The deadline to pass in nomination papers has come and gone and seven of nine circus council seats in the city of Leominster will go uncontested. It’s a sad day…
Kryssi Benson has returned her nomination papers to try and unseat long-time councilor Wayne Nickel and Melissa Maguire has returned papers to try and take her seat among the three other at-large councilors. I don’t know much about either of these newcomers but I’ll be sure and find out what I can. I do know that Kryssi is involved with The Flamingo Project, an organization looking to educate school children on recycling. I don’t have anything on Ms. Maguire although I’m sure she’ll be out there pounding the pavement and kissing babies soon enough.
Dean Mazzarella will once again run uncontested as he has done so many times in the past since the breakfast sausage king of Leominster, Jeff Cordio, still can’t decide whether or not he is going to run for Mayor. The deadline to return your papers has passed Jeff so if you change your mind…again…you’ll have to run as a write-in. Free bacon to everybody that votes for Jeff.
I’m pretty upset that not more of the council seats are being challenged. I would have loved to see some fresh blood down there. I think Wayne Nickel has had a successful tenure but enough is enough. Dennis Rosa does a fantastic job with the cities finances but I think he has his hands wrapped a little too tight around our money. I’m not sure what to think about Ginny Tocci since she has only opened her mouth three times since she was re-elected. Maybe she’s a great councilor? Who would know? Get involved already!!!
I’ll save my comments on some of the other councilors. What do you think about the circus council? Do either of the newcomers have a chance of beating the incumbents? Let me know what you think.
Does anybody even read this blog?
August 8, 2007 at 11:34 pm
I read it. It comes up on my google alert.
Dean
August 9, 2007 at 7:05 am
My first real reader! How exciting! Thanks Mr. Mayor and good luck with the upcoming race. You’ve taken us this far, keep up the great work!
August 9, 2007 at 9:15 am
I just found this and have bookmarked the site. It’s nice to see more people taking an interest in what’s going on in the city!
I am disappointed as well in the lack of candidates, especially for council seats.
Keith
August 13, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Hi there!
I just happened to stumble across this blog and see your post. Thought I’d leave a comment and let you know that The Flamingo Project is coming along nicely and that I’m very excited about my campaign.
While it is a bit of a shame that there aren’t more people involved in this election, I still think each person can make a difference.
Also, let’s not forget about the recent Sentinel article highlighting the 5 candidates in Fitchburg & Leominster who are under the age of 25. My hope is that, upon seeing their peers run for office, other young people will be motivated to get involved as well. There may only be a few this time around, but I have a feeling that if we stay positive and get things done, there will be a larger turn-out the next time around.
Glad I found this blog. I will be checking back regularly. Thanks for mentioning me; I’m happy to see someone so involved in the city.
P.S. I believe the link on my name above will lead you to my campaign MySpace. If not, the address is http://www.myspace.com/kryssibenson.
August 17, 2007 at 9:15 am
There was a comment in the local paper a while ago about some “senior” politician from Leominster telling an under 25 candidate “you don’t have the experience”. My view is, some of the people “in power” have been in way too long, and it’s time for a change. Limit the number of terms they can be in office. Some City Councilors have been in office at least 8-10 years from what I’ve seen.
August 17, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Thanks Pat for your comments
I wholeheartedly agree about term limits for city councilors. I think it’s different with the Mayor since this position is full-time and more times than not a “more than full time” position.
Councilors should be limited to maybe 4 years in office.
Regarding the comment in the paper about the under 25 candidate, that comment was directed towards Josh Sanderski after he was elected to the School Committee. The paper did not say who made the comment other than it was a senior elected official.
I’m all for the younger generation getting involved in politics and look forward to seeing Kryssi Benson unseat Wayne Nicel!
August 23, 2007 at 8:41 am
[...] Virginia Tocci that I found exceptionally interesting. In an earlier post I made a comment about Ginny not opening her mouth during the meetings and basically not contributing anything to the Circus [...]
August 27, 2007 at 1:29 pm
I have read the blog myself. I think it is interesing that someone who states that they do not know much about the new candidates can seem to have a blanket endorsement of them. Instead you feel that councillors who are doing what you state is a wonderful job, and have put countless hours into, should be removed. Talk about age discrimination! By the way there is such a thing has term limits. It’s called an election. I doubt you could consider what city councillors earn big money. If you counted all of the hours that they put it it would be pennies on the dollar. If people feel that there representatives are not doing a good job, do not vote for them. Instead of encouraging Dennis Rosa to stay on and continue doing a great job with finances, maybe you should do a biography of each of the at large contestants, and let people decide for themselves.
May be a debate with the candidates would be a good start…….
August 29, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Sorry for my delay in responding but admittedly I was not even going to acknowledge your comments since they are so out of whack. I decided to address a few of your comments. Please come back oftern Melissa and thanks for being one of my biggest fans. It’s nice to see we have people like you supporting us.
Onto the comments…
I have never endorsed any candidate for city council nevermind a blanket endorsement for the newcomers. I have shown support for the new candidates as far as to say I am glad they are running and the new blood will be refreshing and much needed. I haven’t endorsed anybody.
I don’t know where you are going with your comments about how much the councilors get paid. I have never even discussed that. If you want to know what I think, I think it’s a non-issue. The councilors get paid a very small amount of money. It shouldn’t be about the money for them. If you want to be involved, be involved. Don’t complain because you have been there for 14 years without a raise. It’s not a job. If you are working too hard and you think you need more money, don’t be on the council. Let somebody else take your seat.
Regarding what you said about me encouraging Dennis Rosa to stay on and continue doing a great job, you clearly missed the point of anything I have said about Dennis Rosa. I think he does a fine job with the city finances, a great job in fact. There is however more to being a councilor than the finances. It’s no different than the legal affairs committee or any other committee. Every two years the council President appoints the committees and the members of the committees regularly see different members. He needs to step back and let someone else get involved. He’s gotten too close to his position on the finance committee and he has gotten into a position where the other councilors tend to rely on his expertise and opinions a lot of the times. He has too much influence over the other councilors. It’s not his money, it belongs to the city.
Maybe a debate is a good idea. I think the At-Large Councilors should have a debate.
Maybe the Sentinel will sponsor it.
I’ll see what I can do.
September 10, 2007 at 11:49 pm
I though for sure Joshua Sanderski would be on the ballot this year.
Peter Angelini must be too busy working on his dam to be Mayor.
What ever happened to the guy from the West Side Diner? Didn’t he pull papers?
September 13, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Thanks for stopping by Phil…
Josh decided he’d like to revisit the Leominster school committee rather than the city council. This comes after he said how ineffective the school committe was and how if he wanted to get anything accomplished he had to be on the Leominster city council.
Peter Angelini…you’re probably right about him. I think Peter Bovenzi was upset with Leominster so he had Peter run for mayor. Now that things have cooled down, Peter is happy again and doesn’t need his puppet in office.
Oh Mr. Cordio…
Where art thou? He sold the North End Diner for whatever reason. Rumor has it he sold hte diner to pay off a gambling debt. Did anybody else hear that? He’s a flip flopper. He was running, not running, running, and now he’s not again…
The Breakfast Sausage King of Leominster is off the ticket for now!
November 6, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I wish Kryssi Benson the best of luck with the election! I don’t live in Leominster, but if I did, she would have my vote! She is very ethical and a change would be great for the city of Leominster!