Lowell Sun Article Regarding FinCom Appointment
In today’s Lowell Sun, Evan Lips wrote an interesting piece on the story around me getting the horns in my recent attempt to get reappointed to the Billerica Finance Committee.
You can find the story here. I encourage everyone to read it.
As I said in my failed campaign for Town Moderator, decisions made at the local level of government have more to do with your daily life than anything that happens on Beacon Hill or in Washington, D.C.
Local decisions affect the water you drink, the roads you drive on, and the schools you send your children to and the quality of the education they receive.
I also commented during the campaign that the Moderator’s ability to appoint people to key Town boards and committees, especially the Finance Committee, was an often overlooked part of the role that people should consider as they make their decision in the election.
And this week’s development is exactly why… while some might approach the Moderator position with the goal of establishing a well-intentioned and diverse committee of experienced Town Meeting members to provide advice to Town Meeting, that’s not what happened this week.
Clearly there’s more to the story, based on what I’m reading in the Sun article. I know I’m left with more questions…
Posted on June 23, 2012, in Local Government, Opinions and tagged Billerica Massachusetts. Bookmark the permalink. 7 Comments.
Mike,
You’re a good man, certainly the type that this town needs to be involved. Hopefully, this week’s “action” will not dissuade you from staying involved. If anything, it should further your resolve.
Mark
Thanks, Mark.
I’ll still be around… How could I not with all the fun I’m having?
Thank you for continuing to keep this conversation engaging, relevant and ongoing. As you say, local politics are more important to the day to day lives of people than what happens at the State House or the Federal level. Ideally, they all work in tandem to the betterment of the region, but as we are clearly seeing, partisanship over reasoned decision making is dangerous and debilitating in the long run to local prosperity and rational self-interest. I’ve referenced this post in my ongoing “Don’t You Forget About Me” blog discussion.
Best to you, always, and great success with your political and personal careers.
Thanks, Rick. I fixed the link back to your article in your comment because the one you used was going to your admin site… hope you don’t mind. Thanks again for the intelligent dialogue.
I appreciate you fixing that link and your honest, above board efforts to put the town’s betterment ahead of yourself. To me, this is the sort of rational self-interest that reduces political decision ideologies to a level suitable for intellectual discussions that lead to best practices without compromising principles.
Best wishes,
–Rick
I just read this and am really concerned and disturbed that you would not be reappointed given all the experience you have gained in your time on the finance committee. You have done a great job on the finance committee who will certainly miss your expertise and professionalism.
Thanks, Joan. I appreciate it.