All right, we have some more progress in the quote-unquote campaign of Stephen M. Palmer.
If the name sounds familiar, he is running as a Democrat for State Senator of the Plymouth and Barnstable District, i.e., Senate President Therese M. Murray’s (D – Plymouth) district — and if sounds only vaguely familiar, it’s because he’s been running such a low-key campaign it’s almost subliminal.
Last week I came across what I guess you could call a website. It’s a single page featuring a Sears Portrait Studio-quality shot of the candidate and some brief text that bemoans “tax and spend” government, but provides absolutely no insight to the candidate’s stance on the issues or ideas.
If you’re bored and want to waste a couple minutes – literally, it’ll take you no more than two minutes to read the whole thing – go to http://stephenmichaelpalmer.com.
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From the Ouch! That Stings! Department: State Representative Demetrius J. Atsalis (D – Barnstable) last week received an endorsement from former fellow state rep Marie Parente. This is noteworthy because Rep. Atsalis’s primary opponent, Brian R. Mannal, use to work for Ms. Parente.
Ah, but Mr. Mannal acted quickly to undermine the value of his former boss’s thumb’s up. In a press release he pointed out that after she left office, Ms. Parente tried (and failed) to goose her state pension by factoring in the value of her State House parking pass and her per diem (given to legislators to cover travel, meal, and lodging expenses).
Mr. Mannal also notes that Ms. Parente is entangled in the ongoing investigation into the probation department brouhaha, and pushed a relative for a gig with the department.
As an added note: big kudos to Mr. Mannal for annotating his press release with references to sources that support every one of his claims. First time I have ever seen such a thing. I dig it.
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Ah, the magic of deadlines, that thing that can make current news look like old news.
Last week’s column listed the three men who were interested in serving as Thomas K. Lynch’s successor on the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates and noted that one of them would be appointed to the vacancy soon. Since I file the columns on Wednesdays, by the time it saw print on Fridays (in most editions), “soon” was out-of-date by one day.
Last Thursday the Barnstable Town Council appointed Patrick Princi to fill the vacancy until the end of the year. Mr. Princi, a parole officer in the Falmouth District Court and current member of the Barnstable Planning Board, was chosen in a 10-to-two vote over J. Gregory Milne, who received the other two votes, and Terry T. Duenas.
All three men have taken out nomination papers for the seat, but Mr. Princi’s appointment gives him an edge in the November election since he’ll have a modicum of first-hand experience and a bit of name recognition.
Political news and announcements may be e-mailed to Michael Bailey, senior political reporter, at bailey@capenews.net.
