Grading the McKillop / Burke Performances on 10-12-17 at CITY HALL

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Report on Speeches tonight, Part 1

Attorney David P. Skerry's favorite cousin gives a great, forceful speech, better than both Muccini-Burke and McKillop.

It would be refreshing if my pal Bob Skerry would actually DO the things he talks about, but you still gotta hand it to him, he's a slick politician and will be hard to beat.  Even if I do more work in a week to push Medford forward than Bob does in two years, we still like the guy.

We citizens need as much information as humanly possible in the short 26 days to Election 2017. Jay Campbell has a debate planned for November 2, and this event with our State Rep Paul Donato opening the festivities was at least some information. Not enough, but it is a start. Here are my thoughts on the speeches from David McKillop and Stephanie Muccini-Burke

Mr. McKillop gave more information and has a good speaking voice. The pay-to-park is an essential topic of conversation, but the microphone they handed Mr. McKillop was hollow and did not help the candidate deliver his message. Muccini-Burke's microphone didn't work at all, so they gave her the microphone belonging to the moderator. It was clearer than McKillop's yet - and I say this objectively and with no motive, just the facts, Mrs. Burke still has not perfected the art of public speaking. 

Stephanie played it safe declaring partners in progress (yet when I was walking to my car and she was talking to someone, presumably her son, they both vanished - abracadabra - clearly not including me - or you - in their idea of "partners-in-progress) but what was missing were any of her real achievements. We have no police station and the police picketed her Montvale Plaza event (on or about 9/14/17) so it is kind of tough to say one thing while news events are shaping the reality.

David McKillop got a B- while Stephanie gets a D. Both passing grades but both not elevating themselves to mayoral material.

Now these criticisms are constructive and meant to help each candidate, I hope they take them the way they are meant to be, constructive.

At 8:08 pm Bob Skerry was giving a fantastic speech. Now full disclosure, I like Mr. Skerry - but I also do not believe a word he says. You can be friendly with someone, appreciate them, and also tell them when what is coming out of their mouth is pure rhetoric, but you have to hand it to the seasoned politician, his delivery gets an A grade. And that is where the candidates should have been.

All due respect to all the other candidates, Erin, Mea, Mrs. Cugno, Kathy Kreatz and everyone who came out to speak but I had to get to the gym. So I will watch the reruns (on CNN? or MSNBC?) and - if I get a chance to - will critique.

A word of advice to David McKillop and - again - this is just a citizen giving an opinion: it is time to be a Junkyard Dog...you are running up against a powerful McGlynn machine that does not want you anywhere near the corner office. Play Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy." Bob Penta was Mr. Nice Guy last year and they harassed, bullied and defamed a man who deserves our respect. They are most likely getting ready to throw the mud at you, David. To sit back and take it is not wise. To quote our pal Mark E Rumley, "If you're in a fight, fight." Mr. Rumley, of course, never thought I would take it to heart the way I did, and that's where you surprise them, David, and that's where you actually earn your stripes TO BE MAYOR. Being a "nice guy" in your mind sets you up to be their target - this is a vicious game and you cannot bring a water pistol to the Rumley War when they are ready to throw hand grenades at you. Just some logic and a splash of cold water because, Mr. McKillop, you have my vote because you are not Stephanie Muccini-Burke, but you haven't earned my vote yet. And with that knowledge also know this: the citizens of Medford will stick with the devil they know if you don't get out there and work for it.

THE GRADES

Bob Skerry  - A for Performance

                       C  for substance

David McKillop   B- for delivery

                             B+ for substance

Mrs. Burke           D for delivery

                              C- for substance

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