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THOSE IN MR BILLS BACK POCKET HAVE SPOKEN....SAME NEWS AS ALLWAYS..........

Those who know Burke have spoken.

Good job Mr. Slate....I agree with you

I have always tried to understand the comment, and similar ones, referencing 'those in Mr Bill's back pocket'. I have lived here my entire 51 years and I follow the political scene in Beverly through the papers, watching Council meetings on TV, and talking to Council members. I know many of the councilors through life-long associations; Maureen Troubetaris, Bill Coughlin, Tim Flaherty, Kevin Hobin, Paul Guanci, Wes Slate, Judith Cronin,and others who served during Bill's time in office, such as Bruce Nardella and Roger Morency. I don't profess to know who they support now for Mayor, but these are all strong people who wouldn't 'rubber stamp' something just because Bill Scanlon wanted it. They all have too much invested in their community.
Secondly, in Bill Scanlon's tenure I have never seen nor heard of any scandal involving illegal or under-handed activities, only things surmised and spewed by his detractors and never supported with facts.
John Burke cannot say the same. The anonymous letter scenario, while definitely not illegal, was certainly under-handed. Mr. Burke stated in the first Mayoral debate that he didn't need to trash an opponent in order to win an election, but he trashed 2 Beverly families good names, and didn't have his facts straight. Seems hypocritical. He also sat back and let his fellow Councilors do his bidding, didn't even cast his vote to reflect the feelings in the letter.
This is a man of integrity, conviction and courage we want to manage our City? He stated at the time one of the reasons he wrote the letter anonymously was he feared retribution from the Beverly Police. I have to wonder then what would happen if he had to sit on the other side of the table to negotiate a union contract with the Beverly Police: Would he negotiate a contract not only fair to the union but protect the interest of the Beverly taxpayers as well? Or, fearing retribution, give in to every demand? I had no problem with Mr. Burke wanting to bring to light his perceived problems with the Beverly Police Dept. That's his duty as someone who ran for office. but as an elected official his duty was to speak up, hold to his convictions, and vote his conscious. That would have demonstrated leadership. Add that to the number of City Council meetings I have watched and witnessed with Mr. Burke's disregard for Robert's Rules and I see a lack of leadership and professionalism necessary to be Mayor of Beverly.
The choice couldn't be clearer.

They screwed up and the bid was written incorrectly. It was not 'rigged'. That's what I'm talking about, the accusations with no facts to back it up.Just emotional blather.If it was 'rigged' they would have been prosecuted. The mayor as well as many on the council and the BG&T commission did not want Johnson Golf Management because of the track record, and they were proven right. Having Johnson get the contract by lawsuit, which by the way is the way he won a few other golf course management contracts with other cities, cost Beverly a lot more than $1M large in lost memberships and greens fees from public play over Johnson's tenure because he let the course become a disgrace. They went from a full membership (300+) and a 7 year waiting list to under 100 members and no waiting list. I'm not the one who needs to wake up. Get educated and use facts, not emotion.

Well lets see Tom 51 years here hmmmmmmmmmm .Did you just wake up. If you don't call rigging a bid at the beverly golf and tennis illegal or underhanded maybe you should go back to sleep.And let's not forget it cost the tax payer's 1 mill $ large

Just another RUBBER STAMP Wes yyyyyyyyy