Patch: Letter to Paul Donato
An open Letter to:
http://medford.patch.com/groups/rock-journalist-joe-vig-/p/rep-donato-needs-to-rein-in-the-democratic-tea-partiers-who-wrecked-candidates-night
Dear State Rep Donato:
Just
as the country - the entire world - experienced a fanatical wing of the
Republican party holding the planet hostage, the Democratic City and
Ward Committee presents a dog and pony show with questions asked of school committee members who have no opposition during this election cycle.
Logic dictates that the time would have been better spent on the two candidates for Mayor.
With
all the problems facing the city of Medford, and with precious time
until November 5 when residents have an opportunity to vote, there's the
notion that the City and Ward Committee not only failed to present a clear event between the two candidates; there's also the frightening thought that the two people controlling the event invited a "straw man" -
one alleged "write-in" candidate to participate in a forum where Anthony
D'Antonio and Michael J. McGlynn - two legitimate candidates who took
the effort to get signatures - were scheduled to "debate." The public's perception of the forum, the only face-off between the two candidates prior to election day - is that it is a "debate" - even if the City and Ward committee considers it a forum.
Why
would one individual out of 57,000 be invited to be the "write-in"
candidate when that person has no credibility and was part of an
organization where one of that individual's colleagues is now up on a
charge of a false bomb threat: a charge of an alleged terrorist act.
* * * * *
I
received a Thank You note from one of the three individuals from local
non-profits. He had recused himself from the City Council candidates
forum after I pointed out the conflict of non-profits engaging in
political speech, something that Medford Community Cablevision, Inc. was
well aware of but violated with impunity.
We
citizens look up to our leaders like you, Rep Donato, to uphold the
rights of citizens while admonishing those in your own party -
specifically the married couple involved in the City and Ward Committee -
who crafted an event which might be a great resource for them to
massage their overblown egos, but does little or nothing for the
hard-working residents of Medford who deserve the opportunity to choose
who they want to be Mayor.
While you
promote the incumbent publicly, speaking with you I get the distinct
feeling that you aren't very happy with how the 26 years after you were
Mayor have decimated city life in Medford.
Why
you or Michael Marks or another viable candidate chose not to run is a
mystery. What is clear is that Anthony D'Antonio gave a strong
performance at Candidates Night on October 16, 2013, despite the obvious
roadblocks your colleagues at the Medford Democratic City and Ward
Committee attempted to put in front of a legitimate candidate for the
highest office in Medford.
All the
residents want, deserve and demand is fairness. You are the person with
more power than the incumbent mayor. With great power comes great
responsibility, as the movie line goes. We are counting on Paul Donato
to do the right thing and work on behalf of the voters. it is time for
you, Mr. Donato, to flex your muscles and remove the problem children
in the City and Ward Committee before they cause more mischief and
before they taint the process - and possibly the election - more than
they already have.