Megan Costello, who has worked with Mayor Setti Warren since he was on the campaign trail, has resigned from her position as community relations director for the city, Citizen Assistance Office Aaron Goldman confirmed this morning.
I’m blown away by her courage. Maybe I’ll quit my job. Oh yeah — I don’t have one.
According to Goldman, Megan left to pursue opportunities on the 2012 campaign circuit. Anybody who is a friend of Megan’s on Facebook can see that she is very involved in helping with the Joe Kennedy III campaign. She’ll be an asset wherever she goes.
Costello took over the community relations job when Sarah Ecker left in November.
Update: I just spoke to Megan. She resigned from her position in the mayor’s office because she wants to devote her time right now to helping the Democrats she cares about win in 2012. Mostly she’s volunteering for Joe Kennedy III, but she also plans to help Elizabeth Warren and Barack Obama when she can.
Megan’s passion is inspiring. She’s only 25 but she already knows that she doesn’t want to look back and say “what if?” She said she’s really concerned about the future of the country and she’s in a position to help right now because she has no kids, no mortgage, etc.
She says it has nothing to do with the mayor or her job in the mayor’s office, which I believe given how she raves about him.
I’m blown away by her courage. Maybe I’ll quit my job. Oh yeah — I don’t have one.
Welcome to Village14’s newest blogger.
Joe Kennedy is very lucky to have Megan.
And Village 14 is very lucky to now have Gail.
Let’s hope Gail will do what Greg cannot do.
Re:
The Pan Mass Challenge?
I wish Megan the best of luck in her new pursuits. It was a pleasure working with her.
It’s a loss to the city; Megan is an energetic, passionate, hard worker who has been embraced by Newton.
Joe K3 is very lucky to have her in his corner!
Courage? This aint apartheid, and she’s learned that those that help get reciprocated.
Hoss – You think everybody who is helping JK3 is going to get reciprocated? Doubtful.
There I was thinking Hoss was talking about Village 14 reciprocating Gail for joining the blog. Fact is we’re paying her double what Jerry is getting.
Let’s hope Gail will do what Greg cannot do
…. HAVE A BABY?
Megan will be great at whatever she does. She’s a natural.s s She chases politics the way some kids chase fire engines. I’m glad she is going to help Joe Kennedy III. I’ve had the chance to meet and talk with him on three occasions since the Obama campaign in 2008. I’ve been deeply impressed with him and I think people in the District are going to like and respect him for how he thinks and what he proposes to do. He’s a natural leader who really does listen to old people like me. He and Megan are lucky to have each other.
Megan Costello is one of the most hardworking, dedicated and truly inspirational individuals I know. Her passion and talents have and will continue to have a tremendous impact in this state. I’m excited to see her thrive working alongside the Joe Kennedy team. Incredible woman, Joe Kennedy is lucky to have her!
Good Luck Megan.
Thank you everyone for your kind words. I think my favorite line so far is from Bob Burke “She chases politics the way some kids chase fire engines.”
I have so enjoyed my time working for Mayor Warren and for the City of Newton. I did not come to this decision easily, but after thinking about what is at stake I couldn’t sit back and watch the republican party tare apart what has made this country so great.
My grandfather’s were both World War II veterans, one of them fought at the battle of Iwo Jima and was lucky to be one that survived. My uncles all joined the service and everyone in my family is in public service. My Uncle Bobby a fire fighter, my Uncle Joey a letter carrier, my Auntie Linda a nurse, my sister a 7th and 8th grade history teacher, my Mom a kindergarten teacher, and my Father a middle school principle. My Parents have specifically chosen to work in Lynn, an urban environment with limited resources, but they chose it because they believed that is where their skills were needed the most. I have been raised in a family where I have always been taught that we are blessed to have the resources we have and it is our responsibility to give back to others and sometimes that involves sacrifice of your own needs and wants.
It makes me sick to see the bickering in Washington and to think about the devastation that would be caused if some of the GOP polices came to fruition. I agree that there is wasteful spending in our budget and we can and should find solutions to cutting that waste, but cutting the programs that people literally rely on to survive is not service to your country, but rather it is shameless, cowardly and heartless. When we elect elected officials we expect them to be creative to find solutions to our biggest challenges and we expect them to represent our values and work hard to protect those values. I understand that this can be complicated because we all come from different backgrounds and all have had different experiences, but there are human commonalities that bind us all, and have for hundreds of years in this country. Maybe it’s because I am 25 and young and hopeful about the future or maybe it’s because the history of this country has always shown me that we can come together and over come some of our greatest challenges, but I do believe that we will come together and get through these difficult times. BOTH parties, and ALL Americans need to put aside their differences and focus less on who is “winning” and focus more on the values that have always guided us. Government isn’t going to solve every problem and it shouldn’t, but Government is necessary and has a role to play in our lives. Let us have a civil conversation about what that may look like, let us be ok with compromise and not see it as failure, weakness or losing, but rather as what is best for the common good and let us always remember the sacrifices millions of American’s have made to make this country what it is today.
This is what has motivated me to quit my wonderful job that I was so blessed to have. But as I have said, there is so much at stake in this election year and I need to know at the end of the day that I have done everything in my own little world that I could to send the right people to Washington. I believe we can do better, it will take time, but with the right people we will get there.
Thank you again to everyone for your kind words, emails, and calls. I am going to miss working in city hall everyday, but I am staying in the area and hope to stay in touch with the many wonderful people I have met through these last few years.
@Megan: Fantastic note, although I have to wonder if instead of helping others get elected, you shouldn’t just run yourself.
(Oh, and welcome to the blog. I think I’ve been trying to talk you into commenting here or, previously, on the TAB Blog for what three years now?)
@greg I am way to sensitive to ever run for public office! But very kind of you to say. And yes you have been try to convince me to comment for three years now and I am excited (and a little nervous) to be part of this blog family.
Welcome to the family.
Gregh- no ‘h’ in Megan. and as a tribute to the administration – she organized the office keeping abreast of folks names, their particular needs, prioritizing values, and the day to day affairs.
I think Megan would be a great candidate as Village 14’s roving campaign correspondent 😉
Megan, just fantastic. I would vote for you.
@tom & Schlock Thanks!! I have so much respect for what the both of you do for our community. Unsung hero’s in my book!
@Jerry think we can convince Greg to pay me for this job…. 🙂
@Megan – He just signed Gail Specter up for twice my salary. I’m sure you could get the same deal 😉
Megan,
Make sure you leave behind the keys to the City Hall Liquor Cabinet.
If we’re locked out of Happy Hour there could be a riot.
Terry – we might need the keys to City Hall too.
It has been a pleasure to get to know, and work with, Megan over the past couple of years. Hard working does not even begin to describe her. I wish her all the best…City Hall will miss you!!