Dartmouth voters, my name is Frank Gracie and I am a candidate for the Select Board seat that will be vacated by Natalie Dias.
I believe that leaders in government should never lose sight of the fact that the taxpayer is the one to be served. Leaders should always keep their finger on the pulse of what the taxpayer desires for their town, and what services they deem important. The task is then to help figure out what is the best way to fund those services. The best community that the taxpayer wants and can afford should always be the goal.
Our town has made great strides in recent years to overcome many of the financial obstacles that were before us. However, we need to stay vigilant and determined to continue the process of saving the taxpayer money while preserving services. The challenge to the Select Board is to address the needs of the entire town. Proper balance must be maintained across town functions.
Changing amounts of State aid has been the biggest obstacle before us, and we have learned that even if money is promised it may not show up. Even now as we prepare the budget for FY11 we find that projections can go from having a slightly positive bottom-line to being hundreds of thousands in the red, all in just a few days because of ever-changing information.
We cannot again put ourselves in a position where we are facing overrides or large cuts to the number of good employees we have, and the services they provide for us. We must do our best to always be proactive and not reactive.
I am a fiscal conservative who believes that debt is always the enemy. We must live within our means, just as any household must do. We cannot spend more than we take in, and that includes signing up for expenses down the road when we are not sure what revenue will be available to fund them. We cannot get complacent on those occasions when ...
... we find ourselves with a surplus and just spend it. We never can be sure of what is around every corner, so planning and saving for the worst-case scenario is prudent.
I am an early-retired engineer and love to do research and fact-finding. I have volunteered my time to try and help our community by serving on committees. I have worked on the “Tax Classification Committee”, the “Budget and Revenue Task Force”, and the “Privatization Study Group”, serving as Chairperson.
One thing I have learned is that nothing is simple with regard to seeking change. Structures, policies, and practices have been put into place for reasons that were good ideas at the time, and for the most part people have done a good job maximizing resources to keep the town running. Anything we want to do that is different than the past is difficult to accomplish, but we must be persistent and diligent in pursuing a better Dartmouth.
It is a new day and a new time, and the economy is uncertain, but we must continue to forge ahead, being creative and thoughtful about what we do. Just because the task is difficult doesn’t mean that we should not embrace the work. We must choose leaders that are willing to do the hard work and capable of being thorough, thinking things out to their natural conclusion. Making a wrong decision could be costly.
We have a great community, and have had our share of difficulties, but have moved forward in addressing them. I pride myself on my logic and common sense, and believe that my knowledge and ability to be thorough is a great fit for maintaining momentum. I am willing to do the work and put the time in that is necessary to help make our town the best that the taxpayer can afford.
I ask you to consider voting for me on April 6th so I can represent your interests and work for you.
Frank Gracie
Mr. Gracie has a website here.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Mr. Gracie speaks about his candidacy
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
39 comments:
Bill;
Are you going to allow statements by all candidates or just the candidates you support?
I voted for Frank in the last election. I will vote for Frank again. I suspect many taxpayers share my concern that the town needs to operate above board and within it's means. I certainly recognize that many difficult decisions will need to be made. I know Frank recognizes that as well. I look forward to welcoming Frank to the SB.
I will be voting for Frank Gracie. Shaun McDonald is all about the schools. We already have two school advocates on the board and we don't need another one. I was impressed with Frank's involvement on the Budget Rev Tax Com. I think he is fair and will be an objective voice on the board. He is a fiscal conservative. In these times, that is important!
Bill, post whatever candidate statements you want. I'll be voting for Frank Gracie.
I'll vote for McDonald. He was calm, clear, and collectively illustrated last night a resume of 30 years in politics. He has served this town well.
Mr. Gracie seemed to know what he was talking about.
Mr. McDonald seemed to have a hard time answering some of the questions. He did a lot of hesitating before answering some, and I think it was more than being caught off guard for an answer. He stumbled.
Mr. McDonald can lose his cool quite rapidly, and has a short fuse. Don't let yesterday fool you. Do we need another person like a past chairperson. Ego has no place on the Select Board or any other board or committee in town.
Mr. McDonald will represent the School Committee once he is on the Select Board. Residents should be prepared to kiss their money goodbye.
