Inauguration
The Fray has all your
inaugural goodness today. I can't stand to look.
Calendar for Special Elections
Most information taken from
here.
Feb 1: Candidates must turn in 150 signatures to the Pittsfield city clerk
March 15: Primary
April 12: General Election
Tight schedule. I assume that these candidates are connected enough to get 150 signatures easily. The primary is less than two months -- these candidates will need ready-made organizations to get ahead. Serre is an Olver aide and Speranzo has Pittsfield Mayor Jimmy Ruberto's endorsement.
Ruberto has already made clear that he is backing Speranzo for the state representative's seat. He said that "the people of Pittsfield would be surprised if I weren't supporting him. I'm hopeful that he will be elected, but this is Chris Speranzo's race for the House of Representatives, not Jimmy Ruberto's."
Interesting word choice. The big help Ruberto can give to Speranzo is his organization (which would mostly be out of the public eye), and he's clearly trying to distance himself even as he gives his endorsement. The question is: Is Ruberto trying to help him be "his own man" or does he not want to be associated with a potential loser.
Pittsfield Special Election
Rhonda Serre's site looks pretty good -- she clearly is hitting the ground running. Her site has
this piece from the Berkshire Eagle with some election analysis.
Peter G. Arlos, a former city councilor, an elected member of the Democratic State Committee and local political gadfly, said the nomination could be won with as few as 1,400 votes, which is fewer than it takes to win one of the seven ward seats on the City Council.
If Arlos' turnout prediction is accurate, the city's labor unions will have a huge influence. Traditionally Democratic, the unions are one of the few machines left that can turn out voters in a primary, and there are 1,100 unionized employees working for Pittsfield and its school district. When retirees and families are taken into account, Arlos estimates they wield about 3,000 votes.
Unions and activists will decide this election and the candidate that can energize both will have a huge leg up. Unfortunately, the hope for a large turnout in the primary (where the election will be decided) will be in vain.
"Tidal Wave"
Wow! I just heard Sen.
"Get some devastation in the back" Frist on This Week say that the baby boomers were like a "tidal wave" for social security (will get transcript link when published). There is nothing too low for these guys to use to end social security.
