As you have noticed, my blogging here has been rather light the past few months. Truth is, work has become very busy and with two young children, I just don't have the time right now to devote to this blog and covering Dracut politics. Thus, I won't be blogging here anymore but I will keep the site "live" in case I am able to get back to this.
Thanks to everyone for their readership and to everyone who I have met as a result of this blog.
Be well.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Election analysis
The results were as people expected - incumbents John Zimini and Bob Cox were re-elected to the Board of Selectmen and Matthew Sheehan was re-elected to a second term on the School Committee. Fire Chief Leo Gaudette easily defeated Chris Jenkins for Town Moderator.
But the news of the night was the high school project which won 3,894-1,748 with 316 blanks. It wasn't even close. Mega kudos to the Friends of a New Dracut High School for an amazing effort to get people to back the project and for getting people to the polls. 5,958 (or 31%) voters came out to vote - the largest number of people to vote in a May election in well over 10 years. The previous high was 5,048 in 1999. This may represent a seismic shift in town politics as a new breed of voters was awoken this year. Here's hoping they stay involved.
As for the races, voters felt that things were going well enough to stay the course. Sheehan had a scare winning by 158 votes with 414 blanks (2,844-2,686). If those blanks went to May Paquette in any significant number, Sheehan would have been in trouble.
Zimini topped the ticket with 2,943 votes. Cox followed with 2,661, Tony Archniski got 2,470, and Ted Kosiavelon got 1,842. This is huge for Zimini has many (including yours truly) wrote him off last year. Now he topped the ticket.
I was sad to see Jenkins lose so big to Gaudette (3,774-1,532). Jenkins was at Town Hall tonight and seems like a great guy - I hope he runs for something again but he's not too sure. I don't think a town official should hold an elected position but alas, the voters have spoken.
Linda Trouville and Cheryl Storm were unopposed and won the two seats for Library Trustee.
A rather anti-climatic night but a good night for the high school. Hope for the future won over fear and doom and gloom. Has a new era has dawned?
But the news of the night was the high school project which won 3,894-1,748 with 316 blanks. It wasn't even close. Mega kudos to the Friends of a New Dracut High School for an amazing effort to get people to back the project and for getting people to the polls. 5,958 (or 31%) voters came out to vote - the largest number of people to vote in a May election in well over 10 years. The previous high was 5,048 in 1999. This may represent a seismic shift in town politics as a new breed of voters was awoken this year. Here's hoping they stay involved.
As for the races, voters felt that things were going well enough to stay the course. Sheehan had a scare winning by 158 votes with 414 blanks (2,844-2,686). If those blanks went to May Paquette in any significant number, Sheehan would have been in trouble.
Zimini topped the ticket with 2,943 votes. Cox followed with 2,661, Tony Archniski got 2,470, and Ted Kosiavelon got 1,842. This is huge for Zimini has many (including yours truly) wrote him off last year. Now he topped the ticket.
I was sad to see Jenkins lose so big to Gaudette (3,774-1,532). Jenkins was at Town Hall tonight and seems like a great guy - I hope he runs for something again but he's not too sure. I don't think a town official should hold an elected position but alas, the voters have spoken.
Linda Trouville and Cheryl Storm were unopposed and won the two seats for Library Trustee.
A rather anti-climatic night but a good night for the high school. Hope for the future won over fear and doom and gloom. Has a new era has dawned?
2011 Dracut Election Results
Here are the winners:
Selectmen: John Zimini and Bob Cox
School Committee: Matt Sheehan
Moderator: Leo Gaudette
School Project: Yes (by a landslide)
Selectmen: John Zimini and Bob Cox
School Committee: Matt Sheehan
Moderator: Leo Gaudette
School Project: Yes (by a landslide)
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Never taking a stand?
Today's Lowell Sun has an article on the legislation passed by the House last week that would essentially strip unions of any control over health care. The measure is now in the Senate and the paper asked local senators how they felt about the bill. Our senator, Barry Finegold, characteristically did not take a stand. He said he was "listening to all sides" and "waiting to see what happens."
This seems to be a pattern with this guy - he vacillates and tries to please everyone and offend no one. Take a stand, senator!
This seems to be a pattern with this guy - he vacillates and tries to please everyone and offend no one. Take a stand, senator!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Zimini responds
Gerry Nutter asked John Zimini what he thought of the cartoon in yesterday's Lowell Sun. The basis of the ad, from Tony Archniski, was that Zimini, who calls himself the independent, took thousands of dollars from unions in campaign contributions. The ad, he said, makes it seem that Zimini took all those contributions in 2008 but they were actually made over a 7 year period.
Fair enough.