To 3:57, what has Mr. McDonald distinguished himself with in his 30 years of politics? What can we remember as a contribution he made to the town?
You know, something like the contracts for life that we remember Mr. Miller by?
I disagree with those who think that Mr. McDonald will only represent the schools. I don't think that's necessarily true. But I'm NOT voting for Mr. McDonald for another reason: his temper and appearance. I have watched more than one meeting on DCTV where he has raised his voice in anger. And I'm tired of seeing an elected town official wear t-shirts to public meetings.
The same can be said of Mr. Gracie. He serves on town comittees then disappears as though he's entitled to victory. Where is the Gracie campaign???
Bill,
If you are any sort of responsible person and unbiased within your BLOG. I suggest you allow ALL candidates to make a statement of candidacy. If not your nothing more than a proaganda machine and your blog is nothing more than FOX NEWS at the local level
There is a clear attempt to smear Mr. McDonald in this blog. I will vote for him in the upcoming and I know he will do a very good despite what the naysayers post on this forum.
Mr. Trimble, I am very disappointed in you for allowing this to continue.
Has any other candidate asked to have their statements posted? I don't believe Mr. Trimble would say no to anyone if asked. As far as posting comments about candidates, I haven't seen anything that is offensive so why shouldn't they be posted???
I have not prevented any candidate from presenting a statement here. Only Mr. Gracie has sent me one. If others would like to do so, I would be happy to post it.
The comments here are people's opinions. I generally let them say whatever they like as long as it is not profane or defamatory.
I, too, think Bill is fair and will post any candidate who sends him information. That said- my ovte goes to McDonald.
No one is trying to smear Mr. McDonald.
He will not be the effective leader we need on the Select Board, partially because he is prone to losing his temper, and partially because he does not have the amount of knowledge that his opponent Frank Gracie has. It was clear on Candidates' Night how well informed and on top of the issues that Mr. Gracie was.
We don't need an individual seated on the Board who cannot control his temper. This is not the type of person that we would want to represent us.
We've suffered through enough ill mannered behavior from our current and past Board members. We don't need this kind of embarrassment anymore.
Mr. McDonald needs to sharpen his knowledge of town issues. That's probably hard when all you've concentrated on the past few years is the school.
If he gets elected, not much will change, either. It'll still be all for the schools. We can't afford that.
Full Day Kindergaten was a 5-0 vote. Would Gracie oppose? Please advise Frank.
8:25pm- same line used last year against Watson - that he needed to "sharpen his knowledge"- Gracie served on three committees (This is not the vast experience claimed by his supporters)
This tactic didn't work last year and it won't work this year either.
The vote for FDK was a vote to make it a priority only. This is not a done deal. The school department hasn't even come up with one penny of funding yet. It is still to be decided how much money will come from the school budget and how much will come from the general government budget if this is going to work.
The reason that the school department won't show their hand about how much they will be able to fund from their budget is that they are waiting to see if McDonald wins a seat on the Select Board. If he wins, this will strengthen their hand because they can preach from the SB bully pulpit. Only hitch is, that the FinCom makes the budget, not the SB.
FDK can and should be achievable. Right now, the ball is in the school department's court.
I like the fact that McDonald was on the FinCom back in the late 80's and that he had the departments start budgeting using zero-based budgeting. My vote goes to McDonald!
Bird Dog...you have an ax to grind. McDonald is the only one, if victorious, you served on the school board. None of the current SB members have said anything different from what you have said.
oh...I'm sorry- I forgot- you know what is in each member's head. Maybe you should change your name to "Psychic Bird Dog".
I was very impressed by Frank Gracie when he was on the Budget & Revenue Tax Com. He is fair, looking at both side of all issues, educated, and well spoken. I thought Mr. Gracie did well at candidate's night. I am afraid to vote for Shaun McDonald because his mindset has been school, school, school, for so many years. He should stay on the school com.
I watched the candidate's night again today and it struck me, several times Frank said that he agreed with what McDonald had to say. So, if what Frank said is true, then I guess McDonald isn't that far off as some on the blog has suggested.
Just because there is some agreement between any two or more people doesn't mean that they are that close together on the majority of issues.
