From the Eagle Tribune;
Atkinson candidates make bids for votes
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — Almost every candidate for seven races on March 10 told a packed room of residents they would scrutinize town budgets, looking for places to save money.
The two candidates for selectman, Bill Bennett and write-in Valerie Tobin, agreed a fresh set of eyes looking at town budgets could provide savings.
"We have to look at every possible way to save money in town," Bennett told more than 50 residents at a candidates forum at Atkinson Town Hall last night.
Leon Artus' name will appear on the ballot as a selectman candidate, but he told the crowd he was dropping out of the race because he has a lawsuit pending against the town. He did not answer any questions from residents.
Neither Bennett nor Tobin specified which budgets could be trimmed, but both said town government could be more efficient and less expensive for taxpayers.
One area that needs improving, they said, is the town's Web site. Both said a better Web site would make residents feel more comfortable with town government.
Tax cards, department budgets and town purchases should all be available on the Web site, the two candidates said.
"I want people to e-mail me if they have a concern," Tobin said.
She said one of her goals as selectman would be a better emergency management plan to deal with disasters like the ice storm in December.
"It was our own little Katrina here and it was very serious," Tobin said.
But the two candidates challenging incumbent Road Agent Ted Stewart said they knew exactly where to make budget cuts.
Rick Picone and Neil Hamel said they would trim expenses for road salt and for contracted services. Picone said using a mixture of sand and salt, rather than straight salt, could save $30,000.
"I think I can do this and not reduce the safety we've come to expect on our roads," Picone said.
Hamel has an excavation business, but he said he wouldn't rent any of his equipment to the town because outsourcing the work would be cheaper for taxpayers.
Stewart defended the $400,000 highway budget, saying the town only spent $170,000 on winter maintenance last year, the same amount spent in 1990.
"We're doing a lot more work for the same amount of money we did 17 years ago," Stewart said.
Other contested races include Sharon Boyle challenging incumbent tax collector Debra DeSimone and Patti Mangini challenging incumbent Town Clerk Rose Cavalear.
Atkinson Town Hall
The Norman Rockwellian picture of Atkinson
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
67 comments:
It will be a difficult choice to make between Bennett and Tobin. Each has a very serious plus and each has a very serious minus factor.
Bennett--
Plus: a proven fighter for protecting Atkinson's groundwater from exploitation. He doesn't just talk the talk. Like Carol Grant and John Wolters, he has also walked the walk and fought the battles.
Minus: As one of Consentino's former police officer, Bennett, in the past and now, in the present, had shown nothing but misguided loyalty to our bullying, mean, and vindictive Police Chief.
Bennett was the one who years ago, regarding the Steve Lewis petition re: a full time Chief, who made the motion at Deliberative Session to kill the petitioned warrant article --- just like he again did at the recent deliberative session on the petitioned warrant article again for a full time chief. Bennett has a blind spot concerning his adoration of Consentino and would hurt the town by being a sure and reliable consistent vote to defend Consentino when he engages in his bullying, vindictive and illegal behaviors. He's a Phil toadie.
Tobin:
Plus: She has the backbone to stand up to Phil and won't be in his pocket like Bennett is. She isn't a Phil toadie.
Minus: As revealed at Candidates' Night, Tobin doesn't have a clue about the seriousness of the water crisis being faced by Atkinson residents. If she really cared to get informed, she would have contacted Carol Grant, John Wolters, or Bill Bennett who have represented the people on the water issue. Instead, Tobin went to the cause of the problem: to hear the spin of DES, which grants water drilling permits to any water company which applies for one and which strongly opposes local communities having any say in managing and protecting their own water resources.
So Atkinson residents have a tough choice: do we want a new selectman who will be in Phil's pocket or a selectwoman who will stand up to Phil? -- A new selectperson who will fight for our water rights or one who has shown no interest or committment to our water rights.
Each candidate has a strong plus and a strong minus. We voters will have to decide our priorities.
