserve to be recognized for the time and effort they have given. Yes I know they chose to run and yes I know they get a stipend but if you look at the amount of time many of these councilors give the city, the pay is minimal. Having the names listed first is a minor advantage at best but does recognize the contribution of those who serve.

The biggest issue to me is the cost. At a time when we are looking to cut millions in education and the overall budget who can justify spending $40,000 – $60,000 to cut 2 people. I’d rather see the money used for a firefighter, school teacher or a police officer. The state requires Polls open at 7:00 am and they reimburse the city for the cost of workers from 7:00 am -10:00 am,. after that it is all the city cost along with the cost to print the ballots and programing for the electronic processing. In today’s economy I can’t justify spending that type of money to eliminate 2 people.

It is time to change the Primary standards for the city. Times have changed, getting your message out is easier but the cost of the Primary is so steep that to pay $40,000 to eliminate 2 people is not the best use of limited funds.

So what do think?

Tuesday November 2, 2010 @ 5:00PM, The Lowell City Council will hold a Special Meeting in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, 2nd Floor RE: For the purpose of going into Executive Session for an update and review of current contract negotiations with the Lowell Police Department Patrolman’s Union, public discussion of which would be detrimental to the City’s position.

Tuesday November 2, 2010 @ 5:30PM, The Lowell City Council Finance Sub/Committee will meet in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, 2nd Floor RE: (1) Snow and Ice Deficit, (2) FY 11 Budget, (3) Capital Plan

LOWELL CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2010 TIME 6:30 PM

CITY CLERK
1. Minutes of October 26th meeting for acceptance.

CITY MANAGER
2. Communication-From City Manager, responses to Council Motions/Requests.
3. Communication-From City Manager requesting approval Out of State Travel.
4. Communication-From City Manager, accept resignation from Hunger/Homeless Commission.
5. Re-Appointment-Peter Finnegan to the Board of Parks.
6. Vote-Accept deed to Kelley Circle from Butterfield Development Corp.
7. Order of Taking & Acceptance-Kelley Circle.
8. Vote-Transfer $1,000,000 to School Dept. from Reserve from School.
9. Vote-Supplemental Appropriations.
10. Order of Taking-325-333 1st St. Blvd. (easement for utility access Wastewater).
11. Ordinance-Amend Zoning, extend NB District 301 Chelmsford St.
12. Ordinance-Amend Ch. 272 by adding new Article IX, Water Use Restrictions.
13. Ordinance-Amend Ch. 272 Establish Rates & Charges Article VI Sec. 272-86 Metered Service Water.
REPORTS (Sub/Committee, if any)
PETITIONS
14. National Grid-Grant of Main Extension 170 Merrimack St. and UG Conduit in Dutton St./Trolley Way.

MOTIONS
15. C. Descoteaux-Req. Mgr. develop policy to notify Neighborhood Groups of proposed Zoning Changes which could affect their neighborhoods.

18. C. Broderick-Req. Mgr. report on requiring all vendors submit invoices & accept payment electronically.

This has been a topic on the various talk radio shows in the last couple of days, but I’m interested to see what the thoughts about it are around Lowell.

Presidential Comedy Hour

I’m sure everybody reading already knows about President Obama’s appearance on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Wednesday night. I think this is an interesting move on the President’s part, and I wonder what you are thinking about it.

I can see two sides to the White House’s decision to allow the President to appear on a, by definition, comedic show. On the one hand- and the more hopeful- by appearing on the show with Stewart and more or less opening himself up to a candid questioning of his work (and other Democrats), Obama is getting in the last word to the same demographic that had won the election for him two years ago. The Daily Show demographic is routinely described as the same one that voted for Obama- young, college-aged, and somewhat politically involved (or else the show would be a real bore to them, I imagine.) By being on the show, hopefully, when that demographic hits the polls on Tuesday they will think to themselves “oh yes, Obama was just on the Daily show, and I like the Daily show…” etc. etc. And by appearing in a rather informal setting, Obama attempts to promote the image that he is the young, hip, hope-inspiring President that his campaign made him out to be.

President Obama trying to erase Jon Stewart's memory

On the other hand- is this a professional move for the President? I mean, really, the Daily Show is NOT a news venue in any traditional sense (though people proudly proclaim they get their news from it, as well as the Colbert Report), so can a last-word push for getting out the vote in favor of Democrats be taken seriously? Is appearing on this show “beneath the role of the President?” Typically, it seems that White House press folks would try to keep the President out of the spotlight of such settings because of the obvious lack of control. Stewart is doing his job, and his job is to ask questions. But they are in many ways satirical questions. Consider what many Democrats are campaigning on this midterm season across the country- to sum it up tersely, it’s the message of “well I mean, I’m a Democrat but not necessarily an Obama Democrat…I actually vote with Republicans more!”

