I was not able to attend or view the candidates night forum at the Town Hall last night. I'll try to catch it on DCTV later.
Did any of you see it or attend?
What did you think of the candidates?
On what issues did you agree or disagree with them and why?
Tell us in comments.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Dartmouth Rotary Candidates night
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54 comments:
I would like to give Bob Miller the benefit of the doubt and believe he is just clueless rather than believing that he is intentionally trying to deceive the public. He seemed to be unaware of the effect his actions/decisions had on our town's financial stability. He also appeared to be unaware of the language and ramifications of the language in the contracts which he signed.
Whether he is that clueless or simply trying to evade the truth, he is not what the residents of this town need.
In my opinion Miller is all about dirty politics. I think he knew exactly what he was doing and now is trying to play dumb! I also wonder if he is behind that letter concerning the police brotherhood that was in the S-Times. Dirty politics alive and well in Dartmouth. I will be voting for Joe Michaud!
I think Bob did a great job. Many of HIS ideas were used by Michaud and claimed as his own.
Michaud just needs this election as a stepping stone to higher office.....JUST LIKE ROMNEY USED US, SO IS JOE MICHAUD
Joe Michaud was outstanding. I don't agree with him on every single issue, but he has an excellent grasp of our fiscal picture and isn't afraid to explore all options. On the other hand, Bob Miller represents the same old tired politics of the past. One more bonus: With Michaud there won't be any no-cut contracts for friends and family.
Watching that forum, I felt sorry for Bob Miller. Time has passed him by and he doesn't know it yet.
I think Bill picked the right guy, Mr. Gracie. He seemed to know his stuff. I think he would work well with Mr. Michaud and the three others.
This is in answer to "Dartmouth Voters". Bob Miller wasn't TRYING to play dumb.
McDonald and Michaud will get my votes...
So what if Joe may be looking for higher office? Doesn't everyone in politics. Does that hurt the town by potentially having someone on Beacon Hill who knows about our budget issues and what our problems are?
I just don't get this non-issue
When Bob wins I will be having a celebration!!
Please explain how Joe Michaud has used us. Do you mean because he has worked along with many other town officials to get our finances in order? Or maybe it is because he has led the Select Board through the last couple of years while under pressure from all sides during our financial crisis? Maybe it is because he has managed to maintain his integrity, composure and ability to work with everyone even when confronted with angry residents like the gentleman who disrupted candidates' night. Do I feel I am being used by Joe Michaud? Like the song says, "you can keep on using me, until you use me up". I'll be voting for Joe.
I hope all the voters watched the forum. Any objective voter would clearly understand that Mr. Miller does NOT belong on the Select Board. The truth counts Bob. Time you came to grips with that.
I attended Candidates Night and thought Frank Gracie, Joe Michaud, and Doug Roscoe were outstanding.
They clearly understood the needs of our community, were aware of the limitations of our fiscal situation, and had a realistic vision for the future. They answered all questions directly and intelligently.
Mr. Miller's behavior was inappropriate. His denial of the consequences his actions had on this town is unacceptable, as were his mean-spirited comments about Mr. Michaud, who responded with facts and class.
A vote for Mr. Gracie and Mr. Michaud would give us the kind of selectboard we can put our confidence in. Mr. Roscoe's ideas sound like the much needed re-vamping our school committee could use.
There is no doubt, it will be challenging. They seem up to it. They have my vote.
What are you talking about.
Bob Miller stole the show...
I watched and Frank Gracie and Joe Michaud have my vote. I don't agree on everything issue, but I do not want to return to the Miller days of secret meetings and favors to 'friends'. I am happy with the current board. We no longer have yelling and finger pointing. Although I think people can disagree, it can and should be civil. Miller had 22 years, time to move on, Bob.
Joe Michaud performed with class and grace, and so did Mr. Gracie, Mr. Roscoe and the young lady running for School Committee. I don't remember her name.
Joe Michaud has helped lead the Select Board in some positive directions. I will vote to keep him in office.
Is the Town of Dartmouth better off today than we were three years ago? Hell yeah. And that's due in large part to people like Joe Michaud.
Michaud and McDonald are getting the votes from my family and friends.
Mr. Gracie was clearly well prepared. By far the best presentation. Mr. Michaud also did well. Mr. McDonald was not as well prepared and stumbled a number of times. I could not convince myself that he would be able to put aside his history of staunchly supporting the school system above all else. Mr. Miller looked lost and out of place. His presentation consisted of mumbled generalities with awkward pauses. Frankly, a testimonial to his past "effectiveness" on the SB. The school committee candidates were unimpressive. No substance from any of them. That's how we saw it.
Yeah Bob has stolen a lot more than the show!
When Bob Miller was on the select board an outside audit determined that Dartmouth was one of the best run cities/towns in the commonwealth.
How far out of step do you think someone who served this town for 21 years is?
I will be casting my vote for Bob and bringing along 10 people to vote with me.
Mr. McDonald has nowhere near the knowledge that Mr.Gracie has.
To argue Mr. Gracie was better prepared than Mr. Michaud is "laughable". Did you watch the same program? Like him or not, any impartial person would have to argue Michaud was solid.