Mr. or Mrs. Moderator,
My 9:29 a.m. posting showed up twice on this blog article. Please delete one of the above postings.
Thank you.
Mr. or Mrs. Moderator,
I see that my posting actually appeared THREE TIMES. Please delete two of them. Thank you.
Anonymous 9:29 a.m.
Besides the water issues, where has Valerie been the last year? After the last election, she dropped off the radar. There are other ways to help the town in a non-elected position. Concerned about the budget, volunteer for the Budget Committee, etc.
Bill has been fighting the fight all year. Valerie only comes out at election time.
If you're serious about helping the town, you get involved, in at least something.
With all the information available and easily at hand regarding the water issues, but instead getting the DES's side of the story, she might have well as gone to Harold Morse for the story.
It does not take a great intellect to see that HAWC and the DES are two sides of the same coin on this problem, and neither has any interest in hearing what the general public has to say, or to make themselves available to answer our questions. The attitude of the DES is, "We are the experts. We know what is best for you. Now, run along please."
If you feel naivete is a qualification for office, then vote for Valerie.
Perhaps Steve L. has an interest in HAWC. Does anyone know? From what I have heard, Steve is one of Valeries biggest supporters.
Christine Lewis Morse is the sole owner of HAWC according to PUC documentation. The rest of the Lewis operations are divided up between her and her brother.
Google Christine Lewis Morse. That will lead you to a site that shows all the Lewis Enterprises. With the exception of HAWC, where her husband is President (and who cares, when you own it) Christine is President for the rest.
Steve may have been considered in the will, but there is no evidence he is involved in the Lewis water monopoly or any other Peter Lewis enterprise.
Couldn't make it last night. Did Leon say anything??
Leon only said he was dropping out of the race because of his lawsuit against the Town officials. He didn't want any conflict of interest issues raised by continuing to run. Said if the suit was resolved by next year, he would consider running again. After that, he said he would take no questions from the audience.
Up to that point, Polito, Childs, Sullivan looked worried about what he would say. They seemed more relaxed after he spoke.
Anyone notice that Phil wasn’t there? Looks like his attorney and the selectmen have finally put a muzzle on the guy.
At this point, I think the biggest (long-term) issue is the water removal. Once that starts it can't stop, and the Lewis Mafia won't stop until the water tables are lowered and most wells in town go dry, making most of the town dependent on them.
Just one person's opinion...
It is probably not a popular notion in this forum, but we have one BOS member and a State Representative who are pro-water. That is Bill Friel and Jim Garrity.
Valerie Tobin clearly showed last night she doesn't have the foggiest notion of the problem. If she decided to take up the cause, I suppose she could learn. However, if the pipeline is signed off by the Governor, the next battle will for HAWC to get approval for the Large Water Withdrawal.
The majority of the current BOS doesn't care much about the issue. Their dismal performance at the PUC hearing clearly shows that.
Now imagine two pro-water members on the board. State agencies pay more attention to elected officials than private citizens. The Water Withdrawal won't be the cakewalk the pipeline has been. The Withdrawal permit is the real problem. The pipeline won't mean a thing if HAWC doesn't get.
Now, everyone has a choice. You can chose to make this election about the chief, who will be gone in a few years at most, or about our water. We can have a board with two members who get it, or a board with one who does, one might, and one who doesn't seem to care.
Passions regarding the chief are strong. I hope protecting our water will take higher priority.
I am sure if Valerie is elected, she would fight for our water just as hard as Bill. Concerned of another "Chief" supporter being elected on the board is more troublesome....
Easy choice for me. Valerie Tobin.
Valerie will do what is best for the town, personalities be damned.
How do you know Valerie would fight for our water? How can you be sure? She barely knew the issue existed. Do you think she would be as tenacious about it as Bill has? Are willing to take the chance?
The chief will be gone soon, one way or another. When the water is gone, that's it. When that happens, you will either have to, 1) dig another, deeper well at your expense, 2) learn to live off of bottled water, 3) pony up to HAWC to pay for what they took from you.
