Springfield Massachusetts New Mayor

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<$BlogItemTitle$> Quiet Springfield Massachusetts Swears In New Mayor Quietly <$BlogItemTitle$> Some time this month, January, Charles V Ryan took office as Springfield, Massachusetts' new Mayor, succeeding Michael Albano. Ryan, a Springfield Lawyer and once Mayor of Springfield 35 or more years ago, is 72. Outgoing Mayor Albano, friend to President Clinton, and newly notorious for promoting Canadian drug imports through a city information process, chose not to seek another term. Ryan, a good progressive, in initial moves, appointed his son, another Springfield lawyer to the Police Commission [local news sources]. As to nepotism, his son is qualified, and accents the Mayor's concern for a Commission recently scandalized by a charge of obstruction of justice and witness intimidation by a former Commission member. This is Springfield news. This blogger lives in West Springfield, across the river .. which can be as distant as Kentucky suburbs from Cincinnati. Our edition of the Springfield Republican - the West Side edition; may have had a news item of the Ryan Mayoral inauguration ..but that edition must have buried it & we missed it. By contrast, when WIlliam Bulger became President of the University of Massachusetts system, the same paper featured a front page color photo under a banner headline - "Bulger Sworn In as President" with Bulger shown taking an oath. Mayor Ryan is wished well. His talent is legend, locally, and his personnel selections like his administration will likely be meritorious His start deserved much more notice. City of Springfield

Kerry Iowa Win Is Classic Politics

Iowa Caucauses 1-2-3 win for Senator Kerry - Senator Edwards & former Vermont Gov Howard Dean is - post-Iowa caucus - no mystery. Senator Kerry - a long time plodder for the US White House, spent, and spent big to expand his message. In politics .. money often equals votes. Senator Edwards, also a former Governor, gained by the Des Moines Register endorsement (news sources) .. and gained voter confidence by savvy of national issues including public administration savvy from his North Carolina gbernatorial experience. Iowa and North carolina vie for the country's largest hog farming title with similar issues - corporate vs. family farms & hog-farm pollution -especially aquifer & water pollution. Edwars team also benefitted from Edwards full time good field work. (He has announced he will not seek re-election and this candidacy is all or nothing) Howard Dean's third place 17% finish -acclaimed by him as a victory (CBS News UTTM 1/20/04 03:00+est), would have been one for a little-known regional figure. However - he may have suffered a "Democrats" backlash bythe benefit of several prominent 'pol' endorsements. Kerry & Edwards carried the confidence of Iowa's politically attuned caucus participating voters .. and Dean evidently has to convince he can win a national election. In that area both Kerry & Edwards were helped by national issues articulation ... and their foils to President Bush. President Bush does ot debate well .. the Senate is good debator's home. New Hampshire will test the Wesley Clark sleeper candidacy and may axe 'perilous & perennial Joe Lieberman' from the trail. On exits as a subject, Dick Gephardt would deserve the nomination if the 'pols' ran a convention for representing all the Democratic party's values & for his career's salute. His effort, however failed to carry votes - he is unpopular as a national candidate save as Vice President. On the matter of endorsements ...Ted Kennedy's dubious 'popularity' has probably 'troughed' in its national slide and his litmus & polarizing seemed not to have hung fellow Bay-Stater Senator Kerry -- polls will show whether he helped Kerry win. In the end Senator Kerry the candidate who freed himself from campaign contribution limits and spending won --the old political rule prevailed --votes follow money and money follows the vote getter.

Remembering Civil Human Equality MLK Day

Have recalled the good human values of the late Dr. King on his national holiday - his birthday . .by re-publising a poem I composed to honor his lawyer-minister colleague James Farmer. It salutes both men .. all men and women .. and their great movement. EQUALITY Leader to equal He strove to compel A life he knew ere White skin made life fair A time stirred nation As nation moved law No race made station No palor deemed flaw. He savored not sword But taught that by word A man ended hate By process of State. Through city he trod. Man's equal through GOD.