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Bad blood in Beverly

Oct 14th, 2009 by Nelson Benton

The rhetoric is growing more shrill in Beverly where Mayor William Scanlon is being challenged by long-time nemesis John Burke, the city councilor who represents Ward 3.
There was a lively exchange at the Cove Community Center last Thursday, and letters to the editor have been dispatched from both camps raising questions about the opposition (See today and Thursday’s Salem News).
Whether it’s on the basis of an internal poll or simply a gut feeling, Scanlon seems concerned there’s an anti-incumbent mood within the community and doesn’t want to suffer another upset loss.
Considering the fact that in his last term Burke was slapped with censure by his City Council colleagues over an anonymous letter he penned raising questions about Scanlon’s nominee for police chief (for whom Burke voted and says now has done a good job), a citywide victory by the Ward 3 councilor would be an upset of historic proportions.
But stranger things have happened in this game.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

  • mattpaul
    Mr Benton - The last time Scanlon lost an election in an upset, it was to Crean largely because of the bid rigging scandal at the Beverly Golf Club. It is now late October, and we do not have a committed operator for Beverly Golf for next year. Maybe, Mr Benton, you could inquire what is really happening at the Beverly Golf Club ----- and ask some probing questions, like Is the City being paid? Why isn't there an extension yet? Is the City preparing to put it out to bid again? Why? The City approved $1,600,000 for the Club over a year ago because the Mayor was in breach of his contract. Why hasn't any of this money (except a pittance) been spent yet - a year after the fact despite the fact that the City's Finance Director said in October 2008 that the City HAD to invest this long overdue money in the city's most valuable revenue producing asset? If the City does not have an operator next year, could it cost the City $1,000,000 in annual cash flow?With all your investigative resources, I am sure one could find out what is happening with the City's most important asset ..... just a thought in case you wanted to actualy get your hands dirty and do some reporting on issues facing the City
  • mackerelcove
    Frankly, neither candidate has that much going for them. Burke has a history of ugly anonymous letters that he only admited to after he stupidly left the evidence of his authorship in city hall! Scanlon has certainly not been the great manager that he would have us all believe he is. Just look at the golf course fiasco, he has cost the city a bundle on that one alone, and he has a reputation for vindictiveness. So frankly neither of them is the best candidate for the position of mayor. I don't know who would be, but the qualifications I'm looking for are; 1)honesty, personal and professional, 2) Business experience, expecially in this economy this is essential, 3) the ability to work well with the city council and the school board.
  • Hitman_01915
    Out of curiosity, did Burke receive permission from the SNEWS or Paul Leighton for using their name and his picture on his web site? It is used in a way that seems to imply that Leighton supports Burke...in which case I hope the SNEWS limits his ability to cover the campaign due to bias.
  • baileyadams
    I wondered about that myself.....
  • allseeingeye
    Hitman i don't see anybody from the SNEWS endorsing burke. Like benton doe's for scanlon. And we all no that's true !!!! As far as bias goes i think you HIT YOUR HEAD.
  • Fed up in the Cove
    As I look at all the political signage littering our neighborhoods, I am disappointed to see all the same names as in past elections. This "good old boy" network is so entrenched in Beverly government that we have no right to expect any new ideas or any changes from the status quo. What we need is a mayor and city council who will stand up to the unions who have gotten more or less everything they have demanded and are costing the city way more money than they are worth. What we need is an outsider who isn't cozy with the city council and the unions and who is the smartest person in the room. That's not what we will be getting with Burke or Scanlon.
  • Name
    THEN, RUN FOR OFFICE
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