Heather Burkett is the October Artist of the Month

Posted on October 18, 2010 by billmanzi

Mayor William M. Manzi has named Heather Burkett as October’s Artist of the Month. Heather Burkett is a new resident of Methuen and an amateur photographer. She enjoys designing and creating in the visual arts with a variety of mediums. She is very excited to be showcasing for the first time. Heather earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Keene State College and a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Cambridge College and holds certification in two states. She is a third grade teacher in New Hampshire.

Mayor Manzi stated, “I’d like to personally welcome Heather and her family to Methuen. She is now one of the many talented photographers and artists living in our community. It is an honor to display her photos. I encourage people to come to my office and view her work.”

Heather Burkett is the October Artist of Month

The Methuen Artist of the Month Program was created by Mayor Manzi four years ago in order to give members of the Methuen Arts Community a forum to display their work and to encourage participation in Methuen’s growing creative economy. Methuen artists interested in being considered for Artist of the Month should contact the Mayor’s Office.

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Boxer and Fiorina Battle in CA

Posted on October 17, 2010 by billmanzi

Senator Barbara Boxer continues to hold a very slight lead over former HP CEO Carly Fiorina in California. These two women have gone at each other pretty hard, and the polling gap is within the margin of error. Rasmussen has Boxer up by three points, which has been reflected pretty much all along. Fiorina has actually stayed closer to Boxer than Meg Whitman has stayed to Jerry Brown. The debate featured Boxer really homing in on Fiorina’s record as CEO of HP, where she laid off thousands of workers, and shipped jobs overseas. She also made quite a bundle of money doing so. Fiorina has whacked Boxer around on the arrogance issue, as well as on taxes, regulation, and extreme environmental views. From the LA Times.

“She is for more taxes, she is for more spending, she is for more regulation, she is also for big government and elite extreme environmental groups,” said Fiorina, who said her rival had accomplished little in the Senate because she is “one of the most bitterly partisan members.”

“Her record is long on talk and very short on achievement,” Fiorina said.

One of the key races in the country, and one of the closest. If Boxer gets beat here then you know it is going to be a real big night for Republicans.

Fiorina appeared on Fox Sunday with Chris Wallace, and like Republican Kirk on Meet the Press, just refused to answer on how she planned to balance the federal budget. Wallace was as frustrated with her non-answers as David Gregory was with candidate Kirk in Illinois. For a Party talking up deficit reduction in a big way you would think they would have a better answer than hummuna hummuna hummuna when asked what programs specifically they will cut to achieve balance. They just won’t answer.

Debate story from the LA Times.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/embed.js?id=4376339&w=466&h=263Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

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The Governor Makes the Case

Posted on October 17, 2010 by billmanzi

The Governor had a big turnout in Boston yesterday to welcome President Barack Obama, who was here to campaign for him. The Governor laid out his case for re-election, and the President gave a spirited talk in support of the Governor’s re-election bid. The President said, “when Deval speaks, I listen.”

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The President on Tax Breaks for Offshoring

Posted on October 17, 2010 by billmanzi

The President spent his weekly address talking about the tax code and business tax breaks he is pushing for. He also talked about Republican opposition to his attempt to stop tax breaks for companies moving jobs out of America. The Administration has taken cautious baby steps in its political promotion of economic nationalism, including the tiniest of steps with regards to Chinese currency manipulation that is hurting our jobs picture. As the Republicans are showing the President it is difficult to sell incremental change and intellectual analysis when the economic situation is so bleak. They are throwing out red meat that attacks things that people understand and intrinsically don’t like. Up to this point that approach has been more effective. And this country still has no industrial policy. Without strong policies designed to create jobs (even at the expense of free trade) we will continue the free fall we are in. Our market is still the one that pulls the world economy, providing demand for the great exporting nations while we borrow money to provide for their military needs. That paradigm is bankrupting us. And tiny incremental steps will not change that. Neither will a Republican majority.

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Hicks in West VA

Posted on October 16, 2010 by billmanzi

In West VA popular Democratic Governor Joe Manchin is locked in a tight battle with Republican John Raese. The latest Rasmussen survey has Raese up by three, but Rasmussen has moved the race from “lean Republican” to “tossup”. This race has fun the gamut, with Manchin considered a shoo-in for victory at the start, but with Raese coming on and taking a solid lead in the middle. Manchin has done nothing differently, and continues to have high approval ratings as Governor. But he is sagging under the weight of the Democratic label. Raese has run statewide and lost three times, and is frankly not an impressive candidate.