Again, you must be a "Gracie fan", which is fine. You probably voted for him last year as well where you thought he was the most prepared and ready to go. Unfortunately, he came in third.
Frank was fine last week, but no better/worse than McDonald. To argue otherwise ignores the facts and puts your agenda forward. I would say the same of McDonald if one of his supporters made the allegaton that he "won". The people will speak on each of the races in just two weeks.
I question why Mr. McDonald is running for SB. I think he has done a good job on the SC. Outside of expressing his frustrations too much at times, I would have continued to vote for him in that capacity. I understand the frustrations that occur as you volunteer many hours of your time to help the town and have to deal with some of the nonsense that goes along with it. How well he can handle himself with even more nonsense thrown his way on the SB is one of my concerns.
to 8:10
Apparently you know very little about public speaking. Mr. Gracie executed his prepared text in a consistent and well spoken manner. Highlighting key issues and making clear references to his approach to them. Frankly, far better than he handled himself on candidate's night prior to the last election. Mr. Michaud, who I voted for in the past, focused more on accomplishments. No issues with that. He did not deliver his prepared text quite as well. I will vote for both Mr. Gracie and Mr. Michaud again, based on their commitments to fiscal conservatism, honest government, and balanced and objective approaches to meeting the needs of the town and the taxpayers. I did not hear that from Mr. McDonald. The lack of quality and content in Mr. Miller's speech was embarrassing. Feel free to post your response and I will make an effort to help you understand basic public speaking again, if necessary.
Just my opinion.
Political yard signs locations ask voters to vote, and who not to vote for........allow me to explain. I've noticed that all political yard signs ask me to vote, but not why I should vote for their candidate. The yard signs show one thing, who they are supporting, but not why.
The good Lord gave me a brain, one to operate each side of thought, and it works quiet well. Over the years, I have noticed that the same people who support politics as usual, always have the same named yard signs. Some are active town employee's, while others are former town employee's. Some town business people have political signs on their property. This act tells me who not to vote for.
Getting back to my statement about political yard sign locations asking voters to vote, not who to vote for. There are one of two reasons for any person to allow a political sign on their property. They are indicating to Friends, and not so friendly people, who that they are supporting.
I don't pay much attention to political yard signs, but if I notice a town employee supporting a certain candidate,
I become suspicious and most likely not to vote for their candidate.
Mr. Michaud, Mr. Gracie, and Mr. Roscoe were impressive.
The town employee who supports a certain candidate may simply respect that person's service, nothing more. I don't jump to conclusions unless I know more. For example, town employees will have a certain political sign because of promises made by the challenger - Bob Miller's promises to the Police Brotherhood, for example. In a case like that, I won't even considser voting for the candidate.
well it should be obvious that most town employees are supporting Miller so we can have a return to the "good ole days" when the average person was ignored and the contract pay and perks increased constantly.
What an interesting comparison we have scheduled for Monday with our "professional" police union being compared to a consumate professional new chief of police
Many of Miller's ideas are illegal such as lifetime contracts or unethical like negotiating secret deals and contracts or just plain stupid like taking money from the water and sewer enterprise funds to patch structural shortfalls.
I'm glad Joe didn't use any of those brilliant "ideas"
What a JOKE
I agree that the thousand or so town employees will likely vote against the taxpayer and for Mr. Miller.
What a joke Bob Miller's management skills are! He's going to put billboards on Rt. 195 and cameras at red lights to ticket drivers.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME BOB????
Now that Bob is no longer 'running' the town, he may find things are different. Meetings are open now, transparent, and fair. And NO, you don't get to hand pick your friends for positions anymore. It's done in a fair way with the best interest of the residents. Not in the best interest of Bob Miller.
being compared to a consumate professional new chief of police??
It is nice to think that Chief Lee will be just that, but let's not jump to conclusions. You don't even know the man.
I agree that the thousand or so town employees will likely vote against the taxpayer and for Mr. Miller???
Like it or not town employees have the RIGHT to vote just like anyone else.
Vote against the taxpayer who pays their salaries.
March 19, 8:10 AM - - Bob Miller is not clueless.
He is evasive.
He uses questions to "answer" questions and distract the audience from realizing he has said nothing in response to a question.
Kind of like, maybe you'll forget about whatever you wanted answered.
He goes off the subject intentionally. This is far from being clueless. He knows precisely what he is doing.
Bob Miller, get back in the box where you belong. The town voters decided to end your 22 years. You are like all the other dead politicians, gone but not forgotten. Remember the contracts?? how you walked into town hall and decided what Micheal would say on Monday night. Remember how you forced D. Vincent off the D.P.W. and the Crapo Hill landfill district. D. Vincent is a funny guy but you are mean and selfish. Remember when you wanted N. Dias fired for calling some one a name......it was you Bobby. Remember when you pushed L. Gonsalves in the hall way and K. Vincent almost took your head off. Remember when you wanted to remove the chief of police from civil service because you wanted to go nation wide to find a new chief. You never cared about the inside guy. Remember when you wanted a new second captain appointed and the chief told you no, you still appointed a new captain. Where is your favorite sergeant???What kind of deal was pulled off with S. Soares at Michaels?? Too many ghost are locked up in the woodwork. Bob, stop making a fool of yourself. Think about your family. A good man knows when not to.