Easy choice you say? Your choice is to take a short term chance on a person who barely knows the water issue, and may, or may not, do anything about the chief.
Or, you can take a long term of view of things and vote for someone who has given a considerable amount of time and effort to fight the Lewis Greed Machine. Who do you think HAWC would like to win?
Tell me, has Valerie said anything, anything at all in public about taking a different view or action against the Police Department?
So, you can take the short term view and "hope" Valerie will be effective, or take a long term view and go with someone who has been fighting the fight.
It has been asked before - Where has Valerie been all year. She's had a whole year to get more involved in other aspects of town government. She's had a whole year to come up to speed on what is happening now.
No, it is anything but an easy choice. You can chose to make this election about someone will be gone soon, or something that may be gone permanently.
Maybe there is another way to look at this. Who do you dislike most, the Chief, or the Lewis's?
I like Valerie, and think she would do many good things, but the fact that she doesn't have a clue about the water issue is really inexplicable.
How could she not have followed the issue? Isn't she civic minded enough to know what's really going on?
I'm not slamming her, I think she'd be great in other ways, but I question that she's on the wrong side of a very important issue.
I think the Chief is a bigger problem for me and I'm NOT voting for anyone he's connected to. It's that simple. I'm sure there will be people who work the water issue and you cannot say Valerie is with HAWC until she says it, which she hasn't.
Valerie - time to clarify your position in public please.
Water is a big problem, no question about it, but our Chief is a bigger problem. Allowing the chief run amuck is, and should be the concern of Atkinson. Even if Bill does not get elected as selectman, it does not mean he won't stop fighting for our water. Easy choice for me ...Valerie Tobin.
I voted for Valerie last year and was surprised when she did not register as a candidate this year. I'm not crazy about the chief either. His retirement is long overdue
Valerie had the perfect chance to state her position on the water issue Thursday night. She flubbed it. Considering this is an issue that affects everyone in town, HAWC and non-HAWC customers alike, just hoping she "will do what is best" is not good enough for me. The problem is real, and happening right now.
Also consider this: Valerie has a day job I believe. Bill is retired. Being a selectman is more than just going to meetings once a week if you want to be a good one. Who will have more time to work at it?
You are comparing quilt by association to someone ignorant of the issues. Hope is a good thing, but you can't count on it.
We all hoped last year that Paul Sullivan would belly up to the bar and do what was right. Look at how that turned out. Valerie has had all year to get more involved. She hasn't. So, you can hope, or go with the devil you know vs. the one you don't.
Most of you don't know Bill personally. Believe what you want, but Bill will also do the right thing when required.
Oh, and Mr. Atkinson-Factor. You are right, if Bill looses, he will continue the fight. However, when dealing with the state, he would be far more effective as a selectman. We also know your feelings about the chief. After all, you're suing him. That might color your judgment a little me thinks
Atkinson Factor is not part of the lawsuit. And you talk about guilt (quilt) by association? Hmmmmm
"Atkinson Factor is not part of the lawsuit."
Like hell is isn't. Everyone on this blog knows who's behind it.
Hey Atkinson-factor. Why don't you sue Bennett know and save time later.
I'm voting for Bill Bennett. I watched and listened to him closely at the deliberative session and I feel very comfortable with my vote. To vote against him simply because of his association with Chief Consentino is biting your nose to spite your face.
It's too bad none of the candidates choose to post any articles here. There is still time, but it doesn't seem likely at this point. I guess that saying something about this blog's reputation. THAT'S guilt by association.
To Anon. February 28, 2009 2:14 PM
WHO SAID: "Atkinson Factor is not part of the lawsuit."
Like hell is isn't. Everyone on this blog knows who's behind it.
Hey Atkinson-factor. Why don't you sue Bennett know and save time later.
Your word isn't good enough for me, so since you know who Atkinson Factor is, publish his name here and prove he is part of the lawsuit.
