Jesse Mermell’s Self Orbit.
By Jim Conley • Apr 29th, 2007 • Email This Post to a Friend •
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It’s curious to many that I would, at the same I call Tuesday’s election for Selectman for Jesse Mermell, go to great pains to question her candidacy.
On Thursday, the TAB’s Managing Editor Greg Reibman took to their blog to say I had a strong reaction to the endorsement. And that I should tell people why Jules Levine is a better candidate. I don’t think he is…and I’m sure not going to waste my time writing about someone who has spent only $32.00 on his campaign.
(No one could miss the fact that the TAB editorial writers felt as if they had been talked down to by Levine, “who didn’t answer their questions.” Anyone who has taught at the university level is familiar with this sentiment from course evaluations. And you know who the student is…and why you don’t answer, or would do so as if a different question had been asked — the kid has no idea of what’s going on and you don’t want to embarrass him or her.)
My writing on Mermell stems from the view that she is emblematic of a suffering body politic, one that revolves on an axis of self-interest.
Mermell is a Democratic activist and executive director of the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus. She’s 27 years old, and as an activist she writes frequently on how young people are ignored in the political process (read: during elections). Oh really? Go cry to an African-American grandmother in the Mississippi Delta, or a migrant worker in Maine’s Washington County.
She advocates a greater role for women in politics, and works for an organization whose board is populated by women, some of whom work tirelessly to elect men and women more than willing to set the clock back on advances made by women in this country. The Caucus sees the problem as gender and it’s hard to miss how Mermell sees her efforts as advancing her personal agenda, being a woman and all.
Too tough? Well, Mermell has been a staunch opponent of local campaign finance controls in Brookline. Last year, when Brookline town meeting took up a measure to restrict donations from addresses outside of Brookline, Mermell and “Gentleman Mike” Merrill led the charge against the measure. Mermell said that, “campaign finance restrictions put women and minorities at a disadvantage when seeking local office.”
That was the first time I had heard that one. In fact, most evidence points to the current system as putting women and minorities at a disadvantage. But at the time, Mermell had already run a race where she collected more than half of her funds from outside Brookline, and she’s done so again.
I don’t see anything genuine about Jesse Mermell. She’d have us believe that she is a starving young professional, and it’s a sham. She says she cares deeply about Brookline, but she’s never shown interest in any affair that doesn’t benefit her directly. And her ambition will make her an easy mark for those who are skilled in manipulating the self-interest of others to advance their own.
She’ll be one of five people making decisions for the rest of us. But it’s hard to see how Jesse Mermell can live outside her own self-orbit.
Jim Conley is publisher of On Brookline.
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I plan to go to the polls on May 1st but will not cast a vote for either Mermell or Levine. But as between the two of them, it is obvious who is the responsible adult. And we need responsible adults on the BOS, which in recent years reflects a dumbing down of the meaning of public service, with many Selectmen there to feather their resumes and professional careers while serving on a part time basis.
Several years ago, I made a personal commitment not to vote for a candidate for Town elective office unless that candidate made a commitment to seriously address and consider the need for a change from our antiquated and inefficient Representative Town Meeting form of governance to one of the city forms available. Levine has not made such a commitment. He is well aware of my view.
Otherwise, who can think badly of a person with his credentials. Mermell is a tabula rasa in comparison. The credentials of the current Selectmen, while brighter than Mermell’s, are dim in comparison. Here is a candidate who is obviously not looking to build his resume or professional career. (Frankly, based upon past observations, having served as a Selectman in Brookline may taint a resume for a political future.) But what can one person out of five accomplish with the form of governance we have? Not much, but a fresh voice such as Levine’s that would not be intimidated would be refreshing and might liven Tuesday’s sessions. Why Levine might challenge Town Counsel and other managers appearing before the BOS.
But I shall do my write-in: “Charter.” Who knows, with enough votes for “Charter” we might some day get a change. In any event, I shall have voted.
Jim,
You refer to Greg Reibman as the TAB’s Managing Editor. The Masthead on page 16 of the Brookline TAB issue of April 26th lists him as Editor in Chief. I had the impression from this that relates to the Community Newspaper Company’s various TAB publications, or at least in its METRO area. Is there a distinction between Managing Editor and Editor in Chief? To what extent does Erin Clossey as Editor of the Brookline TAB have autonomy? Does Greg serve as a watchdog Editor in Chief over Erin and the Editors of other TAB publications in its METRO area?
I ask these questions because it is not clear to me what if any autonomy Erin Clossey has as Editor of the Brookline TAB. It would be nice if the Brookline TAB could either have its editorials signed by the author or provide a statement of its policy with respect to its editorials. When I submitted Guest Commentaries to the Brookline TAB during Lesley Mahoney’s term as its Editor, I assumed the decisions to publish them were hers. (I have no complaints regarding my submissions other than being published sometimes several weeks after submission.) I wonder what Greg’s role might have been regarding my submissions.
I have not made any submissions to the Brookline TAB since Lesley’s departure to greener pastures primarily because you generally provide more timely publication of my several Guest Commentaries you have posted. Also, you reach a wide audience, including outside of Brookline, with your Blog. I would be reluctant to further submit to the Brookline TAB if its Editor did not have autonomy; for she and her staff presumably read the pulse of Brookline on a day to day basis. Isn’t that the rationale for the separate TAB weeklies with their own Editors and staffs?
So, is Greg the Managing Editor of the Brookline TAB? Perhaps that function is part of his job title of Editor in Chief. Just asking.
MAY DAY! MAY DAY! MAY DAY!
What a glorious day it is today, May 1st, here in Precinct One, with so much in bloom. Spring is finally here.
As a youngster in the 1930s, May Day was the day for dancing around the May Pole. Later, I learned that May Day was also the day for celebration world-wide of international labor segueing into communism, including in some places in America. After all, Uncle Joe Stalin was with us against Hitler and Tojo during WW II. But with the Cold War all of a sudden we were looking under our beds for dreaded communists.
I became a lawyer in 1954. I was proud when Pres. Ike in 1958 proclaimed May 1st as Law Day in response to the Cold War with emphasis on the rule of law in America. The legal community throughout the US served America well by honoring Law Day in many public forums. So today is also another Law Day. But for many it has been saddened by what has been going on in Washington, DC with the George W. Bush Administration. Just take at look at Ruth Marcus’ column in today’s Washington Post:
Click here for article.
Here in Precinct One today, May 1st, is also trash and recycle day. After putting my weekly output on the sidewalk I remembered that it was also Town Election Day in Brookline. So shortly after 7:00 AM, I went to the polls to vote. The usual gaggle of candidates/supporters was there to great me. I declined a handout, saying that I had made up my mind, that I had just put out the trash and now I wanted to finish the job.
Inside, I completed my ballot with write-ins for reasons I have previously stated. In exiting, I was asked if I wanted a sticker that I had voted. I declined, saying that I did not want anyone to think that I voted for anyone on the ballot.
I am glad I went to the polls to vote. I hope there is a big turnout, which might reveal the soul of our community. Brookline with its 56,000 plus population is not a one-horse town. Rather, it is led by a five-mule team with the reins held by a well paid Town Administrator without a whip, pulling a wagon with 240 crowded in to pick up after the team. Is it time to yell “MAY DAY! MAY DAY! here in Brookline? No, the Town will survive. But taxes will increase, services will decrease. And the fun and games will continue at Town Hall. I can just hear Frankie Laine roaring in song “Mule Train ….”
But let’s take Law Day seriously. We are a nation of laws, even at the municipal level.