State Rep. Mary Grant insists the potential of both a primary and general election challenge had nothing to do with her decision to call it quits after next year. But it’s quickly become apparent there are plenty of people in Beverly interested in running for her House seat.
There was speculation that John Burke might have been looking ahead to a run for the seat even as he was taking on Mayor Bill Scanlon this fall. And he’s one Democrat who would not be deterred from challenging an incumbent member of his own party.
Meanwhile, that very contentious mayoral race might be remembered as a tame affair if Corinne Ray — wife of the police chief and one of the subjects of Burke’s notorious anonymous letter of a few years ago — follows through on her talk of running for Grant’s seat.
And those are just a couple of Democrats thinking of taking a shot at the position. Councilor at large Pat Grimes and local attorney Jerry Parisella have all but announced their candidacies.
Meanwhile, a prominent Democrat has broached the possibility of a Republican primary pitting announced candidate Brett Schetzsle against Councilor at large Paul Guanci.
It appears Beverly voters will have plenty of choices.
That’s the title of a new book by former New York Times reporter Alex S. Jones, now director of Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy.
He’s optimistic about the future of newspapers even in the Internet age. Who else, he asks, will perform the watchdog role so critical to democracy? A couple of excerpts:
“There is a great deal that powerful people and institutions seek to keep hidden, and far more that would be hidden were it not for the vigilance of a watchdog press corps. Indeed, far too much goes unwatched and unreported as it is; the act of saving the news should, in fact, include a goad and prod to news organizations to be more rigorous.”
And this, “But man of s find newspapers a warm and comfortable medium, and as such, able to command a sustainable audience, just as books have done. There is a sensal pleasure and satisfaction to reading a newspaper while sipping a morning coffee that I believe will prove as enduring as the quiet solace of a martini in a chilled glass.”
Recommended reading for journalists and anyone else concerned with the industrys survival.
Proving himself the maverick among North Shore legislators once again, state Rep. Ted Speliotis has endorsed Congressman Michael Capuano’s U.S. Senate bid.
Speliotis said he’s known the former Somerville mayor since the the latter was an aide to the taxation committee and the Danvers lawmaker was a rookie working out of the bullpen in the bowels of the Statehouse.
Most members of the region’s delegation have lined up behind Attorney General Martha Coakley. She has tried to cutlivate an air of inevitability about her campaign, but was unimpressive in her first editorial board meeting at The Salem News Friday. Her comments appeared mostly scripted, and it was clear she had not been well briefed on issues important to News readers.
* A friend suggests that Beverly Mayor Bill Scanlon and challenger John Burke be the featured guests at the annual “Bridging the Gap” ceremony on the Veterans Memorial Bridge later this month.
The event brings ancient rivals — the Salem and Beverly football teams — together to shake hands before the big Thanksgiving Day game.
Mayor Scanlon
Noted Scanlon during his victory speech: “I’m working on getting a personality. It will take a while.”
* The Democratic victory in New York’s 23rd congressional district may be a defeat in disguise for the president’s party. At least that’s New York Times columnist Frank Rich’s theory.
Republican Dede Scozzafava withdrew from the race after party conservatives abandoned her for Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. As a result, Democrat Bill Owens emerged the winner in this traditionally Republican district. (The former incumbent, a Republican, was tapped by President Obama to become Secretary of the Army.)
Rich speculated that a Hoffman win would further embolden the GOP’s conservative wing and result in similar electoral disasters for the party nationwide.
* Salem District Court first justice Robert Cornetta and Mayor Kim Driscoll have been an effective team advocating for the new courthouse downtown. So it was no surprise Cornetta’s first order of business was to congratulate Driscoll on her “come-from-behind victory” when the two shared the stage at the North Shore Chamber of Commerce meeting Wednesday morning.
* The vote totals in local councilor-at-large races make Ted Bettencourt and Mike Cahill the natural frontrunners in the mayoral sweepstakes in Peabody and Beverly respectively. You can bet Salem Councilor at large Joan Lovely hopes the same logic applies to her, though she will likely have to wait a couple of years longer than the other two for her shot at the corner office.
Polls will be open at 7 tomorrow morning in Salem, Peabody and Beverly. Close at 8.
Don’t look for any upsets at the top of the ballots. Few surprises anywhere else, either, though Peabody could see a change in one of the ward council seats, and Teasie Riley-Goggin just might crack the at-large field in Salem. Top finisher in the Beverly at-large contest will not only get the council presidency, but will be regarded as front-runner in race to succeed Bill Scanlon.
And if you think any of these cities are in bad shape, consider the recent news out of Lawrence which has been paying eight firefighters full pay for months despite the fact they are listed as being laid off. A lengthy appeals process has kept them on the payroll though they haven’t been working. Meanwhile the city has had to close two neighborhood fire stations as a result of the reduction in staff.