I DARE YOU!
Nice try CHIEF now........have Sapia, Polito, Fred, Paul, Bill help you put your MUZZLE BACK ON.
Nooooooooooooo, let the CHIEF TALK. He knows what's best for this Town, and I want to hear what he has to say. Come on CHIEF, keep talking.
Phil,
Remember what your Mom use to tell you, as we were talking in the kitchen? You didn't listen then and you're not listening now. Keep doing it YOUR WAY, and well........you know what she said.
Anyone associated with the CHIEF is guilty of a crime(s). The only thing better than the picture the Chief uses in newspaper articles, is if it had numbers under it. Time is getting closer where numbers will be under it, but bet Phil won't appreciate it when it appears in news articles.
You said;
To Anon. February 28, 2009 2:14 PM
WHO SAID: "Atkinson Factor is not part of the lawsuit."
Like hell is isn't. Everyone on this blog knows who's behind it.
REALLY??
I am on this blog and I dont know who is behind the Atkinson Factor, why dont you tell us?
Just because Bennett is good with the water issue doesn't make him a good choice for selectman. Let him focus on what he does well. I do not want any more BS with the Chief and believe Valerie won't put up with his crap and I don't know about Bill, in this matter. If Valerie wins, we get help from her and from Bennett. A win, win I see.
Oh c'mon all you conspiracy theorists. Everyone knows the Atkinson Factor is Jerry Fletcher. It's the worst kept secret in town.
Who to hell is Jerry Fletcher? Nobody I've heard of but after reading the lawsuit, I know he isn't part of it. So much for that argument.
WHO? Never even heard of this guy.
"I DARE YOU" Ok
The moderator was outed awhile back and there was a furry of activity to divert attention from it, but that post has mysteriously disappeared, so I guess it was pretty close.
Lets see, the moderator likes to take pictures, knows how to use a computer, runs around in a gorilla suit, Oh, and he managed to post the Town Moderator's indiscretion, quite vividly, while the Deliberative Session was still going on. He was also seen leaving the meeting about a hour before that post.
He doesn't like the chief
He doesn't like the town moderator
He doesn't like the BOS
He has a grudge against all of them and the tempo of this blog is set by him. Town bad, Moderator good (and persecuted).
So yes, Gary Brownfield, aka Atkinson-Factor, is a party to the lawsuit.
Take a look at the Moderator posts. Those are the ones entered directly and not through requests. Is he promoting free speech, or using this forum to promote his own views.
Unless all of us have the same privileges as the Moderator and don't have to go through him to get something posted, then this is not real free speech. It's his bully pulpit.
To Anon February 28, 2009 7:38 PM
Thanks Chief for your post. The only thing you had right in your post is Gary Brownfield is a plaintiff in the suit. Everything else you said is a lie.
The only thing Mr. Brownfield doesn't like is a corrupt government that stomps on his civil rights. That he will cure in a court action, which the selectmen and Polito forced him to do.
That being said, I dare you to sign your own name to your post. Otherwise, allow your puppets to put your muzzle back on you and go hid under your bed till this is all over. Get your facts straight or be held accountable you bullying coward with a badge. Your days are numbered and you know it.
Ya gotta know the Chief likes rolling around in the dirt. Question: What other animal likes rolling around in the dirty and mud?
Nice try!
But wrongo, copper!
Nice conspiracy theory with Gary Brownfield. Everyone knows it's Jerry Fletcher is the Atkinson Factor. He was rumored to live in Windham before he moved here! Nice guy though.
Glad you people are not prosecuting attorneys. The way you can gloss over obvious evidence would scare the ordinary citizens to death.
Never heard of this "Jerry Fletcher" person. What's his story? But do not lose site of the power a Moderator holds over a blog. He can post entries directly. He can delete entries at his whim. He may even be able to monitor you IP addresses. Can't tie those to a name, be he knows what entries are tied to what addresses. Oh, if you're wondering, I come in through a anonymous web proxy. No way to tie my entries to my actual address.
