Not a Good Sign.
By Jim Conley • Mar 2nd, 2008 • Email This Post to a Friend •
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So far, we are looking at three selectmen candidates for May’s local election.
We could use a few more; especially now with word that former School Committee member Marcia Heist and former selectman Donna Kalikow have signed on to run the campaign of town meeting member Richard Benka.
If you wanted to find two people who have played a large part in achieving Brookline’s current woes, it’s Kalikow and Heist. While they served on their respective boards, a disaster at the Lawrence School renovation unfolded, a woefully incompetent superintendent was made even more useless thanks to Heist’s bullying and the seeds of the disastrous St. Aidan’s housing project were planted. And that’s just a start.
[An aside: Word is that Heist was so incensed by Hoy's call for a hearing into last May's Brawl at Town Hall that she told him she would not chair his campaign, as she did last time. Ah, those liberals.]
Looks like we know who the real estate development community is putting up for a candidate. And if that’s not bad enough, we have to suffer through the obsequiousness that will be paid to two hacks that just need to go away.
Update: A note to those who think this site (and the local paper) have not covered the so-called allegations (made by Brookline Police Chief Daniel O’Leary) on Selectman Gil Hoy, there’s no story; because there is no documentation behind the smear. If you have tangible evidence to support your claims, produce it. Otherwise, stop whining about preferential treatment because of someone’s last name.
Jim Conley is publisher of On Brookline.
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VARIATION ON AN OLD LAWYER JOKE:
Old version:
“What’s 500 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?”
“A good start.”
Variation:
“What’s three (3) lawyers running for Selectmen in Brookline?”
“A bad start?”
There are about 400 attorneys (including me) living in Brookline. We need more of them (except for Sherman-esque me) to take out papers, especially ones whose law practices are centered in Brookline, so that they can be in a position to do good while also doing well.
I can hardly wait to see Donna’s calico leather outfits long missing from our Board of Selectmen meetings. We need this return of fashion to perk up Brookline’s override misery.
HANDICAPPING MAY ‘08 SELECTMEN RACE
It’s kind of early to meaningfully handicap this race. I am awaiting the outpouring of our Town”s “usual suspects” (I think they number about 60) to see how they commit to the current three legal beagle candidates. Some of them may be waiting for new “cucumbers” to enter and join what some might consider to be the elite of the Brookline Bar. Of course, it is not unusual in our Town that the “usual suspects” may end up endorsing more than one candidate.
With Selectmen Allen and DeWitt’s current terms expiring in May of ‘09, and perhaps considering reelection, it will be curious to see whom these “usual suspects” and their followers will be endorsing this year. Selectman Mermell has two years to go and may follow her mentor Marty Rosenthal in endorsing Hoy. Selectman Daly may be significantly at risk with only three candidates, especially if she is judged by her turn as Chair since Hoy’s “voluntary” resignation, primarily because of her role in the Conquest matter and the override. Even if Daly loses, she may consider a come-back in ‘09 or ‘10.
Candidate Benka, age 60, a retired attorney who had been a partner in the law firm of Foley Hoag, clearly is not seeking to enhance his legal career by running. He might be a sort of “full-time” Selectman if elected in comparison to the other attorneys currently serving on the Board while maintaining busy law practices centered in our Town. Benka might make Town Administrator Kelliher nervous if he is truly independent of the “usual suspects” currently (and expected to be) endorsing him. A lawyer with lots of time on his hands, based upon my own experience, can sure be a pain in the grass.
Let me make it clear: I refuse to endorse any candidate for Selectman or TMM who does not publicly vow to change from Representative Town Meeting to a city form of governance.