Where’s The Beef?

Ken O’Brien

We’re a little more than two months away from the annual Southbridge town election.

Thus far six people have taken out papers to run for town council; incumbents Denise Clemence, David Livengood and Lawrence Spinelli and newcomers Jean Heid, Shaun Moriarty and Amelia Peloquin.

While few people take an interest in elections until several weeks in advance, it is time to start to demand that candidates offer us more than the vague and pious platitudes that have dominated campaigns in the past. 

Peloquin Announces Southbridge Town Council Bid

“Our local government needs fresh perspectives and new voices”

SOUTHBRIDGE – Southbridge resident Amelia Peloquin is pleased to announce her candidacy for Councilor-at-Large in the June 26 Southbridge municipal election.

"I’m running for Town Council because I am passionate about Southbridge and our town’s future. Together, we can find affordable and thoughtful solutions for the challenges facing our community. I believe our local government needs fresh perspectives and new voices in order to find those solutions. 

Put Up Or Shut Up!

Ken O’Brien

Okay, the results are in.

O’Zone readers had the chance to nominate those people that they would like to see run for Southbridge town council.

Then you had 56 hours to cast your vote for those you would most like to see run.

The results were decisively in favor of three candidates, Dennis Martinek, Gary Fontaine and Shaun Moriarty.

But democracy is not a spectator sport.  As the great Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw said, “Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.”

Now that you’ve expressed your desire to see these people run for town council it is up to you to help make it happen.

Moriarty Announces Candidacy for Southbridge Town Council

SOUTHBRIDGE — Building on his record of community service and desire to move his hometown forward, Shaun Moriarty announced today his candidacy for Town Council.

“I put myself forward not to oppose any candidate, group, or particular issue, but to bring a fresh, new perspective, without biases, agendas, or allegiances,” stated Moriarty. “I put myself forward because this town has struggled for too long and because I have witnessed and felt, first-hand, what the people of this town can do

UPDATE: The Southbridge Ballot SNAFU

Kenneth M. O’Brien

$1,543 – One Thousand, Five Hundred, Forty-Three Dollars.

That’s what it will cost taxpayers to print corrected ballots for the June 28 Town Election.

The issue was first reported in a prior post on this site (Breaking News: The Latest Snafu At The Southbridge Town Clerk's Office.) To date neither the Southbridge Evening News nor the Worcester Telegram & Gazette has reported the matter.

The estimated cost was provided by the office of Southbridge’s Finance Director.

It does not include the cost of mailing new absentee ballots.

Response to inquiries to other town officials have detailed the plan for correcting this latest black eye on the management of this town office – once the hallmark of integrity in the cesspool of Southbridge politics.

New ballots are being printed that will be distributed at polling places on June 28.

In that regard, no issue should arise (we hope).

As regards absentee ballots, new ballots will be mailed to those who have so requested. They will be of a different color and will contain a notice regarding the prior error and the need to submit a new ballot.

Absentee ballots received in the interim will be, I am told, “trashed”.

Any further developments will be available here at The O’Zone.