Just keep all this mind when you see a new posting. I'm not saying the chief is innocent or that the rest of the town government has problems. I'm just saying you should just be aware the owner of this blog has one goal in mind. Whether it be factual, or alleged, the owner of this blog is biased. Freedom of speech cannot survive when the medium offers only one side.
As I said before, when I presented this information before, that entry has disappeared. Now, there is an attempt to draw attention away from it. You have a right to know who is speaking for you. Don't ask me for a name. You should be demanding to know who Atkinson-factor is. After all, every publisher of a newspaper lists his name.
And to save all of you the time, no, I'm not the chief, nor am I Frank, nor am I Jack. In actuality, I've never met any of them. I'm looking for the truth, the same as all of you. I just want to know who I'm getting it from.
You want a name - You first.
Ah yes, Jerry Fletcher. What an actor!
Ok, so how are you only hearing one side. there is no moderation on, everything gets posted. If you want an article posted, and it has to do with Atkinson, post it as a comment, and request it be bumped up to an article and i am sure it will be.
Give expamples of how the other side has been prevented from posting here?
I can give examples of how critics of the cheif and selectmen have not been allowed to speak at meetings.
How about you?
Anon 8:38,
First, I am not Anon 11:04. You are absolutely fooling yourself if you think this blog isn't anything other than a bully pulpit for an individual or small group who have an axe to grind with our town.
In December, 2008 I submitted an article to the AR Presidential blog showing the republican's role in the mortgage crisis. This was ignored and I subsequently submitted the article to this blog for AR Presidential, only to have it ignored as well. I can only assume the "moderator" didn't agree with my politics...so much for free speech here.
Just last week, I submitted an article about Ed Naile and CNHT, which took several days to get on board as a topic. It was only after I gave him examples of how he was contradicting himself did he finally post it. When it was posted, he buried it under several days of topics and gave it an ambiguous title. The moderator was nice enough to give his reasons why he would not initially post the topic and it was all hogwash.
Now I know many of you active posters do not agree with me and I could care less. The point is the bias on this blog is pretty evident.
On a side note, as predicted, Ed Hussein Naile has yet to post anything on the CNHT board and NH Insider. Given the fact that he has been able to find the time to comment on just about everything President Obama has said this week, I find it hard to believe that he is just too busy to devote some time to the Richard Brothers tax fraud case in our state. I guess Atty. Douglas told him not to say anything about this case....
I do not believe that Gary is Atkinson Factor. He has a very different wrting style and is a professional photographer. The pictures posted on AF site are not professional quality nor do any of the articles sound like the same man I have heard speak in public.
Besides, who cares who is who? I don't. Only those with an ax to grind care.
I've heard Gary speak in public. You don't think a lot of these writings are his? You're either Gary, or a fool.
That stunt with the hat over the camera: That speaks volumes about the person who moderates this forum.
Also, has anyone considered there may be more than one moderator? Go back, read the moderator postings. We're dealing with more than one person here.
Remember, moderator postings do not been entered as requests, but are directly. With very few exceptions, all of these discussions start with the moderator.
The moderator(s) do have an axe to grind. I'm surprised their lawyers haven't told them to stop it.
On the Internet, nothing is truly anonymous. When you have search engines like Google and Yahoo trolling for everything online. anything you say, every Email you've sent, is on a hard drive somewhere. And, guess what, with the proper warrant, any lawyer can trace back anything said to an IP address. With that warrant, the internet providers have to give up that originator.
When you're trying to sue someone, do you think it is a good idea to set up a venue to disparage them?
Freedom is speech is our right. Keeping your mouth shut is prudent. The courts have said, yelling "Fire" in a crowded theater is NOT freedom of speech.
you did nto give an article about nails and the CNHT, you gave an article about the lawyer handling the current lawsuit against the town, and tried to smear naile and cnht's motives with it, and this board's too.