Obviously there has to be agreement somewhere.
Mr. Gracie far outshines Mr. McDonald. I watched Candidates Night, also. Mr. McDonald fumbled a lot, before he answered many of the questions. He didn't have the depth of knowledge that Mr. Gracie clearly did, and he was nowhere near as prepared or professional, let alone informed, as Mr. Gracie was and is.
When the only response to my post is to attack me instead of the message, you can bet I hit the nail on the head.
It has been stated that McDonald fumbled a lot prior to answering questions. I believe he was looking to answer the questions correctly and was looking for the right answers.
I took a speech course at BCC a few years ago and what he did is what was taught. Wait a bit to speak, find your answer and then answer. Better to pause instead of "um-ing" as some people do.
McDonald will get mine and my family votes. Last year, the select bopard was no place for a newcomer. The Gracie people wanted experience. Well, thirty years of town politics certainly trumps three committees.
Good Luck Shawn- we are all puling for you.
Can you list Mr. McDonald's accomplishments over those thirty years?
Being a town meeting member since he was 18 isn't exactly working on a board or committee for all that time, though I am not negating it, please note.
What has he accomplished working on the boards and committees he's been on?
Here's one accomplishment: He has worn lots of Red Sox and Celtics t-shirts.
Supported closing two elementary schools, thus creating the largest elementary school in the state.
Supported student parking fees, supported sports/activites fees. Didnt support this years effort to cut those expenses in half. Supported adding more admin staff, rather than cut costs. Supported an elevator to be installed at Bush St. (why? its only $250,000)
Didnt support the Recreation Dept moving to Smith Neck School to allow DCTV to use the the old town hall.
Hmmmm....the school committee had no choice but to close those two schools. Pressure from the financial shortages at the time mandated the closures.
The student parking fees were necessary to control the number of cars being parked on the property, plus that money can only be used for the parking lot maintenance and nothing else.
Again, with the sport and activities fees being charged, those fees were suggested by the FinCom as a way for the schools to garner revenue and offset some expenses. Bus fees, too. If I remember correctly, only Jones and Moniz voted against reducing the fees. Lenz, Boles and McDonald voted for it.
Admin. staff at Bush street is less than is was years ago. There is no Tech. Co-ord., no Curriculum Co-ord and several others haven't been filled.
There is no elevator at Bush Street. Go see for yourself.
The School Department has no say in the Smith Neck School as it has been turned over to the Town years ago. The entire school committee favored moving DCTV to the Old Town Hall due to needing space at the Middle School.
I asked McDonald if he owned any Celtics shirts, he does not.
Again, attack the person, attack the person, attack the person. Frank Gracie, you and your supporters have much to be proud of.
And Gracie? He served on three committees and he should be elected to the select board...Is he a town meeting member? He hasn't gone to any meetings this year. Does he attend SB meetings? Fincom? Does he campaign? Why would I vote for him?
I am very tired of the Gracie camp trying to tear down McDonald in order to get elected. I am very disappointed in you Bill for allowing this. McDonald has chosen to address what he will do as a Selectman there hasn't been one negative thing written on the blog about Gracie. One camp takes the high road, the other camps dwells in the sewer.
Here's something negative about the Gracie Campaign. WHERE IS IT? I see a few signs, but nothing else. Despite that, I'll vote for Frank Gracie. I think he's running for the right reasons.
The selectmen race between Michaud and Miller is over....Michaud 2-1
Michaud....2500 plus votes
Miller.....1500 plus votes
The selectmen race between Gracie and McDonald is much closer....the anti Miller voters will come out in full force, this will help Gracie. Too soon to call, but I'm giving Gracie the edge.
How could you vote for Gracie? No campaign, No visibility- what kind of leadership could he bring? No one could possibly expect him to work at governing when he doesn't even work to get elected. That's the problem with his group of supporters. They have an ideology imposed on the town when they get elected, having never really gotten to know what the "majority" of the town wants.
Gracie is a good listener and a team player. He can even work with people who disagree with him. Can you say that about McDonald? I don't think so!
Gracie and Shannon Jenkins were in complete agreement of tax classification. They don't agree on much else. They even gave the presentation together at the tax classification hearing.
Post a Comment