Since Democrats Rita Mercier and Dave Nangle had the nerve to cross party lines, Left in Lowell and especially Jack Mitchell has been attacking them.
Jack’s latest rant includes “Rita Mercier is likely safely reelected, though she may not finish #1, as she has the 6 elections” and he shows a graph were the #1 ticket Topper has lost votes (that happens when people don’t vote Jack)
If I were Jack I’d be more concerned about his binky the Mayor than I would about a person who has topped the ticket 6 times in a row.
Rita’s Vote total like everyone’s went down when people stayed home but while she lost 1577 votes in her 8th election for council the Mayor lost 1185 votes in his quest for a 2nd term. (In her quest for her 2nd term Rita GAINED 2137 votes.)
Being Mayor usually cost you a few votes, just ask Jim Milinazzo who went from 5711 in 2009 to 3365 in 2011.
Your Bromance buddy Bill Martin might also show you some cause for concern Jack. He went from 5642 votes in 2009 to 3692 votes in 2011 losing a whopping 1950 votes while hanging on for 6th place for the 2nd time in a row.
So don’t worry about Rita, she will again TOP the ticket, you need to be more worried about your two binkies and where the mayor’s press aide ends up when his term finishes.
On 2nd thought, you don’t have to worry about her. My guess is the manager hires her to be his full time press secretary. After all he already has his own blog!
Hilarious. You should write a comic strip for the Blog of Record. Though that career would be short lived. Stick with fluffing egos on Saturday morning. Though that may not be safe, either. Stick to blogging. You have a knack.
Bill Martin is regarded as the brightest bulb on the porch. This comes from many sources, including a few sitting Councilors. The Sun favors pandering and grandstanding, so Martin will stay steady in his election placement.
Mayor Murphy, who took on Bud Caulfield in his first term, went from 8th place to 4th. Know this about Murphy, what is best about him is what is worst about him. No matter what Campi pout and stammers about, or my ol’ pal Taup lectures on, Murphy has a strong base of support among those willing to call “shenanigans” and the new voters the bubble would ignore.
“Withering Lowell” can puff their chest, but the writing is on the wall. Transactional politics is on it’s way out. City councilors are going to be responsible for creating a broad vision and ensuring city services are delivered at a high standard, not bartering services to voters in return for a bullet vote.
Rita Mercier is running out of ammo, slowly but surely.
Don’t you hate when people play withy numbers, especially the same numbers you are using? LMAO
Dick Howe’s facts are in question are they Jack?
2011 City Election
Patrick Murphy – 3732
Bill Martin – 3692
2009 Lowell City Election
8.Patrick Murphy – 4860
6.Bill Martin – 5642
If your argument is Rita’s numbers are dropping, isn’t this proof your binky’s numbers are also?
When all else fails personal attacks work well LMAO again…Martin LOST 1950 Votes FACT! That Bright bulb has never shone strong. You can crush on Bill all you want but he has mostly been a middle to bottom 3rd of the pack councilor – look at the actual vote totals.
The Mayor did drop in his vote totals in his 2nd try for the council, Rita did ADD 2,000 votes her 2nd time, actual numbers not your bubble view can’t be disputed. Spin them anyway you want but as they say, facts are facts.
Rita will TOP the Ticket again next year and probably the year after that also. Will she eventually drop..sure the great ones all do..but mediocre finishers spend their time in the middle and so far the Brightest Bulb hasn’t shined to bright with only 1 top 3 finish in 7 attempts( 2-6th / 2-7th / 2-8th) and the Mayor with zero top 3 finishes in 2 tries.
I wouldn’t tie the effectiveness of a councilor to number of votes, particularly when the turnout is so low that the consistent senior vote dominates. I’d rather have a councilor who advocates good policies for the long term, although maybe not getting the votes of people whose view is limited to their parking privileges at the Senior Center.
I expect we will see the fruits of forward-looking policies in the next few years, but wouldn’t be surprised if the wrong people took credit for them.
I’ve said it before, Rita will get reelected as long as she wants to. Will she always finish #1? Likely not. I’m betting her taste for elections will also wither with her fading placement in the results.
You look foolish trying to portray “the facts” in a way that asserts I did not. That’s why I linked to Dick Howe’s elections page, above. The facts are on my side. What remains to be seen is, if in 2013, should total voter turnout trend upward to 2003-2009 levels, meaning above 12,000, will all the candidates get an equal smattering of those voters?
The trend lines are solid, showing City Hall Hacks on the run, Gerry. Even if you Saturday Morning crew’s wet dream came true, and Pangy takes the City Manager’s office; I doubt you get the “Back to the Future” thrill up your leg you are looking forward to. If you recall John Cox tried to put the freeze on when Pangy beat Susan Rourke in a 1992 primary. Pangy is gifted at keeping everyone at his disposal with giving little in return. Modern politics is modeled after Bernie Lynch, not Joe Tully.