Has to be the worst-managed city in Massachusetts, and things won’t get better unless David Abdoo, a Salem State College grad and trustee, springs an upset and beats Rep. Willie Lantigua. The incumbent, Michael Sullivan, is prohibited from seeking a third term and could be the poster boy for those who say term limits don’t make for better government.
The situation must really be dire on Beacon Hill. Among the “efficiencies, reforms and management tolls” Gov. Patrick announced today to help close a $600-million budget gap: Elimination of the “hack holidays” — Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day — for state and Suffolk County employees.
Should have been done long ago. Will be interesting to see how it fares when the governor’s proposl gets to the legislative side of the Statehouse.
Considering that her city’s major industry, fishing, is in a state of virtual collapse, Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk’s opposition to membership in the new regional vocational school district is puzzling to say the least.
This is the perhaps the only chance cities and towns on the North Shore will have to build a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility and have the state pick up 80 percent of the cost. While coming up with the other 20 percent will be difficult in these tight fiscal times, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll is right when she says it’s an opportunity hers and other communities can’t afford to pass up.
Clinging to the island mentality may be the popular route now, but it could cost Kirk’s city plenty both in terms of lost opportunity for
Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk
Gloucester kids and the out-of-district costs the city will be assessed for any students that are accepted at the new school in Danvers.
Such short-sightedness and insularity has made Gloucester one of the most problem-plagued communities in the region. It’s a shame to see it continue under the latest administration.
Most believe the Dec. 8 Democratic primary will produce the winner of January’s special election to fill the late Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat.
The four Democratic candidates held their first televised debate tonight. Some quick impressions: Most surprising: Stephen Pagliuca, relatively unknown coming into the race, impressed with his knowledge of the issues and his ability to parry with pros like Somerville Congressman Mike Capuano.
Responding to Capuano’s pompous attempt to instruct his opponents in Senate voting procedures, Pagliuca said he understands how things work, adding, “I know it’s rocket science down there to get things done.” Most long-winded: City Year founder Alan Khazei. Wasn’t even close. Also gets the prize for farthest to the left. Most repetitive: If you didn’t know it before, you sure knew it at the end of the hour. Capuano is the only candidate currently serving in Congress.
Not much difference on the issues, however. All indicated they could support another round of stimulus funding, opposed sending more troops to Afghanistan and want to see a public option as part of a health-care reform bill.
Coakley, whose front-runner status was confirmed by a Western New England College poll released Monday (it showed her with a 20-point lead over Capuano and Pagliuca who were in a virtual tie), was not pressed by either her opponents or moderator Peter Meade.
Senate Majority Leader Fred Berry, D-Peabody, made a rare early-morning appearance today, speaking to a joint meeting of The Salem Partnership and the North Shore Alliance for Economic Development.
Berry had remained a key inside player on Beacon Hill even while dealing with some serious health issues. But now he’s feeling better and making an effort to get out in the district more.
And throughout he never lost that famous wit. This morning, as TSP executive director Patricia Zaido struggled to feed his microphone through the arm of his wheelchair to his lapel, Berry joked, “With my luck, I’ll get electrocuted.”
Friday’s agenda included a pitch for his big food drive being held in Danvers Sunday and a review of recent state investments in the region that include a new library for Salem State College, garages at the Salem and Beverly train stations and a new regional vocational school to be built in Danvers.
In response to a question, Berry predicted quick passage of a gambling bill that would authorize a casino or two, as well as slot
Sen. Fred Berry
machines at existing horse and dog tracks. The latter, he noted, could be up and running in a matter of months and have the potential to yield $500 million a year in much-needed new revenue for the state.
His comments echo those of Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, whose committee will hold a hearing on the issue next week. At a meeting with editors Wednesday, Dempsey said there appears to be considerable sentiment now for allowing “racinos” at places like Suffolk Downs and Wonderland.
Once considered among the most political cities in the country, Peabody seems to be suffering a drought of voter interest.
Wednesday night’s forum at City Hall was a quiet affair compared to similar events in the past that attracted hordes of sign-holders outside and featured plenty of bombast within
While there are plenty of lawn signs out there, and many candidates are expending plenty of shoe leather trying to meet the voters, there seems to be an overall lack of passion in all of the races save for that for the Ward 6 City Council seat. That one’s getting vicious with charges flying back and forth regarding the theft of signs and lots of speculation over who’s backing who, and why.
Sponsored by The Salem News and Peabody Access Telecommunications, the forum was a civil affair. There were no bombs tossed or candidate meltdowns. Voters will have a chance to compare the styles and positions of the candidates for mayor, councilor at large and School Committe when the event is rebroadcast on the local cable channel.
Nelson Benton is editorial page editor of The Salem News. Over the past four decades he has covered all the cities and towns of the North Shore, as well as the Statehouse. His political column appears every Friday on the Opinion page.
