Is “Danger” real or Imagined?
Posted: September 19, 2011 Filed under: Politics 3 Comments »
Over on LIL jack is “WARNING” voters and Lowell Citizens that “several candidates, incumbents & challengers, want to ensure that a certain clique within Lowell is clear that they are not “Bernie Buddies.” Meaning, the candidates are sure to vote against the manager’s fiscal policies, gov’t reorganization efforts and, most importantly, not renew the CM’s contract when it expires..he also states “Another meme, will be, ‘the manager lacks compassion.’ That he is the Tin Man.Then he insults all of us who have made Lowell our home for our entire lives stating
“After decades of abuses in city hiring practices, there are pockets of laziness and poor practices enbedded in the system. There is a culture that embraces the “Townie Turnstyle.” Meaning, if they have known you all your life, you get the EZ Pass down at City Hall. Meaning, that there is not a level playing field for those attempting to conduct routine business with the City.
The City Manager has systematically diminished such bogus practices. That, my friends, puts many a nose out of joint.
Aside from the fact that I am sure I can name 10-20 life long Lowell residents who Jack would call “connected” that would disagree with him and regale him with the stories of how ridiculous it is to get permits and permissions. Do people really think that this election is about the City Manager?
Has the SUN somehow convinced Jack that the Manager is the issue or is Jack just running a pre-emptive strike for the Manager? I’ll give my friend Jack credit, no one on any Blog, newspaper, radio or cable show defends the Manager, Mayor and certain councilors like Jack.
Jack is also very careful to play the political game because he has aspirations of getting a Charter Review or at least get the Charter brought up to see if changes can be made so he will NOT name names, less he has to someday go hat in hand and present them a White Paper or wants appointment to a Charter Commission.
He just refers to these “candidates” but doesn’t mention anyone by name, so let me because I have no agenda and really don’t care who I might upset. I don’t expect to get appointed to anything.
Here are the candidates and where I think they stand in regard to the Manager. Let me know what you think.
1. Rita Mercier – Has had issues and disagreements but I doubt she votes to fire or not renew. I’d put her in his corner IF push came to shove.
2. Bill Martin – For the Manager
3. Kevin Broderick – For the Manager
4. John MacDonald – Has stated would support the Manager. Some doubt that due to Coggins in his corner, but I’ll take him at his word.
5. Jim Milinazzo – For the Manager
6. John Leahy – Hard to tell, based on his record in the Supt. case I’d say he would NOT vote to Fire , but would be needed to be convinced that he should be rehired. Could go either way depending on situation.
7. Marty Lorrey – Has a lot of the so called Old Lowell behind him but also close to Senator Donoghue who is a Lynch supporter. I think he would support the Manager.
8. Patrick Murphy – Supports the Manager
9. Joe Mendonca – Supports the Manager to a degree, could be convinced to bail if it assured him re-election but that isn’t happening. Could go either way
10. Rodney Elliott – Hasn’t been the Manager’s biggest fan and may be his biggest foe. Believe it or not I still think Rodney supports professional management but to feed into Jack’s assumption let’s say he’s a NO for Lynch.
11. Armand Mercier – Not the Manager’s biggest fan Not a Lynch supporter
12. Paul Belley – I think we would support the Manager.
13. Corey Belanger – Has stated he would support the Manager but has a lot of ties to “old Lowell”. Another candidate whose word I will take until proven wrong.
14. Ed Kennedy – He hasn’t been around much, competed for the Manager’s job when Lynch got it and isn’t really embedded to the Old Lowell Group that JM indicates. He hasn’t publically stated either way but I’d guess he would be a NO Lynch guy.
15. Van Pech – Manager appointment him to a board or commission, would support Manager.
16. Vesna Nuon – Manager appointment him to a board or commission, would support Manager.
17. Fred Doyle – Not a Lynch Fan.
So bottom line is in my opinion City Manager Lynch is not and will not be the primary issue in this campaign and no “group” real or imagined will be courting the Anti-Lynch Vote because there are not enough councilors who will get elected that would fire him IF he continues to run Lowell in what has been a professional manner.
Interested to know what you think.
“Do people really think that this election is about the City Manager?”
Yes it is, if you DONT support the manager!
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Would it be a fair statement to say that “clique”, if it even exists were the same group who supported Kazanjian and Armand the last time around? Look how far that got them.
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My belief that this “clique” is nothing more than those union members and fellow public workers who want everything under the sun and expect We to keep paying for them. This manager, while far from perfect, has done a damn good job overall in my book considering the state of the economy we are in.
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Do I want councilors to let Bernie do whatever he wants? Of course not. I want them to use thier heads and decide what is best for the city. Thankfully, Rita now understands this. Bud hasn’t but he is irrelevant now. Elliot doesn’t, either. If the manager is for something, you know right off the bad Elliot is opposed! Bernie Lynch is the manager. He has been for some time now. For his opponents to keep making him the issue is shameful and is taking away time from the real problems facing this city.
Sounds like “Jack” is just trying to ingratiate himself with pre-emptive sucking up to the manager. Maybe he wants to get appointed to a board and try to do some good for the City of Lowell rather than be so intolerant of everyone whose opinion does not mirror his own?
Given the state of the city during these difficult economic times, it is clear to me that City Manager Lynch has done a really good job managing it. I hope he stays here for many more years. The fact that the old “clique” doesn’t like the changes he has put in place tells me that these are changes for the better! Any council candidate who doesn’t support the current city manager will not be getting my vote in November.