Rodney Elliot ran a campaign based on the fact he was the ONLY Councilor who voted against the last two budgets and was the ONLY councilor to be the constant challenger of the Manager and his administration.He sold the citizens on the fact that he stood opposed to the rest of the councilors and only he fought for the taxpayer.

Now because the audience he targeted, the angry voters, came out and propelled him to a 2nd place victory in an election that the majority of citizens couldn’t be bothered with, he thinks it is his right and the obligation of his fellow councilor to appoint him mayor.

His supporters egged on by Ted Panos of WCAP called into the station today in support including his sister In-Law Kerri (who I want on my team in any fight) to suggest that because of time served he automatically is entitled to the Mayor’s job. Sorry but that antiquated policy hasn’t been in effect for several years. If it had maybe he would have already served.

I had to laugh when Kerri suggested that the Councilor’s were being bullies. She may forget her brother in-laws theatrics in trying to bully the CFO and Solicitor when accusing him of hiring a friend over qualified Lowellians. Sorry Kerri while I appreciate and commend your loyalty, the example of a bully fits more with Rodney then the council.

The Sun has played heavily on the lone wolf theme for Rodney; in today’s paper they again compare him to the best lone wolf ever:

Further, Elliott has made no secret of his willingness to persistently question Lynch’s decisions on a number of topics, and Lowellians like to have at least one person on the council who does not back down from the city manager, like former longtime Councilor Dick Howe was famous for. Voters who want a strong-willed councilor and supported Caulfield in the past, likely gave Elliott strong support.

In a Saturday chat earlier this election season Kendall Wallace stated “Elliott has carved out an image of the “anti” guy and Lowell always likes to have at least one of those on the council.”

Political historian and a guy who knows about Lone Wolf’s because his dad was the best in the business at it Dick Howe Jr. also talked about Rodney’s spot as the lone voice , he said on his blog “ .

“This term, Rodney has become a strong voice in questioning many of the actions of the Lynch administration. While some may see Elliott’s performance as a referendum on the city manager, I don’t think that’s an accurate reading. If that was so, why would two strong Lynch supporters, Kevin Broderick and Patrick Murphy, finish right behind Elliott in the standings. Instead, I think voters have historically desired at least one member of the council who speaks out against the majority which is a role my father often filled on the council. I remember many voters approaching him to say “I don’t agree with you on many issues but I always vote for you because someone has to state the other side.”

People will say we’ll Dick Howe served as Mayor and he was the ultimate lone wolf, need to go back and check your history, Dick Howe was a lone wolf who attacked the ADMINISTRATION not the body he served with.

He never as I recall campaigned by attacking the rest of the entire Council. Dick Howe Sr. was smart and knew people understood and appreciated the difference between attacking the administration and not attacking your fellow councilors, something Rodney has done all election season.

Rodney has highlighted at multiple forums with his colleagues in attendance that HE was the ONLY one who voted against the budget two years straight. For the last 8 months running for office he has slammed his fellow councilors, blaming them for going along with the Administration and the budget and thereby going along with a tax increase. That he is the only councilor who consistently questions and challenges the administration, appealing to the minority of disgruntled people and who turned out and kept him in office and now he expects his fellow councilors to all say fine, thanks for kicking the crap out of us for the past few months, here’s the Mayor’s position?

Look at the comments in the SUN today by the newly elected councilor’s.. Vesna Noun says ““Hopefully, there will be a candidate who can bring us together and bring the city together to work on issues important to the city,”

Marty Lorrey say “”someone who does not have an agenda. Someone who will be fair to the councilors, fair to the city manager and fair to the people who come to speak at the meetings.”

They both recognize the need to be part of a unit, not be the Lone Wolf. They want someone who is balanced and fair.

Patrick Murphy has done outreach with not only his fellow councilors but the community. I attend CNAG meetings Patrick Murphy is there. The Sun today notes “ One reason for Murphy’s improved finish was his strong ties to the Cambodian community, which came out to support challenger Vesna Nuon, who won a seat on the council with his seventh-place finish. “Patrick and Vesna attended a lot of the same events in the community, and our community remembered Patrick when they went in to vote for Vesna,” said Rasy An, executive director of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association.

In a Saturday chat Kendall Wallace also took note of Murphy’s outreach ” Murphy has quietly increased his visibility, appears to have made some inroads with Cambodian voters and has appealed to retirees who are not happy with proposed changes in the city’s health-care plan for retired city workers. He has also worked hard in Ward 8, where City Councilor Bud Caulfield always did well.”

So should our next Mayor be a Uniter who has a track record of outreach or a Divider who cast himself in the role of the lone voice?

According to today’s Sun, City Councilor Patrick Murphy my be interested in becoming the next Mayor.

While it seems the Councilor is “being coy about it” fellow Mayoral challenger Rodney Elliot who is lobbying hard for it has apparently “told The Sun” that newly elected Councilor Marty Lorrey is on board the Murphy for Mayor team.

If Murphy would like to be Mayor,he would be a good choice.

Very telling may be the quote from Councilor Elect Vesna Noun, who is looking for a uniter instead of a separatist.

Councilors-elect Vesna Nuon and Edward Kennedy both said they have not put any thought into who they would support for mayor, adding, they are both open to listening to all interested.

strong>“Hopefully, there will be a candidate who can bring us together and bring the city together to work on issues important to the city,” Nuon said.

If Murphy can garner Martin & Broderick and already has Lorrey (If Elliot is correct) another positive sign that Murphy might be able to gain Vesna Nouns support to secure him the 5 needed votes , a quote in today’s Sun from a different article.

One reason for Murphy’s improved finish was his strong ties to the Cambodian community, which came out to support challenger Vesna Nuon, who won a seat on the council with his seventh-place finish.

“Patrick and Vesna attended a lot of the same events in the community, and our community remembered Patrick when they went in to vote for Vesna,” said Rasy An, executive director of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association.