SalemNews.com : Blogs : Heard in Beverly

I think there are a lot more important things that we should be discussing in Beverly, 1.The unnoticed homeless teens that are just sleeping in the parks, due to all of our adolescent group homes being shut down. 2. The homeless in general which have caused many arguments and unnoticed burglaries. We have one Homeless shelter that is very limited as to age and gender. It will also be in danger of being shut down due to the cutbacks that the Governor is planning on doing. The old McDonald's @ the begining of the Salem Bridge was originally shut down in order to open a shelter which never existed. It's been 15 yrs. and they still have not reopened this bldg. for a shelter. It is only going to get worse with so much unemployment!! 3. The potholes throughout the whole of Cabot St. which hopefully will all be taken care of with the work now being done! 4. After reading all of these comments, since when doesn't education count, and especially a Masters in political science!! He's been trained by the most experienced in the whole country Kennedy and Kerry!! If there's nothing more we can't have enough of it's Education, Education!! The rest will come with experience, we'll never have change if we don't give someone a chance!!

John Burke has got the background, the eucation, and experience, to handle the City. He obviosuly meets all the qualifications to run period. By his wanting to give the people credit, back the money from "trash money" collected they originally forked up for "trash" seems like the most appropriate, down to earth approach I have heard since George W. Bush! Scanlon = Bush ...we will take their money for THIS AND KEEP IT FOR SOMTHING ELSE! Outrageous!

First, I want to convey my respect for the fact you put your name on what you write, something your candidate does not do. That aside, parsed to its essence, John Burke's own web site presents his resume as follows. In high school, he was the student representative to the school committee. He was a number of other things as well, but let's not go there. He volunteered at BevCam. He attended Emerson College which, according to its web site, is "...dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts..." While there he served several internships in the entertainment industry. He says he served internships with Senators Kennedy and Kerry. He is employed as a legislative aide and he attended Suffolk University, from which he only very recently graduated with Masters in Political Science and Public Administration. If you were hiring a chief executive to run a city of 40,000 residents, 4,200 public school students, 17 different departments and an operating budget of $110 Million, John Burke's resume would not even get him an interview, let alone the job. He is not a manager, he is a politician. And a terribly soiled one at that.

With the deepest respect, I would like to respond to your rebuttal. I would like also for you to consider the following:
1. "Communication" is a general factual key concept in politics today much minded relationships, partnerships, and professional encounters.
2. Recently graduating with a Master's in Political Science is not only commendable but, like you mentioned "recent". Mr. Burke has been equipt with the latest and greatest tools for today's political society. Mr. Scanlon has not seen a classroom in many many years.
3. Interning with Politicians or better yet, people with the Political experiece that surmounts our ages together is a good idea before running for Mayor of a City.
4. Personally, I had no college education and sucessfully "Project Managed" a multi million dollar gov't contract, on a Submarine Base with many departments, contacts, legalities, and sub contractors to manage. Furthermore, have recieved several "spot recognitions" and a newspaper article about a training project that I lead at a Nuclear Facility. I am currently embarking on a degree further Law School to only connect the dots.
5. Lastly, the posistion of Mayor is a political seat and reserved for a Politician.

John Burke doesn't get it. He has been caught at lying and has a past restraining order which he must come clean on with the public. Bright as he is, he is not capable of running a $90,000,000 company like the city.......but if he decides to run for State Rep,he'll catch a lot of votes because people are fed up with Mary.