Why did Doris, a step 10 employee get a contract? I cannot figure that one out. There are no other step employees with contracts?
I understand she was eliminated from consideration for the new position so lawsuit here we come. Way to go Bob!!
I become suspicious and most likely not to vote for their candidate.
I absolutely AGREE like Today when the Sheriff used his County vehicle to carry Michaud signs, knock on doors and look for sign locations. The Sheriff should be more concerned with his budget MESS than stumping for his BOY Joe.
Remember when you wanted to remove the chief of police from civil service because you wanted to go nation wide to find a new chief.
It was was not Millers idea, it was Kennie's idea, he did not want Brad to become chief. and his buddy little Jr could not out score Brad. So the Dartmouth Mafia decided to make a national search. Get your facts straight so you do not show your ignorance.
I think everyone in town should read the post by "Your Ghost".
Vote against the taxpayer who pays their salaries?
Actually it is VOTING for who they choose. It is their RIGHT regardless of where their salaries come from.
I continue to be amazed at "we pay their salaries" mentality. We are in a global economy so in effect we are ALL paying each others salaries. Every time I shop, fly, vacation, drive, drink, eat sleep, or anything someone is being paid their salary from my spending. Got it?
I have to keep saying it because it is true.
An outside audit of Dartmouth when Bob was on the BOS showed it was one of the BEST run municipalities in the State.
One of the best!!!!!
Thank you Bob, You have earned my vote.
Well at least Bob will get one vote..Bob you should just post using your name..we all know it's you.
5:28-- yes, the DOR's 2007 Financial Management Review does state that.
It also states on page 14 that the town should not have as many contracts as it does.
Also, read Boston attorney Joseph T. Bartulis Jr.'s letter to Michael Gagne on February 23, 2006, warning him about the job-and-financial-protection-for-life clause in those 8 contracts Mr. Miller had a hand in, unbeknownst to 3 of the other Select Board members who were not in attendance when this clause (b) and automatic contract renewal language got written into the 8 contracts.
It's all in the town clerk's office for the reading. And it does make good reading.
Why don't you tell us if you support those contracts, and why.
Boy, good thing those contracts got exposed, isn't it?
to 5:26
The Providence Fire Department finally saw the light on this. After 7 years of trying to jam big bucks down the taxpayer's throats, they settled for 2 years of back raises with no raise this year or next. Get the point?
Looks like Miller has taken to stealing Joe's signs in a last ditch effort to steal the election! I have had two taken from my lawn. This is unbelieveable but then again consider who's doing it.
One of the best?! Are you kidding? It was on the edge of bankruptcy because of Miller and his cronies giving lifetime contracts and selling us out to the unions. Miller was taking money from the water and sewer enterprise funds for town expenses which is against the law.
The DOR report was highly critical of the management of Boob and the other members of the 2006 SB.
Get your fact straight you Hack before you pollute the air with your ignorant views.
Why did Bob give a job to Doris Copley? I mean why does a step ten employee get a lifetime contract? What justifies that and how can that benefit the town?
To Anon 5:28
You said : I have to keep saying it because it is true. An outside audit .. when Bob was on the BOS showed it was one of the BEST run municipalities in the State.
Actually, although that is what you are being told, it is not true at all. These quotes from two separate conclusions contained within the July 2007 actual printed DOR Audit report :
"Conclusion - It is our observation that the day-to-day administration of town business, as reflected in financial practices and procedures, is carried out effectively by knowledgeable, experienced and committed managers and staff. Greater attention is warranted to policies that guide higher level decision making, and to practices that foster forward looking analyses ..."
"Conclusion – Our review found that routine financial practices reflect department heads’ careful attention to legal requirements and internal controls. We believe that sufficient checks and balances are in place to ensure that town assets are protected from both human and process errors. Of acute concern for Dartmouth ... is the lack of structural balance and sustainability in revenue and expenditure trends."
In short, no laws were broken, no malfeasance was found and our department heads did their jobs as expected. What was found was a lack of fiscal planning, poor fiscal policies and the lack of proper balance between revenue and expenses. What they could not possibly opine on is how specific assets had been utilized.
Years of poor management have been replaced with informed and competent management that has brought us to the firm fiscal position we now find ourselves in.
My vote goes to Joe Michaud without an instant's hesitation.
Greg Lynam
No more Bob Miller. Don't you see what you are doing to your family and what friends you have left. You are making a fool out of yourself. What ever respect some people may have had for you is gone. Stay away from politics. Didn't you get the message three years ago. This is a young man/ladies game, stop this insanity. I'm not voting for you and I've not heard from anyone who is voting for you. You can no longer compete. You are politicaly dead, so take a fall and stay down until the count reaches ten. Your out.
I'm not voting for you and I've not heard from anyone who is voting for you.??
Did you read this threat? Lost of people voting for Bob including me.
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