Manchin has now moved to separate himself from Washington Democrats in a very spirited way. He has been endorsed by the NRA, and a recent campaign ad had him shooting holes in the cap and trade bill with a rifle. He has also been aided by a Republican gaffe, where an ad for actors in a Raese ad called for “hickey” looking actors. Raese’s family living in Florida has also been seized upon by Manchin, who is painting Raese as an outsider making fun of West Virginians. If you are going to run for U.S. Senate it is generally advisable to have your wife living and voting in the State you are running in. Despite all of that Raese is still competitive, hanging the “rubber stamp for Obama” charge on Manchin. The Washington Post notes Manchin’s effort to separate from Obama:

Manchin has responded by trying to show voters just how unlike a Democrat he can be. He brags about his endorsement from the National Rifle Association. He has sued the Obama administration over environmental policy and in a campaign commercial fires a rifle at a copy of the “cap and trade” legislation that congressional Democrats have advocated. He promises, if elected, to “take on Washington and this administration.”

If Joe Manchin can’t win against a John Raese then for now it might be safe to say that no national election can be won by Democrats in West Virginia. Read the Washington Post story here.

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Governors Debate at Emerson

Posted on October 16, 2010 by billmanzi

The Governor’s debate held at Emerson yesterday. I have not had the opportunity to view it, but here it is. The Herald story on the debate is here.

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1

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Tom Reilly Endorses Charlie Baker, and More Cahill

Posted on October 15, 2010 by billmanzi

Former Democratic Attorney General Tom Reilly yesterday endorsed Republican Charlie Baker for Governor, extolling his virtues as the head of Harvard Pilgrim. Reilly, who lost the Democratic nomination for Governor to Patrick four years ago, worked with Baker while AG to help turn around Harvard Pilgrim. Reilly will and has been accused of sour grapes, and his wooden campaign style has been compared (in not so endearing terms) to Charlie Baker’s. I guess it is a good pickup for Baker, but it is not going to move the needle a whole lot.

In the meantime the impacts of the emails released showing the Cahill campaign looking to get a boost from lottery advertising are now sinking in, with multiple media hits on Cahill today. The Globe hit him in an editorial, , while Scott Lehigh hit him hard in an op-ed. Not a good media day for Treasurer Tim, and it will not be getting better any time soon.

Baker released a new ad, and in my humble opinion it is not effective. I just don’t see him making a connection with voters, and this ad gives us more of the same. The clock is ticking on the Baker campaign. They have precious little time to “move the needle”. This ad will not be moving anything.

David Paleologos defends the Suffolk polling methodology, and reminds us of his calling the Scott Brown win while other pollsters had Martha Coakley leading that race. On this discussion I think David has the clear high ground. Believe the Suffolk numbers.

http://www.necn.com/common/CSN/necn/NECNembedplayer.swf

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The Angle-Reid Debate

Posted on October 15, 2010 by billmanzi

Sharron Angle debated Harry Reid last night, and I got a chance to watch some of it. I was struck by how poor a debater Reid really is, looking the part of the Washington insider. Reid failed to take it to Angle on the many issues that she is wide open on, and in my opinion left her on stage as an equal. Reid’s performance has to be a disappointment to Democrats, especially in light of Angle’s own (in my opinion) lack of debating skills. Harry Reid is a smart man, but you wouldn’t know it from the performance last evening. MSNBC covered the debate, and Lawrence O’Donnell had third party Tea Party candidate Scott Ashjian on, and he reminds us how third party candidates can just be skunks at the garden party. In this case Angle’s interactions with Ashjian came up during the debate, and Ashjian, in the interview, called Angle a career politician and a liar.

Reid already has released an ad attacking Angle over his response to the insurance company mandate question during the debate. That didn’t take long. And Angle is hitting Reid hard over the tax issue with her own ad. This is a marquee race, and may be the most closely watched in the country. And it is going to come down to the wire.

