2011 Election Results and My Commentary
Update 11/11/11 1:21 PM – Full election results available here.
Our new Board of Selectmen will consist of First Selectman Cathi Gaudinski, and selectmen Mike Gut and Dick Shea. I voted for Cathi and Dick. It took me a long time to choose between Dick Shea and Amy Traversa. I stood in the voting booth for a several minutes contemplating the choice. I really wanted someone on the board to represent the sewer district, but I also wanted Dick Shea on the board as I have never disagreed with anything the guy has said to me personally, or written in a letter to the Rivereast. He’s fiscally conservative and I am taxed to the max. I wanted someone who understands that. I surmised Amy did, but I knew Dick does. I figured Cathi would win, but Mike would get enough votes to get on the board, and I liked the statements he’s made about helping the sewer district residents. I think Cathi, Mike, and Dick will be a great team, but I wouldn’t have been disappointed if Amy had gotten in there somewhere as well.
Our Board of Finance will include Doug Knowlton, Ken Hjulstrom, Evelyn Godbout, and Beth Petroni. I voted for Knowlton and Godbout, and nobody else. I don’t know Knowlton at all, but he’s not any of the other choices, so he got my vote. Godbout has done a good job and does not just vote the Democratic line. She’s logical when it comes time to vote and she’s done a good job.
Ken has done enough self promotion to make his name known, and I suspect that is why he won, or, there just weren’t any other good choices. Ken will be a burden when it comes to the sewer. He’s all for expanding it. And, Ken really dropped the ball as RTC chairman during Black’s term. Black deserved criticism and attention for his bad governing, and Ken kept quiet, intentionally. As the leader of the opposing party, he should have been more vocal. Plus, I don’t really like the guy for calling me Don Quixote in an email, implying my efforts with this blog, petitions, and public awareness have accomplished nothing. I think I’ve accomplished quite a bit, Ken. I didn’t see any of the current BOS seek re-election. Do you really believe my constant focus on Black and his board had nothing to do with that? I bet I had more to do with it than you keeping tight lipped. To his credit, though, I think Ken is otherwise fiscally conservative. Hopefully, he’ll help the town by keeping taxes down. And, also to his credit, Ken did make a somewhat bold move by supporting Pasquale and me for appointment to the (never formed) Charter Revision committee. I guess that was Ken’s way of trying to keep Black in check, while not actually criticizing him publicly. So, with that, I’ll wipe the slate clean with Ken and go from this point forward. Hopefully, Ken will do a good job for the town. I believe he has it in him.
I have already ripped into Lauren Cragg and Beth Petroni in past years on this blog. I’m sure they’re nice people, but I think they’re both terrible for the BOF. Petroni votes against tax cuts, and Cragg supports her, hand in hand. I hope Petroni will use words other than “arbitrary and capricious” whenever anyone talks about cutting the budget during this latest term. A few years back, that’s about all she said during BOF meetings. She and Cragg could have stayed home and sent in a looping tape recorder playing, “I vote no. That cut is arbitrary and capricious — and Lauren votes no, too.” I’m not sure why Marlborough voters continue to keep Petroni on the BOF. They must like high taxes. Thankfully, they didn’t vote Cragg on to the board, but I believe she’s still an alternate.
The BOE will include O’Brien, Chappel, Condicello, and Bob Clarke. I don’t know any of these people other than Bob Clarke, and that’s who I voted for. Bob runs the other town blog which was very popular a few years back. I consider Bob to be fiscally conservative as well, and he has a great understanding of the political process. I trust Bob to do his best to keep the BOE budget down, while providing the essentials necessary for education.
I don’t have results for the rest of the boards, and I didn’t vote on them either.
Finally, goodbye Bill Black. I will not miss you. Your personal agendas and emotional governing have cost this town thousands upon thousands of dollars. You’ve alienated the sewer district residents, and I surmise a great many other residents. You’ve spent state money on sidewalks to nowhere, and a town green nobody cares about, while not letting anyone use the damn thing for public events or displays (that includes the Girl Scouts, folks — they were told, “No,” when they asked if they could put up their scarecrows like they did in previous years.)
I’m certain that we’re going to see some changes for the better soon. I don’t see this BOS bypassing the charter to install new carpeting, or rent buildings, or violating state law in passing tax relief ordinances — all things that happened under Black.
Congratulations to the winners, and to the town. We needed this change.
The dust has settled. The newly elected will soon be sworn in, and Marlborough will move forward. On a ‘serious note,’ I am the only one who can say, without reservation, that I was the one who got someone elected. My beautiful wife, Midge Denno, was on the ballot for the Planning Board. She was unopposed. Therefore, only ONE vote was needed to assure her election. I arrived at the polls at 5:20AM, making sure I was FIRST in line to vote. I patiently waited until the moderator declared the voting open at exactly 6:00AM. By casting the first ballot, I (in effect) ‘Put her over the top!’ My thought was that she would then ‘owe me’ for the next four years. Her take on it was that the first time she was hassled by a resident on one of her decisions, she would think, ‘Who was that …….person who got me elected?? I guess that perception is in the eyes of the viewer!, Have a great weekend and Happy Holiday Season!!