City Manager Follies

The Sun printed a listing of potential City Manager's for Lowell. I whittled the list down to what would pass for reality. For obvious reasons, I eliminated Nangle from consideration. Both, Donoghue and Panagiotakos COULD do the job, and would be fine at it, but they were only put on The Sun's list because of their high station in Lowell.

That leaves:

Let's take a look at the rest, in the rank I think they fall.

#1 Tom Golden: I told Tom, months ago, if Bernie is forced out, he could take the helm with the LEAST push back from Lynch supporters. Tom expressed an interest in being manager, but didn't think the timing was right.

Golden is, by far, the most well rounded & polished of the 3 state reps. He is the MASTER of the grip and grin, easily cracking jokes and smiles, in such an unforced way. You are always glad to have Tom in the room. His renowned affability is sincere. That is not to say the kid is a powder puff. More like a powder keg! But, he has a VERY long fuse. The combination of his steel resolve and easy going manner, make him a natural leader.

But, let's talk turkey.
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Do you think it's a coincidence that Danny Rourke woke up, early in 2013 and thought, "I'm running for City Council. ?" Dan most certainly did the work to earn votes, but Tom did the whip count on the rank and file. I know 'machine politics' when I see it. I do the grassroots version of it. Tom Golden paved the way for Dan Rourke to be on THIS Council. Rourke will be with Golden through thick and thin. Does any one know the Gaelic version of "Quid Pro Quo?"
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On WCAP, yesterday, Lowell's favorite sock puppet, John McDonald, stated he thought Golden is the best person for the City Manager's job.

Obviously, JMac's true thoughts are irrelevant, as he is a paid shill, carrying someone else's water. Like, Dave Daly's water. We know Daly had a shit fit when he lost his last battle for the Westview Road project. Daly publicly promoted the ouster of Marty Lorrey & Bill Martin. With November's results, Daly now has enough votes to bother resubmitting. It's nice to have a friendly Council. It is better to have a friendly City Manager.

Short story: If JMac likes Golden, publicly - Dave Daly likes Golden.

PS. Kevin Murphy should be on Daly's shit list. Hmmmmm... I recall Daly bashing Murphy in the Blog of Record. Maybe I'll track that down? Maybe, not?
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Bottom line is Tom Golden is my best guess to navigate the treacherous waters of the next CM search. He has top notch political skills, from brains to balls. He is strong on the streets, friend to Scott Brown Democrats and "New Lowell" Progressives. Remember, Golden voted in favor of Marriage Equality and campaigned eagerly for Kerry2004. He reflects the conservative nature of his constituents, but is not handcuffed to them.

Right now he is playing it cool. The buzz is Kevin Murphy WANTS the job. That's been the buzz for several years, now. Golden is coy enough to play Clint Eastwood.

His MAJOR FLAW is: He insists on staying true to the most shady aspects of Lowell. Would he serve their whims and greed? It ain't the 1990's, yo. That said, he has never availed himself of the opportunity to put daylight between himself and others with sketchy reputations. (He's even nice to me and I said, TALIBAN.) But, even as recent as Dan Rourke's campaign party at the Long Meadow, Golden introduced the fiscally feeble John Cox as , "OUR City Manager!" The room erupted.
####2 Kevin Murphy: This guy is no fool. Scrappy and sharp witted. He has long been sniffing the corner office and The Sun has dutifully let us all know about it.

I can't provide you much detail on Kevin Murphy, but he is well known in the bubble. Mostly liked, too. Of course, not if you have run up against him and his law practice puts him in arenas that bend noses out of joint. Par for the course. Murphy caught my eye when he demolished the propaganda around Dave Daly's Westview Road blitz. Murphy gracefully dismembered the bullshit that Daly's cheerleaders pom pommed in chamber. In that moment, I saw him as a City Manager.

No doubt he has major backers in the City. But, the nouveau Brahmin are not in his corner, so it will be bumpy for Kevin Murphy.

His MAJOR FLAW is: His low profile. Maybe I don't see him, as much, because he is over in the Highlands. But, he doesn't stand out or draw attention to himself. Maybe, as a City Manager, that would be a plus?

Kevin Murphy has the job, IF Tom Golden makes a tactical error or takes a pass.
####3 George Ramirez: Wanna know what I heard about George Ramirez? Besides he is John Leahy's brother-in-law? He made it his personal mission to rid the corner office of John Cox. He got elected, Cox went, and Ramirez bolted.

That will make Ramirez popular among reform minded Lowellians. He is an easy sell to Lynch supporters.

His MAJOR FLAW is: He roasted John Cox. That won't be forgotten.
####4 Frank Keefe: I think this guy is a pal of Bill Taupier. Maybe, that is why his name resurfaced. He's no slouch, either.

But, I don't know Jack about Frank, so I'll rely on Campi's blogging days. *stomach growl* Keefe went for the CM's job, back in 2006. He got two votes, Rita Mercier and Armand Mercier. Lowell got Bernie Lynch.

From Sun Blogs, archived offline -
JUNE 16, 2006 Council Picks Were Predictable
Frank Keefe of Boston, a developer and president of the Keefe Company who served briefly as a consultant on the Tsongas Arena project after holding several cabinet posts in the Dukakis administration;
-snip

While Keefe deserves an interview, and makes my own list of potential finalists, he seems overly qualified for the job. Here's a guy who has been brushing shoulders with economic titans the past decade while putting together multi-million dollar development deals in Boston. Why does he want back in in government, at a measly $125,000 a year no less? Is Lowell his way of getting a state pension boost? Hmmm.
-snip

Frank Keefe: He has extensive private and governmental experience and would be an exceptional candidate to head up the Department of Planning and Development, but city manager might be a stretch..

###His MAJOR FLAW is: In 2006, he got two votes.