Southbridge Town Council - A Year in Review

Ken O’Brien

The last year has been a tumultuous one in Southbridge politics ("So what else is new?").

The year was marked by a major power shift on the town council as a result of a special election in February to fill the unexpired term of Councilor Laurent E. McDonald who passed away in November of 2010.

The election resulted in the councilorship of Larry Spinelli, widely perceived as the candidate of the Future of Southbridge coalition.

The power shift was consolidated in the June election which returned councilor Nikolla for her third term (and re-ascension to the chair) and the election of Darlene Marcucci and David Langevin, both of whom had served on the council in previous years. All of these were similarly viewed as the candidates of the same coalition.

Now, as 2011 comes to a close, and before the inevitable emergence of a new campaign season, it seems appropriate to review and analyze what the result of this shift in power has been on Southbridge's town council.

Southbridge Town Council Reorganizes

Kenneth M. O’Brien

At its first meeting following the June Town Elections the Southbridge Town Council elected its leadership for the coming year.

Councilor Catherine Nikolla was elected Chairman of the Council.

Councilor Denise Clemence was elected Vice-Chairman of the Council.

As my only comment on this outcome, allow me to offer my proposal for the Town's new promotional campaign going forward.

What Do You Think?

Kenneth M. O’Brien

The election is over.

The incoming Southbridge Town Council will consist of Denise Clemence, David Langevin, David Livengood, Darlene Marcucci, Laurent McDonald, Catherine Nikolla, Pamela Regis, Lawrence Spinelli and Conrad Vandel.

Who do you think should be Chairman, and why?

Who do you think should be Vice-Chairman, and why?

What should be the council’s first priority and what should they do about it?

How should the council deal with the report of the Charter Review Committee and their recommendations and why?

Speak now or forever hold your piece!

The O’Zone is giving you a voice before the back room deals are made.

 Use it!

Southbridge Election Results

Kenneth M. O’Brien

For Council It’s Marcucci, Langevin and Nikolla.

For School Committee It’s Woodruff, Dominko and O’Leary.

Southbridge Town Council

Fontaine            1,012

Langevin            1,116

Lazo                 512

Logan                628

Marcucci            1,259

Nikolla            1,025

Southbridge School Committee

Dominko           964

McLoughlin      699     

O’Leary            943

Twomey            932

Woodruff            1,048

Thanks to all who voted.

Now that the shouting is over, we expect progress and an end to stagnation.

Otherwise,

Another Voice

“A Concerned Citizen”
Guest Contributor

At the June 6, 2011 Town Council meeting, two current Councilors made much out of nothing.

In fact, based on an "anonymous" letter, these two Councilors have called for an investigation.

Based solely on rumor, innuendo, and slanderous lies, these two councilors thought it important enough to waste the resources of the town, apparently from our Rolls Royce fund, simply to try and help their friends in their bid to win an election.

Naturally, our local paper didn't see fit to look any further than the garbage that was spoon fed to them.

Had they chosen to do a little investigative reporting, they might have questioned:

The Sleaze Factor In Southbridge Politics

Kenneth M. O’Brien

It would be nice if politics were transparent.

In reality, we all know that it is not.

But, when there is an organized effort at deceptive rumor-mongering, then it deserves to be exposed.

Regrettably, for reasons that I have addressed previously, that is unlikely to happen locally.

Anybody who has not been living under a rock in Southbridge for the last five years knows that there is a clear division that is represented on the town council.

In my experience, one of these groups has acted in a concerted manner. Increasingly, that group has also acted in a manner that, in my opinion, is both deceptive and unscrupulous.

The other group reminds me of nothing more than the famous words of Will Rogers. “I’m not a member of an organized political party. I’m a Democrat.” That is not to say that members of this group are all Democrats. They are in fact split 50/50 between registered Democrats and Republicans.