I think Zimini's donations are based on his ties to the Democratic Party and Lt. Gov. Tim Murray. I can't imagine they have much influence on local issues. Zimini himself gives a lot of money to statewide candidates. In the past 10 years or so, he has donated closed to $5,000 to state office candidates, mostly to Murray. The donations back to him, it would seem, are just your typical political quid pro quo.
I am surprised that Archniski would bring up Zimini's union ties given the fact that Archniski himself works for a union! His union, the New England Police Benevolent Association, has given thousands and thousands of dollars in donations to political candidates in recent years. Granted, it's not Archniski himself giving/receiving donations from them but his union is very powerful and vocal, especially over the recent debate over municipal health care costs. Where will Archniski be on that issue? Will he be with the taxpayers or the unions?
I have no problem with the police union - I like Jerry Flynn actually. But, it just surprises me that Archniski would go on the union issue when going against Zimini. It was a good ad (I am friends with the cartoonist actually) but does it hold up?
Fair enough.
I think Zimini's donations are based on his ties to the Democratic Party and Lt. Gov. Tim Murray. I can't imagine they have much influence on local issues. Zimini himself gives a lot of money to statewide candidates. In the past 10 years or so, he has donated closed to $5,000 to state office candidates, mostly to Murray. The donations back to him, it would seem, are just your typical political quid pro quo.
I am surprised that Archniski would bring up Zimini's union ties given the fact that Archniski himself works for a union! His union, the New England Police Benevolent Association, has given thousands and thousands of dollars in donations to political candidates in recent years. Granted, it's not Archniski himself giving/receiving donations from them but his union is very powerful and vocal, especially over the recent debate over municipal health care costs. Where will Archniski be on that issue? Will he be with the taxpayers or the unions?
I have no problem with the police union - I like Jerry Flynn actually. But, it just surprises me that Archniski would go on the union issue when going against Zimini. It was a good ad (I am friends with the cartoonist actually) but does it hold up?
My predictions
As always, I thought I'd make predictions for Monday's election. This is not necessarily how I am going to vote, just who I think is going to win.
Board of Selectmen
This was a tough one as it's been a quiet race (until this week really) with little separating the four candidates running. But in the end, I think Bob Cox and John Zimini will re-elected. Tony Archniski will make it close but I don't think his "change" slogan will resonate since he was part of town government for so long (and had some contentious relations with some folks in town). I don't think Ted Kosiavelon made a case for his election - although he made some decent points in his Sun profile today.
I think Cox and Zimini have a better organization and base. Plus, things are going well in town and their opponents haven't made a case for their ouster
School Committee
I was always sure that Matt Sheehan would be re-elected to the School Committee but Wednesday's Town Meeting solidified that. Sheehan is certainly tied in with the Friends of a New Dracut High School and they will be out voting en masse on Monday for the high school project - and Sheehan benefits from that. Besides that, Sheehan deserves re-election given the hiring of Dr. Scott and the decrease in "drama" on the committee.
May Paquette, a formidable candidate in her own right, just didn't make the case that Sheehan should not be re-elected. She is a better speaker and comes across very well but Sheehan's accomplishments speak for themselves.
High School Project
I think this will pass. The Friends have established a good grassroots network and have people excited and motivated. Yes, the last Prop 2 1/2 override vote in town failed but that was for Town Hall. I think people are more interested in seeing money spent on projects like schools. This will be a no-brainer.
Board of Selectmen
This was a tough one as it's been a quiet race (until this week really) with little separating the four candidates running. But in the end, I think Bob Cox and John Zimini will re-elected. Tony Archniski will make it close but I don't think his "change" slogan will resonate since he was part of town government for so long (and had some contentious relations with some folks in town). I don't think Ted Kosiavelon made a case for his election - although he made some decent points in his Sun profile today.
I think Cox and Zimini have a better organization and base. Plus, things are going well in town and their opponents haven't made a case for their ouster
School Committee
I was always sure that Matt Sheehan would be re-elected to the School Committee but Wednesday's Town Meeting solidified that. Sheehan is certainly tied in with the Friends of a New Dracut High School and they will be out voting en masse on Monday for the high school project - and Sheehan benefits from that. Besides that, Sheehan deserves re-election given the hiring of Dr. Scott and the decrease in "drama" on the committee.
May Paquette, a formidable candidate in her own right, just didn't make the case that Sheehan should not be re-elected. She is a better speaker and comes across very well but Sheehan's accomplishments speak for themselves.
High School Project
I think this will pass. The Friends have established a good grassroots network and have people excited and motivated. Yes, the last Prop 2 1/2 override vote in town failed but that was for Town Hall. I think people are more interested in seeing money spent on projects like schools. This will be a no-brainer.
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