Read the Washington Post article here.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640

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Federal Funds Awarded for Substance Abuse Education

Posted on October 14, 2010 by billmanzi

I was pleased to join Congresswoman Niki Tsongas and Sheriff Frank Cousins as they announced the awarding of a $280,000 grant to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office for programs to educate high school students about substance abuse. Methuen High School, under the leadership of Dean Brouder and Principal Jim Giuca, has an outstanding program with heavy student participation. We were able to interact with students who participate in this great program at the event, and several students spoke to us about the value of this program. Sheriff Cousins has done an outstanding job on this program, and the Sheriff and I are deeply grateful for the partnership with Niki Tsongas, who has brought needed federal resources to this program. Below is the Press Release by the Office of the Congresswoman.

Tsongas and Essex County Sheriff Frank Cousins announce federal funds for substance abuse prevention program for local high school students

METHUEN, MA – October 7, 2010 – This afternoon at Methuen High School, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas presented the Essex County Sherriff’s Department with $280,000 in federals fund that will help sustain their Comprehensive Substance Abuse Education and Treatment Program in local schools for the 2010-2011 school year. Tsongas presented the funds to Sherriff Frank Cousins and was also joined by Methuen Mayor Bill Manzi, Methuen school administrators and students that have benefitted from the program.

“These federal funds will help continue the highly successful ‘Towards No Drug Use’ program in Essex County High Schools during these difficult economic and budgetary times,” said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. “Through the program, high school students learn about the importance of saying no to drugs, avoiding violence and other strategies for being successful in life. Sheriff Cousins and Methuen High should be commended for working cooperatively to help students avoid barriers to successes and excel in school.”
“This project was first supported by our late Senator Edward M. Kennedy and has succeeded in creating a positive influence in the lives of students at schools throughout Essex County,” said Essex County Sheriff Frank Cousins. “There are too many young men and women who end up in jail because of drugs and alcohol and it is so important that they have access to the educational resources and support that helps them make good decisions. The ‘Towards No Drug Use’ program is one of those critical resources and I would like to thank Congresswoman Tsongas for her strong support of this initiative.”

The “Towards No Drug Use” (TND) program teaches drug abuse and violence prevention to students at high schools throughout Essex County, including at Methuen & Lawrence High Schools. The program is administered collaboratively through the local high school, community based organizations and law enforcement agencies and has been credited with helping students make healthy decisions and focus on their life goals. The funds, secured by Tsongas as part of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2010, will cover the clinical portions of the program, as well as provide books and materials for participating students. The program may also be replicated by similar agencies throughout Massachusetts, New England, and nationally.

“Each year, my staff and I meet with local elected officials, city and town managers, directors of nonprofit organizations, major employers, economic development specialists, first responders, health providers, and university administrators in our area to find out where the Fifth Congressional District could benefit most from federal investment and how exactly this federal investment would be used,” explained Congresswoman Tsongas. “As my constituent’s liaison to the federal government, I submit those projects that advance these goals in our communities, and which meet the strict requirements established by the agency within the government that would provide funding for them, as well as the appropriate committee of jurisdiction in Congress. The Towards No Drug Use’ program met all of these criteria which is why they were awarded the federal funds they received today.
Tsongas Announcement

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Suffolk on Mass Governors Race

Posted on October 14, 2010 by billmanzi

Governor Deval Patrick has surged to a 7 point lead over Republican Charlie Baker in the latest Suffolk Poll, released yesterday. Patrick is at 46%, to 39% for Baker, and 10% for Tim Cahill. From the Suffolk press release:

“Deval Patrick’s lead is driven by some core levels of support,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. “These core demographics – coupled with the perceptions that he has run the best campaign and has the best temperament to be governor – are driving forces as the governor’s race enters this final stretch.”

Patrick has, up to this point, clearly run the best campaign. He has been disciplined, exceedingly polite, and likable on the campaign trail. Baker, on the other hand, has come off as somewhat angry, a bit ill mannered, and I believe a much colder figure for the voters. His continued saga with Tim Cahill has proven to be a major distraction to his campaign, and if the polling turns out to be correct on election day his appearance with Paul Loscocco will turn out to be one of the major political gaffes in Massachusetts history.

In looking at the numbers a couple of things do jump out at you. The Governor is crushing Baker in what Paleologos calls “Worcester West”, leading Baker by 19%. Tim Murray has been great for the ticket, and the Governor’s investment of time in the West is now paying dividends. He is wiping him out in Suffolk County, leading by 55%. And Baker’s lead amongst independents, while at 16%, is being held down by Cahill, who still gets 14% of all independent voters.

Paleologos, on Channel 7, said that Deval Patrick is on the goal line, ready to score. He could still fumble, but right now it is his election to lose.

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