I’m very proud that my 11 year old daughter Hannah is one of the many taking part in today’s Cancer Walk Fundraiser. Hannah is walking in support of her GodMother Shirley Cyr who is battling Cancer and in memory of my brother Paul who passed away from Cancer. THANK YOU to all who walked today to raise runs for this terrible disease and a BIG shout out of love and support to Judy Regan (Shirley’s sister) who has been battling health issue’s herself for many years and insist on taking part in today’s walk and her husband John who has been her rock and biggest supporter.

Jenn Myers has a great story on page 1 of Today’s Sun titled:Standing up for those who served
it’s about Operation Returning Veter­ans, a nonprofit focused on provid­ing resources like jobs, housing, educational opportunities and other necessities to returning veterans. Chris Camire has a story about the importance of Driver’s Education – It’s no accident: Lessons save lives!, Lyle Moran looks at New owners big plans for Lowell plaza, Nancy Tuttle has a nice piece on Dorcas Grigg-Saito the chief executive officer of the Lowell Community Health Center and this year’s recipient of the Celebration of Today’s Woman award from Girls Incorpo­rated of Greater Low­ell and in Sports Chaz Scoggins reminds us that Red Sox aren’t the only underachieving team. subscribe to home delivery or the E-edition or pick up the regional Paper that covers Lowell ..The SUN.

The Column:
Starts off with THE STRAINED rela­tionship between the city administration/City Council and the License Commis­sion saying it is a lot worse today than it has ever been.

Next is repeating the theme of last Sunday about the Fashion of the Mayor and now City Councilor Lorrey. Really that’s the best you got?

Taking a shot at Mike Lenzi’s beautiful new Dracut Home in the same neighborhood as ex city councilor Alan Kazanjian and speculating on who may get the Greater Lowell Tech School Board Post which is ONLY until thru December 2013 not the FULL term as the Sun States. The Tech School charter spells out clearly that it is only until the NEXT municipal Election which is in 2013.

It mentions that former Lowell School Committee member Regina Fatacanti says she is NOT interested but that she endorses retired U.S. Air Force officer and conservative blogger Cliff Krieger. The column also identifies Former Lowell School Committee member Jackie Doherty, Ray Boutin, a member of the school council at Greater Lowell Tech, unsuccessful candidate for the committee in last fall’s election William Sheehan, former Tech School Committee member Dave Laferriere and Paul Belley, a community activist and former council candidate as all being interested in the position.

The last Lowell based item is that the phone number for the Lowell Commission on Disability on the city’s website have been going to the Cemetery Department much to the dismay of City Councilor Rodney Elliott, the mayor’s appointee to the disability commission. “It’s bad enough the commission can’t get an office space in City Hall, but hopefully it can start getting its phone calls,” Elliott told The Column.

Lenzi’s Replacement….

Former Tech School Committee member Mike Hayden who had expressed an interest then withdrew from consideration for the Tech seat cited two things that I took interest in.

1) one person who I suspected was the rat who sent my original email to the Lowell Sun
2) the amount of negative talk and blogging on my interest

Based on past history I am presuming he was referring to Councilor Rodney Elliot as “The Rat”. These two have some bad blood from when Rodney took the job of Business Administrator at the Tech School through what some saw as political connections and was forced to either give up the job or his council seat after Hayden and another board member questioned the appointment with the Ethic commission. Elliot went back to the EPA and gave up the Voke job.

The amount of negative talk and blogging refers to the Left In Lowell attack piece and was confirmed
by the nauseating subsequent gloating by Queen of Mean Lynne Lupien (whose language can make a Teamster blush.) Mike decided that his family didn’t need the abuse. Who can blame him after the way Lupien and her doting hubby Mr. Lynne went after the Salvation Army, Lupien has shown no one or nothing is exempt from her foul langauge and vile attacks except Left leaning Liberal Democrats like Liz Warren whose campaign disavowed any connection with Lupien after th Salvation Army attacks.