I agree, John Burke does not get that Beverly residents who pay two dollars a week to have their trash picked up curbside, and who spend an hour or so a week reducing that trash through recycling, are helping to keep teachers in our classrooms, firefighters in our stations and police on our streets. I disagree that this alone encapsulates the race. The candidates' respective resumes encapsulate this race.
Through his financial skills and acumen, Bill Scanlon is efficiently managing a budget that exceeds $100 Million. John Burke has never managed a budget beyond his monthly rent and living expenses. Through his ability to forge productive working relationships with the city council and school committee, Bill Scanlon is improving our schools, rebuilding our infrastructure and redressing centuries old flooding problems throughout the city. John Burke could not even hold the respect or trust of his fellow city councilors. Through his thoughtful cultivation of the city's commercial tax base, in the face of shrinking state aid, Bill Scanlon is successfully steering us through these most difficult of times. John Burke has yet to put forward any credible economic development plan.
John Burke has called the mayor rude, and while the mayor has not responded in kind, others have. After John Burke's secret attempt to scuttle an appointment he was publicly supporting, he was called "gutless" in the city council chamber, a "liar" in the Beverly Citizen, "cowardly and irresponsible" by the Salem News and his inability to control his worst impulses once earned him the title "Defendant" in the Salem District Court, where a family kind enough to take him in years ago grew so concerned over his menacing behavior, violent conduct and history of intimidation that they obtained a restraining order against him.
I think these contrasts better encapsulate the race.

Anthony why are you sooooooooo concerned about our city when you don't even live here. O that's right.Your partner ROY GELINEAU is a city employee..

I do not understand what one of the commenting posters said. I have heard this before one or twice. Could someone clear the air on this? I would really like to know why there was restraining order? Does anyone know ?

"Defendant" in the Salem District Court, where a family kind enough to take him in years ago grew so concerned over his menacing behavior, violent conduct and history of intimidation that they obtained a restraining order against him.

If we look around at our beautiful city and compare it before Bill Scanlon was elected Mayor, the improvements are staring us in the face. Just look around! We must remember the brief period when Crean was Mayor. The city came to a stand still. The John Burke annoynomous letter incident cannot be forgotten. It speaks to the integrity of a person. John Burke has SHOWN HIMSELF to be sneaky and under handed. The restraining order against him also speaks volumes about his character. It cannot be explained away by that was awhile ago. I know that family wants their privacy protected, but suffice it to say that Burke cannot be trusted to handle the huge issues of a City budget in a honorable and trustworthy manner.

JB is a democrat----ever know a democrat that gave money back??? Trina, you have been badly misled about JB's background, education, qualifications and experience to run a good size city. I do admire your ability to speak your piece and express yourself, a right we all have.
JB really ruined his own credibility with the City Council unsigned letter 2 years ago when he attempted to attack spouses of people in city government personally, then not sign the letter. His pants are still around his ankles with that one. The newspapers have referred to him as a "cheat, liar and defendant", not anyone else.

Also with the deepest respect to nshoremn, I would like to counter with the following:
1. Please read my response to Mr. Anthony Kline
2. I agree Democrats - on the books - do not give money back - I am Democrat
3. "JB ruined his own credibility....." 2 years ago??? Mr. Scanlon has made no mistakes???? Not one. He has just in the last month.
4. BClinton's pants were around his ankles all the time and his legacy still says he was a good leader.

Happy Election to all!

What letter nshoremn. Everybody keeps talking about this letter. But yet nobody is able too put it on the table. So is this just another political scam from the SANLON CAMP trying to put another rubber stamp in so we have nobody fighting for the CITIZEN'S.Plus if there is a letter maybe it hasn't rose to the top because there mite be alot of truth to burke's evident's about these 2 spouses...

Ill take my chance's VOTE BURKE NOV 3RD

And these people are my neighbors.......

Paul Leighton clearly supports Scanlon. His takes at "journalism" in the recent issues of the Salem News have been pathetic to say the least. How about a little Objectivity? In this article we see two quotes from Scanlon, promoting how he "kept the cove school open" by giving the citizens of Beverly a Trash Fee (not a tax). No quotes from Burke were used, instead Leighton paraphrased him using weak language, and effectively reducing Burke's argument into something it is not.

"You and I just see this differently" but Leighton and Scanlon see things the same. Shitty journalism, but you would make a great propagandist Paul.

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