Southbridge Election Results

Question #1 Failed

Town Council: Miguel Estrada, Gus Steeves, Albert Vecchia Jr.

School Committee: Brent Abrahamson, Christopher Olivo, Raymond Page

Southbridge Town Council Meeting - June 23, 2014

Vote On Tuesday

Adding It Up - Part III

Ken O’Brien

Of all the issues that confront us as voters next Tuesday, this has given me the most pause.

Frankly I have never seen such a sad lot of candidates for town council.

Let’s start with the obvious.

I eliminate Joe Marino and John Pulawski first and foremost because they are essentially stalking horses for the referendum to alter the form of town government. Additionally, as regards Mr. Marino, he has already demonstrated his contempt for the rules by having confessed to leaking executive session minutes. Those who want to look past this seem to overlook the reality of the situation. Mr. Marino did not confess until he was faced with the imminent threat of a full blown investigation and the resulting consequences.

Southbridge School Committee Meeting - June 17, 2014

Adding It Up – Part II

Ken O’Brien

So now we turn to candidates for Southbridge School Committee.

It certainly has been a record year for this group.

First of course we have the superintendent.

He came on board with much fanfare.

Then the local blogs (or should I say this blog) began digging into his past. We turned up a number of facts that, perhaps, should have been discovered by those who hired him in the first place. 

Adding It Up – Part I

Ken O’Brien

The annual town election is now a week and a half away.

There are three items on the agenda about which voters will have their say.

First is the vote on the petition that will alter the form of town government from the current council/manager form of government to return to a selectmen/town meeting format.

Second is the election of three members to the Southbridge School Committee.

Third is the election of three members to the Southbridge Town Council. 

Southbridge School Committee Meeting - June 10, 2014

Southbridge School Committee Debate - June 5, 2014

Southbridge Town Council Meeting - June 9, 2014

Southbridge Town Council Debate - June 5, 2014

Town Government Community Forum - June 4, 2014

Southbridge Town Council Meeting Agenda - June 9, 2014

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

COUNCIL CHAMBERS, TOWN HALL

JUNE 9, 2014

7:00 PM

Agenda

What A State

Ken O’Brien

So now we get down to the remaining three running for town council.

Specifically, Miguel Estrada, Paul Zotos and Gus Steeves.

Frankly, I don’t know Miguel Estrada. Therefore I can’t say anything negative about him – but by the same token, I can’t say anything positive either. As far as I’m concerned, that leaves a net zero. That’s hardly a reason to vote for someone.

Okay, Let’s Move On

Ken O’Brien

The School Committee has moved on – and so should we.

The fact of the matter is that they have decided to ignore the will of the public.

We, as the voters, have no choice left but to deliver our verdict.

First, and foremost, we have no choice but to elect Ray Page, Scott Lazo and Christopher Olivo.

The remaining two candidates, LeAnn Pate and Bent Abrahamson, simply have no place on the committee.

LeAnn is, more than anything else, an advocate for special ed. While I realize that this is an important issue, the reality is that 20% to 25% of school spending nationwide is devoted to this issue. We need people who will focus on the needs of the core constituency of the district.