There is no doubt that this appointment is now (if it already wasn’t) a HUGE Political Issue
that will result in bruised ego’s and political hard feelings no matter who gets appointed.The attack on Hayden and the Fatacanti endorsement only adds fuel to the fire.

Truthfully me endorsing Jackie Doherty has no bearing. I think she is the BEST Qualified person but this is pure politics and she will not get the appointment because of her own politics and actions.

Here’s my view based purely on watching the political scene in Lowell and NOT asking any elected member who they will vote for.

Cliff Krieger – Works in the Defense Industry, after he retired from 30 years in the Air Force, flying jets and doing staff jobs and spending 16 of those years overseas. He is also a student at UMass Lowell, Continuing Education and according to his own bio has interest in Aviation, Religion, History, Education, Politics, Lowell, METL and Statistics. Cliff is a smart man who I have found to be very fair and thoughtful. Cliff is also chair of the City Republican Committee and ran for State Rep. against Dave Nangle and is as Jack Mitchell states ” An engaged citizen that would bring a steady hand to a committee in turmoil.”

The now defunct Move Lowell Forward which Cliff served on as co-chair had an agenda and went hard after the Technical School for Transparency while ignoring the Lowell School Dept and City Council.(Who still don’t have ALL Contracts posted on their website like the Tech school has).

Move Lowell Forward also endorsed a certain slate of Councilors in 2009 including ( Kevin Broderick, Bill Martin, Joe Mendonça and Patrick Murphy) and presented two “White Papers” to the Council.
Cliff was approached by former MLF member, current School Committee member Kim Scott to see if he was interested in th position so he has some strong political connections.

I believe Cliff will get the appointment with at least 8 votes – Kevin Broderick, Bill Martin, Joe Mendonça, Vesna Nuon, and Patrick Murphy on the Council side and Dave Conway, Kim Scott and Kristin Ross Sitcawich on the school committee.

Jackie Doherty – Served on the Lowell School Committee for eight years, she served as Vice Chair of the Committee from 2008-2010, and she chaired the Special Education/Student Services and Lowell High School subcommittees. She also served on the Board’s Finance, Curriculum and Instruction, and Facilities subcommittees, as well as serving on the City Manager’s Youth Development Board and the Immigration Commission. In addition, she has served on the University of Massachusetts Lowell Community-University Advisory Board and the Lowell Telecommunications Board. Jackie also led the Lowell Citywide Parent Council, serving on its executive board for more than 10 years, as its chair in 2003-2004, and served as the school committee liaison. She earned Master of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Emerson College with majors in mass communication and writing.

Jackie and Regina did not get along so it is no surprise she would net get Regina’s endorsement. She also used to have a better relationship with LIL and Kim Scott but they seem to be fully in Cliff’s corner. Because of what she did regarding contract talks I don’t see her getting any present school committee members vote nor do I think she will get any Councilor’s vote.

Paul Belley – A Pawtucketville neighborhood activist who has become a community activist was an unsuccessful candidate for the Lowell City Council twice. Paul is a strong grass-roots guy who does many good deeds and donates much of his time to charitable causes. I believe Paul could get the votes of Councilor Rita Mercier, Ed Kennedy and Marty Lorrey and School Committee members Jim Leary and Bob Gignac and Connie Martin..leaving him with 6 votes.

Ray Boutin: President of Pawtucketville Youth Baseball and a member of the school council at Greater Lowell Tech are the only things I know about Ray Boutin. He is a supporter and friend of State Rep. Tom Golden but the rep. doesn’t have a vote in this.

Dave Laferriere – The former Tech School Committee member could be a dark horse compromise pick to show it isn’t about appointing a political supporter but I lay that has LONG ODDS. He may get 1 vote from Councilor Elliot but that would be it.

William Sheehan – A nice man and longtime political activist and unsuccessful candidate for the committee in last fall’s election. I don’t see him gaining any votes unless it’s from Councilor Elliot.

I believe it’s a done deal with only the formality of Mike Lenzi resigning.