NOTES TO CARL | LESSONS IN MEDIOCRITY
Randy Seaver, a grumpy old guy, offers advice to his grandson and howls at the moon
Commentary that has not been published elsewhere.
Come on, don't tell me you didn't see this one coming. That's right, word on the street, yet unconfirmed, is that former mayor Joanne Twomey is at least contemplating a bid to recapture her former District 135 House seat, and may challenge the incumbent, fellow Democrat Paulette Beaudoin for a chance to take on Republican Perry Aberle in … Continue reading It’s not your 19th nervous breakdown
George "Pete" Lamontagne is an uncomplicated man who has seen his fair share of complicated situations. Political observers say the former city councilor's laid-back personality and his friendly demeanor often calmed severe storms during especially contentious Biddeford City Council meetings. Pete Lamontagne He is a self-described man of the street, and he is widely perceived as a champion of … Continue reading George ‘Pete’ Lamontagne
Today is my late grandmother's birthday. There is rarely a day that passes when I am not reminded of my grandparents and the remarkable influence they had on the Biddeford-Saco region. My grandfather, Gilman Seaver, was a teacher at both Biddeford High School and Thornton Academy. He was old school innovative: tough and uncompromising. He … Continue reading Teacher, teacher: A family affair
On the heels of a public uproar regarding the sanctity of the internet, there is growing evidence that it's a good idea to do your own fact checking and think through things that are posted by your friends on Facebook or circulated by groups with an agenda. Subject at hand: a graphic chart that supposedly … Continue reading Just the facts, M’am
Steve Beaudette, a former Biddeford City Council President and State Representative, has tossed his hat into the ring to capture the District 4 State Senate Seat now held by State Sen. Nancy Sullivan. Sullivan, who is prohibited from seeking re-election because of term limits, has declared she will seek her former House Seat (District 137), … Continue reading I ain’t no senator’s son
The Biddeford City Council voted 5-4 Tuesday to reject Mayor Alan Casavant’s nomination of Joshua Bodwell to the Charter Review Commission. But despite Mr. Bodwell’s over-inflated ego, the decision had very little to do with him. Allow me to explain by starting with this news flash: Mayor Alan “Let’s negotiate the best deal possible” Casavant … Continue reading Exile in Guyville aka “The Bodwell Incident”
Love them or hate them; it doesn’t matter. The following list represents the 25 most influential players on the Biddeford-Saco region’s political landscape, at least according to my own observations. Choosing this list, and determining its ranking order was much more difficult than I imagined it would be. I received several recommendations from All Along … Continue reading The Top-25 Biddeford-Saco political players and coaches
The game of politics is a lot like baseball. Some people can actually watch an entire baseball game without ever paying attention to the stats, the subtle nuances of play and the cryptic signals given between the dugout and field. These people are normal and are not afflicted with severe attention deficit disorder. They are likely … Continue reading Ready to rumble?
Don’t you just hate the 1 percent? You know . . . all those fat cats who have way more than they need. Meanwhile, the rest of us...the 99 percent...are struggling for survival and getting screwed by the system. Sound familiar? It’s the anthem of the Occupy Movement, a mantra that can be traced back … Continue reading Wealth Inequality: An Inconvenient Truth
It was like nothing I could ever imagine. It was 5:25 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving, and I was in a parking lot with more than 1,800 people, waiting in the blackness of a pre-dawn sky for the fluorescent monster to open its mouth and swallow us whole. Welcome to the jungle— We got … Continue reading Welcome to the jungle
NOTES TO CARL | LESSONS IN MEDIOCRITY 