Here’s a somewhat entertaining debate between the two Democrats — Marilyn Petitto Devaney and Charlie Shapiro — seeking their party’s nomination for the Governor’s Council on Sept. 9.
Governor’s Council debate: Devaney vs. Shapiro
by Greg Reibman | Aug 22, 2014 | Newton | 6 comments
The Govenor’s Council, I think, was intended to be citizen participation in certain important government functions, mostly certain judicial nominations. This citizen participation is (1) only occasional (I think they meet once a month) and (2) occurs at the end of a process (final approval), they do not produce nominations or vet them against other nominations that didn’t come to final approval.
So this citizen participation is in a sense like our various local Commissions — the Newton Traffic Commission for example. The difference is Massachusetts wants us to elect GC members, not appoint them. That’s not a huge difference.
Where I’m going with is that it’s quite odd for what are basically board members to be debating each other. What more odd, rather uncomfortable actually, is that these debates bring out the worst in people. A GC member should be a good judge of professional ethics and honesty in the applicant — being sure the applicant didn’t try to hide a fault, etc. With such a basic task, why do I care about someone’s belief’s in abortion, for example. The GC member shouldn’t be asking about abortion to the applicant, that none of their beez wax. Why should I care about a board member’s thoughts on abortion?
In summary, we intended to make this citizen participation less political by vetting them in an election process as opposed to letting the Governor pick his/her team. Instead this is an political process in its a ugly sense.
I have to confess that when I wrote that this was “somewhat entertaining” I had only watched the first half hour or so of this.
If you’re a fan of down-ticket political theater, scroll ahead to about the 44:50 mark and be sure and watch at least through the segment about what Devany refers to as “a women’s body or whatever.”
Unbelievable to think that Devany could, yet again, be reelected.
For pure excitement, nothing beats the primary contests that used to take place for Middlesex Registrar of Deeds, or was it Registrar of Probate.
Go Charlie Go.
FYI, you can watch Newton’s Evan Falchuk vs Jeff McCormick in the Lowell Sun/Middlesex Community College sponsored Independent candidates’ debate here: http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_26385088/independent-debate-falchuk-and-mccormick-say-two-party (I did the video. Republican debate online, too.)
Any sign of this letter the other seven councilors are supposed to be writing?
@Greg- We can win this, but it’s by no means easy. The Democratic core voters in town committees and such are very well informed and highly supportive of change. We’re hopeful that there will be some print media coverage on the race since that’s what informs a large number of voters who don’t live and breathe politics on a daily basis.
@Julia-It doesn’t exist. That reference was, shall we say, a “dramatic embellishment”