What??

Look, I’m not necessarily a die-by-party kind of guy; I think you should vote on merit and faith in a platform with less concern for which party they represent. But realistically, with the R-party doing NOTHING but filibustering and stalling any true legislative action, should Democrats be jumping ship in their campaign ads while meanwhile their President and fellow Dem is pleading and begging that people stick with them? Is that the sort of unified message that should be sent days before one of the most important elections of this decade?

Unfortunately, as much as I’d like to see the beneficial effects of our President, the highest office held (arguably) on the planet, bending to the wisecracks of a television-comedian (admittedly not without his own somewhat political following, especially with these coming rallies) and trying to explain himself on Tuesday, I think that such moves will only discredit the party overall. “Please, baby, one more time!” juxtaposed with Democrat ads saying “well I voted against the President’s initiatives 53.7% of the time, blah blah blah” cannot be helping the party.

What are your thoughts on this matter? Did the President make a good move going on the Daily Show less than a week before midterm elections? Was it wise? Or does this action simply exhibit the real danger the Democratic party is in and actually weaken the message further? Let me know what you think!

A few rambling thoughts as I try everything to get rid of an early season cold…Remedies and suggestions welcomed..especially on ridding myself of a cough that sounds like a 2 pack a day habit.

Did you catch the City Manager this morning on City Life? Mr. Lynch did a fine job defending his hiring practices and met John McDonough’s questions head on and answered in very clear terms. Give credit to John McDonough, he may beat up the Manager when he’s not there but when he is there he ask the same questions.

The City of Lowell should be proud of the number of strong women candidates and elected officials we have.. On the Council we have Rita Mercier and Franky Descoteaux, Connie Martin, Jackie Doherty, and Alison Labrea on the School Committee, Niki Tsongas in Congress and Eileen Donoghue soon to be our next State Senator. Pretty solid role models for our young women to follow.

I met a young man who is getting more and more active in politics. Keep your eyes and ears open for the name Matt Vieria.

Jamison Tomasek who is running for the State Senate seat that Sue Tucker is vacating was telling me about a young woman he met. She is a Cambodian student at U Lowell who wants to get involved in local politics and he predicts that she one day may be the first Cambodian Mayor of Lowell.

I’m only 48 but I’m a huge supporter of any 21+ year old who wants to get involved in local politics at any level. We need the next generation of Steve Panagiotakos , Matt Donahue’s and Laurie Machado’s to step up and keep the city progressing and changing.

While I understand the opposition, I still think Lowell will end up with the Bladder Dam.

Speaking of Jamisnon Tomasek he has a meet and greet at the Dracut House of Pizza on Lakeview Ave tonight. Stop by share your concerns about the way the state is going with Jamison.

Does anyone else remember growing up with the corner store. We had Flynn’s Market and I can remember going there for milk and asking Mr. Flynn to put it on our bill. No such thing nowadays. Remember Fannie Farmers or Blue Dot Candy? Top Shelf Pizza , Lena’s, Beas (best veal cutlets) The A/W Drive In on Lakeview Ave. Kelly’s on Middlesex St? The idea that the country is relying on small businesses to help turn around the economy is a joke. The neighborhood store has been replaced by Store 24 or Seven Eleven. The Candy stores are all but gone with a few surviving specialty places like the Chocolate Moose or Mrs. Nelsons, Tublonsky’s Bakery (Tubbers rubbers on Lakeview ave) or Prices Bakery have been replaced by Hanaford and Market Basket Bakeries and the neighborhood Pharmacy by CVS/Walgreens. Large companies have wiped out the small businesses.

Colleen Garry will win her re-election fight and George Boag will finish 2nd with Matt Sheehan in third.

I still have no idea why the Lowell School Committee hasn’t signed up Dr. Scott for 3 more years. They are doing the citizens and schools harm if they let her get away.

Speaking of schools I am impressed and very pleased with my daughters school the McAuliffe. The Sunday night phone messages that outline the week ahead including reminders of special events is great. Her Teacher’s “pretzel” program on Friday’s gives the kids a chance to clear the air over any hurt feelings and Thank each other for kindnesses shown. Nan Murphy is the Principal and along with her staff are doing a great job with the kids and with keeping the parents informed and participating. The PTO is very active and has welcomed my wife who is getting involved and loving it.

I also had some dealings with the Wang School on behalf of my niece and again was very impressed with the teachers who I spoke with along with Principal Gayle Feeney who could not have been more concerned, cooperative and supportive. Two schools and two fine examples of what solid and caring educators we have teaching and administrating our city schools.

In the closing days of the race for the 5th District Congressional Seat, it seems that both candidates are turning to famous faces to help push them on to victory.

Will it get you to vote for them?