Should I blog about Somerville’s Mayoral Race?
Does anyone blog about local politics? If blogging about national politics is a big thing, what about local races?
Do any of you readers care about Somerville’s mayoral race? I’ve been invited to a gathering with the mayor at a friend’s house in a few weeks and I hope to attend a forum where some of the candidates may be speaking this Sunday. Is anyone blogging about the Somerville mayoral race already?
For those of you not in Somerville or tuned into Somerville’s political scene, the incumbant mayor is facing two opponents this year. Each claims that he can do better with the city’s budget in the face of steep decreases in the economy and state aid. There are rumors that at least one of the candidates does not support controversial development to a failing shopping center and/or may be receiving support from a group trying to prevent that development. This major issue has been going on for years with no resolution in sight. Will the next mayor make the key decision to halt the project or move it ahead?
If I do blog, I can’t guarantee that my blogging will be completely, 100% unbiased because I do hold a political position within the city that, though not dependent on who is mayor, means that I have worked indirectly with the mayor and her staff during the past few years; and, I have probably already decided for whom I will vote. (I’m a commissioner with a term that expires in February 2005 and have worked with the commission since the fall of 2000. Though the mayor ultimately approves commission appointments, would-be commissioners apply for such positions and go through a process to get appointed, including an interview with a subcommittee of the Board of Aldermen, which then makes recommendations to the Board of Aldermen and the mayor.) Maybe I can at least be a little more objective in my reporting than the local papers. I also don’t know much about the other two candidates besides the rumors and look forward to Sunday’s forum to learn more about them and their platforms.
Vote here now. If you want me to blog what I learn this weekend, comment below. Also, if you are interested in more information about either event, comment below and I may e-mail you more info.
September 2nd, 2003 at 1:01 pm
I would be interested in reading about the Somerville mayoral race…And although I try to avoid discussing politics, I just have one comment. My vote goes with the candidate who finally gets the IKEA built in Assembly Square. The Somerville site has now been dropped from the IKEA future stores page, and I am losing hope =(.