No elected wants to have to turn up the radio in their office when having a “talk” or have to empty the pepper shaker in the Owl Diner, looking for an FBI microphone.
The folks you wish to be amongst, the ones you aspire to please, will take what you’re giving, then pack up and move to Dracut, leaving you behind. Unless you go with them?
Jack,
Your “Message” is to attack Rita because she had the nerve to stray from your Democratic Plain. That is your right. Just has it is my right to use the same numbers to point out that Rita has done well since she ran and has been #1 while your two binkies have broken the top 3 spots only 1 time.
Joe I’m not judging a counciloors effectiveness, I’m just playing with numbers that Jack wants to play with. Bill Martin is a decent Councilor but elective wise the populus who vote consider him a middle of the road guy.
Jack, I also thinkit is an unfair cheap shot ,Infering she is a hack by your statement The trend lines are solid, showing City Hall Hacks on the run that is more of attack than fact..couldn’t Bill Martins wife who got a teaching job in the Lowell School system AFTER Bill was a councilor be also called a hack? Are you claiming Jim Milinazzo lost cause he was a hack? How Many people are you going to attack in the name of Democratic Love?? isn’t Jim a good Dem?
I’m willing to take your cheap shots, name calling is sometinjg LIL is vert adapt at but we all know you can use figures anyway you want and I’ll match your numbers with my numbers showing that if Bill Martins trends like he has..you may be a binky short next time.
The Trend you indicate saw your Mayor lose 1128 votes from 2009 to finish 4th in 2011 while Rodney Elliot who he beat in 2009 beat him in 2011 by 382 votes.
It also shows the Mayor lost a total of 1128 votes from his 2009 finish compared to Rodney losing only 619. I’m assuming you would conciser Rodney a “hack” because of his length of service and the fact he’s your binky’s political nemisis.
Hacks are like GOB…useless soundbites that mean NOTHING! Lowell politics like the rest of the counctry is changing but it has to do with age not that we are all becoming the Liberal Lefties that you cater these attacks to.
Jack reminds me so much of Sheldon Cooper he keeps babbling and throwing out facts about things that no one else really cares about. Bazinga!!!!!
Note to Jack – I know of at least 20 people that do not plan on voting for Murphy again, but will continue to support Rita. Now you may make mockery and ask why – but they have varying reasons ranging from Murphy’s treatment of Rita to their perception of Murphy being arrogant and a tool of the Manager. Some might still vote for Martin though, depending on how he does over the next year. Most feel that the Manager has not done well with the LHA issue, The Water Department problems and the mishandling of the Library trouble resulting in a lawsuit. One of those friends left the library in tears last week because a male staff member on the Reference floor was quite rude to her when she asked a computer question. So snipe all you want Jack – I think Rita will still top the ticket.
alright you 2…… i say we settle this on SML , where egos are fluffed
what do you say jack??
@Warren It’s been a while since I’ve been on SML. I’m a little nervous. Is 8 o’clock good?
@Gerry I wasn’t inferring Rita is a City Hall Hack. You just try to twist stuff around to put people on the defensive. Likely, either in the past or in the future, you will say something deleterious to Rita’s well groomed public image. It’s only a matter of time, as you swing in the political wind.
So, to be clear, I never said Rita was a City Hall Hack. You made that connection.
Of course.. 8:00 it is!
Gerry
Will you please tell me why anyone in their right mind would listen to Jack Mitchell He is just a blow in who thinks he knows what best for the city and everyone in it. He is a bully on line and on the city life show but in person he is nothing but a meek little man with no guts what so every. I have run into him in the street and he will shake your hand but is very shaky about it like he expects you to try and hit him or something.
Why won’t he or his trash mouth girlfriend the Queen of Mean put their names on the ballot. You have and I have
As far as I am concerned Jack Mitchell is nothing and should go back to where he came from
Well I do not plan on voting for Mercier or Elliot again, and neither do my neighbors or friends (another 20 to cancel out yours). It’s all based on Rita and Rodney’s treatment of the Mayor too. We all think the Manager has done an amazing job pulling this city out of a financial black hole which he inherited from the previous administration. I think Murphy will do just fine next election, and I hope he continues to be a champion for our city.
Is Elizabeth implying that her friend crying at the library is somehow out City Manager’s fault??? Some guy was a jerk at the Public Library, and it’s because of Bernie Lynch. This is delusional!
No reply from Jack???
Looking forward to hearing you guys banter on Saturday at 8am on 980WCAP. I hope Mike Hayden calls in. Don’t worry, Warren holds a firm rein on his show so don’t count on any dust ups.
But word to the wise … Warren can and will guild that lily for you!
Jack and I actually enjoy the back and forth beatings we give each other..we’ve done this before so I’m looking forward to having some fun again
{shaking head} {sigh} ;0)
Jack, get off my computer!
Mike Hayden will be way up in Northern Maine on Saturday so no fear of me calling in from there lol