If all you can do is whine, and you can not give examples of the "other side" not getting to post to the topics at hand, then whine somewhere else. even your example, got posted, so you defeat your own argument
nice conspiracy theory, but this forum was here LONG before this deliberative session, LONg before the current lawsuit.
Hey Frank, did you graduate from the Goebbells school of propaganda?
To March 1, 2009 11:38 PM
I am neither a fool nor am I Gary. Gary is NOT Atkinson Factor and AF has a distinctive style unto him or herself. It is obvious that Gary is not AF, just look at the pictures, this is not professiional photography. AF is just poking fun of the biggest fool in town.
Remember, moderator postings do not been entered as requests, but are directly.
huh?
And, guess what, with the proper warrant, any lawyer can trace back anything said to an IP address.
huh?
He may even be able to monitor you IP addresses. Can't tie those to a name, be he knows what entries are tied to what addresses.
huh?
But do not lose site of the power a Moderator holds over a blog.
huh?
Is that a pun? site - ya mean sight?
if this site is only a few deer in the woods, why are you guys so afraid of it?
"huh? "
Go buy a copy of Web Hosting for Dummies. You appear to need some educating of the workings of the Internet.
"nice conspiracy theory, but this forum was here LONG before this deliberative session, LONg before the current lawsuit."
You know there is more than one law suit going on, right.
And we've been hearing the same complaints over and over and over since the first blog.
Some or all of the accusations in both law suits may legit. That is up to a judge to decide, not us. Even if you saw it with your own eyes, because a law suit has been filed, it the judge, maybe jury, to make the final determination, not us.
I just find it interesting that we are constantly reminded of these law suits and their content.
Look back. Law suit is discussed, topics move on to other things, law suit brought up again, on to other things, law suit, topics, law suit, etc.
OK we got it.
I was once a true believer in the blog, especially the former one. However, with the direction this one has taken I no longer have faith in it. Its credibility has nosedived. The content largely useless. It is no longer the voice of an oppressed people. Mostly just dribble and insults.
This town needs a blog. But it needs a new one with some more balance to it.
"Go buy a copy of Web Hosting for Dummies. You appear to need some educating of the workings of the Internet."
huh?
It's not my comprehension of the internet that is in question, it is your lack of grammar skills.
So what do you do when the other side doesnt submit articles, just anonymous insults, and smears?
The "Other Side" as you put it are being prudent. There is an old saying, "Discretion is the better part of valor."
Given the history of this forum any entry by "The Other Side" would be pounced on like a pack of hyenas on a wounded animal. Why would anyone seeking elected office want to put themselves through that?
Nope, you're not going to hear from the "Other Side" here. But I'm sure they would love to talk to you in person.
"It's not my comprehension of the internet that is in question, it is your lack of grammar skills."
Nope, its your comprehension. The intelligent thing you should have done is ask questions, not look like a deer in the headlights. Huh?
I'm sure they would too, that way they would know who we are, so that they can declare that we all have vendettas against us. Or maybe they can sue us, or follow us through town. Or give us tickets for 37 in a 35.
or maybe write us threatening letter on town letterhead
Huh?
Nope, its your comprehension. The intelligent thing you should have done is ask questions, not look like a deer in the headlights. Huh?
I'll ask a question. Why do you post jibberish?
"I'll ask a question. Why do you post jibberish?"
Why can't you understand English?
I leave a leave a response when I especially enjoy
a post on a blog or if I have something to valuable to contribute to the discussion.
Usually it is a result of the fire displayed in the post I read.
And after this post "Candidates Night reveals few surprises.".
I was actually excited enough to drop a thought :
) I do have a few questions for you if you do not mind.
Is it only me or do a few of these comments come across as if they are written by brain dead people?
:-P And, if you are writing on other social sites, I'd like to keep up with you. Could you list the complete urls of all your communal pages like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile?
Here is my webpage; vexxhost testimonies
my web site - http://my.opera.com/
Post a Comment