As some of you know, before 2003 I was not active in Massachusetts politics at all. My time and energy was totally taken up with both earning a living and being a wife – and mother of two very demanding special needs kids. When I did wake up to the political world it was because Mitt Romney made me so angry in his attacks on the right to counsel, mental health care, treatment for addiction and more.
While I had been an assistant girl scout leader and also helped found Arlington Children’s Theater in those years, I was not born in Arlington, my kids did not do sports here, and we had a pretty awful educational experience – and no, no one every reached out and included my kids in sports here nor did I know Hurd or any of the select people except Charlie Lyons who also was active in Arlington Children’s Theater ’cause of his kids. And as to politics, well, sometimes Charlie and i agreed and sometimes not. I have continued to develop in both my views and my political activity, eventually being emancipated from “the homework wars” when my youngest graduated from High School.
What got me involved were issues that lead to social change, and especially, to giving those with special needs or collapsed families a chance at education and involvement. And I don’t mean just sports – sports did ZERO for our family in Arlington.
So my issues were statewide, and I came to townwide or district wide issues after statewide issues; probably not the usual path. I give this backiground to explain why a governance-oriented path to politics like Ken Donnelly’s resonates with me.
I note that of our current selectmen and women, twot seem to be supporting Donnelly, out of five [and one is Mr. Hurd himself] as well as many current school committee and many former ones.
I am not in a position to know if Mr. Hurd was or is an effective selectman, really. I haven’t followed that. The fact that two selectmen I respect are supporting Mr. Donnelly is important to me, however.
As it happens, when I try to discuss issues like the sixth amendment right to counsel, the Rosie D. case and adolescent mental health, and the over haul of DSS into DCF with Mr. Hurd, it felt to me personally like his eyes just glazed over and he did not know about the issues I care about.
When I talked about the same issues with Mr. Donnelly, he got it, understood and had a plan I liked with regard to dual placement for addiction treatment beds [for new mothers in treatment & teen parents] that resonated with me.
So I am more attuned to statewide issues then I am to local town politics, just the way I am. And, therefore, on my issues, Donnelly remains my candidate by a large measure.
I am not a union member nor have I been in this state [I was in Michigan and I must say, unions do a lot to keep oligarchy in check] – and that is because I am a self employed professional as well as a parent.
Frankly, the number of days spent coaching by each of these men doesn’t mean much if anything to me – nor do I know what those numbers may be. The number of days spent on the second floor of Town Hall do not sway me, either. However, understanding of policy, legislative drafting and support, and the big issues that brought me into political life, that matters.
So for me, my choice is clear not because I am a buddy of either candidate, or either candidate paid their dues in local politics, but because I find on the big issues that make politics matter to me I agree more with Ken Donnelly. I see him as the better candidate for the level of policy set and created in our State Senate.
If we are to have “One Massachusetts” it will take vision, and the State Senate is the body where greater vision is needed.
And, as a disclaimer, I don’t know either Jack Hurd or Ken Donnelly as personal friends; I haven’t eaten at the Hurd or Donnelly home, nor they in my home. I don’t know either Mrs. Hurd or Mrs. Donnelly, nor any of their children at all. And this year, I haven’t been in a position to make much in the way of money donations to anyone – the economy has really hit me hard as a self-employed person. What was decisive for me were policy and issue discussions.
Deb Sirotkin Butler
It’s remarkable to read the headline “Donnelly is policy oriented who cares about governance”.
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p>For starters, Ken Donnelly lacks experience in governance and it shows based on a recent statement he gave to me. Donnelly looked me in the eye and told me that “there’s nothing wrong with Beacon HilI”. Perhaps he should reconsider that comment and consult our governor on that point, or any voter who has observed Beacon Hill over the years.
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p>Second, if Ken Donnelly cared about governance, wouldn’t he have involved himself on so many of the available local issues or on statewide issues? Has he testified before the House or Senate on some kind of policy? Prior to his running, has he written any letters to the editor or publicly expressed a position on a policy before town hall or on a petition? Is there any sign of grass roots organizing experience?
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p>No, Ken Donnelly hasn’t done any of these things, otherwise, there wouldn’t be this back and forth about how he has been absent on local and statewide issues.
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p>Where has he been on education and environmental advocacy? Donnelly has been missing in action on these fronts, as voters are discovering when they ask him.
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p>Let’s not use blinders here. Donnelly may be a nice guy, but he has not shown in debates, at candidate forums, or in person that he is policy oriented. I hate to say it but a used car salesman sounds more accurate.
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p>Action speaks louder than words. Ken Donnelly’s words do not invoke any kind of confidence that he can back it up with action. This is why Jack Hurd is better suited and qualified for Beacon Hill. Jack Hurd has demonstrated countless times as a Selectman that “he gets” governance and cares about constituents.
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p>For example, Jack Hurd helped save Fox Library when it was targeted for closure by mobilizing people and finding private sources of funding. Jack Hurd used creativity to locate school building funding in the form of block grants to finish school projects. Jack Hurd co-founded a disability skate program which introduced disabled children to the experience of ice skating. Jack Hurd regularly is accessible to constituents, introduced office hours and continues to fix the nuts and bolts of government like sidewalks, street signals, etc. Jack Hurd created “The Feast of the East” which boosted economic activity in East Arlington and became an annual tradition and one of the popular town activities.
of a pro-Hurd voice here, EqualOpportunist
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p>But I note that you are a very recent visitor to BMG with only three posts and six comments to date, all on behalf of Jack Hurd.
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p>Username: EqualOpportunist
PersonId: 4439
Created: Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 16:37:36 PM EDT
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p>Are you just a fan or are you connected with his campaign?
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p>(Disclosure, I am volunteering for Donnelly)
True, I’ve been a long time reader and admirer of BMG but I haven’t been active in terms of writing posts.
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p>The national political climate has inspired me to be more vocal on political issues in general. That led me to pay closer attention to my votes including the state Senate race between Hurd and Donnelly. After meeting both candidates, weighing their accomplishments, and assessing their platform, here I am, advocating for the one who I think will best serve the Fourth Middlesex District. That’s the extent of my connection.
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p>In due time I’ll post about issues outside the Senate race.
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p>(Sorry if I’m rocking the boat)
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p>Yeah, Jack Hurd can get people to work to organize an event. It’s a nice little party, in fact. However, is that the job of a state senator? I think not.
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p>Senators need to be strategic. They need to know the intricate little pieces of the mechanics of government, and how to move the right lever to get the result you want. Ken Donnelly is the only guy in this race who has the knowledge and intellect to actually achieve anything on Beacon Hill.
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p>Hurd’s message: “We need more local aid.” How, pray tell, is he going to do that? Stand up and cry in the senate chamber? “Poor Arlington, we need local aid.” If it were that easy, every state rep and every senator would have been able to deliver for their towns long ago.
…Ken Donnelly has been endorsed by the Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts, and he’s a member of the PDM Half-Dozen for this cycle. The PDM Half-Dozen is a select list of truly progressive candidates targeted for extra help from PDM chapters in their area. More info on the program can be found here:
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p>http://vps28478.inmotionhosting.com/~bluema24/s…