They're Off- It's Going to be Horse Race Folks

You heard it here first. As of 5 p.m. today, the slate of candidates is set (except for Charter Commission) for the 2007 Elections.


The Races to Watch-


The Preliminary Race in Hyannis will pit incumbent James Munafo against local Attorney Michael Hersey and newcomer and hate blogger Eric W. (Who) Schwaab.

The School Committee race pits three incumbents, David Lawler, Patrick Murphy and Peg Dandrich and Tom Dolby, Sean Walsh and Tom McDonald.

The Precinct 13 race pits incumbent Greg Milne against Hyannis native Ron Semprini.

Let the contests begin!

What do you think?

The Facts are The Facts

A further evaluation of the slate of potential candidates for this year's local elections is interesting.


Those incumbent Councilors who face a challenge (assuming the requirements of candidacy are met) include Henry Farnham and Greg Milne. Each face the potential of one opponent.


Mr. Farnham might face John Brennan, who has been active in West Barnstable Fire District politics, has served on several Town boards and committees and formerly ran for the Town Council.


Mr. Milne might face Ronald Semprini, a local businessman with strong local ties. His dad, Ed Semprini, still writes for the local newspaper but for years was the voice of radio news on Cape Cod.


It is still way to early to call either race, as a spirited campaign is expected in both precincts.


It is interesting to note that Henry Farnham has been, as both Councilor and former Council president, the recipient of regular attacks by the hate blogs. That only one other candidate choosing to run against him previously ran for the seat. This is a telling sign of the lack of influence of the hate Bloggers.

On the other hand, Greg Milne has been the darling of the likes of Gary Lopez and John Julius. That he would appear to also face an opponent, further confirms that belief.

So, after months of effort for the hate bloggers to get candidates to run for the various Town Council seats, Gary Lopez, John Julius and Eric Schwaab came up with ONE candidate for the Town Council. Eric Schwaab.

And he had to become a voter to qualify.

Oh my!

Election Season Almost Here

The 2007 Election Season is almost here in Barnstable. Today (Friday) was the last day that interested candidates could take out nomination papers for the various local offices, with the exception of the Charter Commission that has a deadline in September. Some interesting trends appear to be taking shape.

According to the Barnstable Patriot, the following incumbent Town Councilors appear to be cruising to a victory unopposed: Ann Canedy, James Crocker and Richard Barry. The Patriot reports that Jim Munafo appears to be facing opposition from local Attorney Michael Hersey and new voter and Hate Blogger Eric Schwaab. There also is an open seat for the term limited Gary Brown and Jason Cox, Lou Gonzaga and James Tinsley have pulled papers to run.

And what about Councilor Greg Milne? The BarnstableBlogster has just learned that Ron Semprini of Hyannis has entered the race. That should be an interesting one to watch!

So what can we make of the fact that three incumbents are running unopposed. The street tells us that:

1. There is a general level of satisfaction of those running unopposed, and
2. Potential candidates have been turned off by the mean-spirited attacks of the hate bloggers and their mouth-pieces.

What do you think?

Town Council Derserves Credit for Airport Action

Hats off to our Town Council for speaking out against our Airport administration and Commission. The BarnstableBlogger has been vocal in our opposition to Barnstable Airport practices and we have advocated changes and reforms.



It now appears that the Council is ready to take real action by changing the makeup of the Commission and thus the direction of its leadership.



Individual Councilors have raised serious concerns about the scope and purpose of the new terminal project and have also questioned the airport's impact on water quality.




We thank the Council for their leadership on this issue!



What do you think?

Eric W. Schwaab For President

That is what we will probably be reading in a few months. If we are to believe the rumors, Eric W. Schwaab (W for Who) is now contemplating a run for Town Council. It won't be long before the largest Ego this side of Brighton will be announcing for State Senator. Then Governor. And before you know it, President.

You have to hand it to this guy. He is a legend in his own mind.

Never mind that we couldn't find ten people in Barnstable that even knows who this guy is. So we are to believe that Eric W. Schwaab is going to get the thousands of votes necessary to win both the election for Charter Commission town-wide and now, the hundreds of votes necessary in his precinct for Town Council.

What a loser. Can you think of three larger losers than Gary Lopez, John Julius and Eric W. Schwaab.

The Moe, Larry and Curley of Barnstable politics!

John Julius the Jester

We have spent a little time talking about a senile coot named Gary Lopez. But what about his spokesman, John Julius, who shows up at every Town Council meeting and reads a statement formulated by Gary Lopez.


Julius, a local realtor for Today Real Estate, has announced his candidacy for the Barnstable Charter Commission, making him a public figure. He has, quite ironically, thus lost the privacy protection that puts him in the same category as those who he has viciously attacked for several years.


Julius is what you call a one trick pony. The message is the same no matter who he is talking about. Whether it is a Councilor, Committee volunteer or Town employee, everyone (except him, of course) is a moron, a liar, a cheat, a criminal. Everyone. Except him. And Gary Lopez, of course.

Gary says jump. John says how high. Gary announces his candidacy for Charter Commission. John announces his candidacy for Charter Commission. The King and the Jester.

What a pair! We'll have more about the Jester soon.

Stay tuned.

The Bizarre World of Lopez

He's living in another world. A fairy (no pun intended) land of good is bad and bad is good. He has a slant on everything that happens in Barnstable. Of course it is always through his prism. Which can be pretty wacky at times.

Some of Gary Lopez' favorite theories over the past few weeks?

1. The Town of Barnstable bribed the bond rating agencies to get the highest possible bond rating that any community can receive;

2. The Town of Barnstable bribed the National Civic League to get the prestigious All America City Award;

3. The Town of Barnstable took private contributions to pay for said trip and paid the business community back with a uniform tax rate; and

4. the Town went on the America City trip without a budget.

And you wonder why every local media outlet sees Gary as a nut and has concluded that Lopez must be suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease?

And have you ever seen this guy? He's kind of a cross between Otis Campbell and Professor Irwin Corey.

The difference between the print media and the local blogs is that there is at least some accountability with the newspapers. As far as the hate Blogs are concerned--

It is the Bizarre World of Lopez!

What do you think?

Gary Lopez is a Joke

You have to hand it to him. Gary Lopez is entertaining. Dumb, but entertaining. He'll criticize and attack anything at any time. His latest post is a case in point.

He apparently writes a post to encourage citizens to get involved by volunteering on Town Boards and Committees. Of course, he has done everything in his power (which isn't much) to create such a negative atmosphere in Town that no one would want to volunteer. Who wants to be personally and viciously attacked on a daily basis on blogs which can be read by family members, friends, etc.

Then he attacks an incredible human being who has served with distinction on the school committee for many years by declaring her as unfit because she is in her eighties. Wait a minute-- Isn't Gary almost there himself? I guess we should not consider his candidacy for Charter Commission.

Then he goes on and on about our local economy. His solution? Gambling. That's right. Casino Gambling in Barnstable. That is a great economic development plan. Hey Gary, what about legalizing prostitution..or drugs.

How can you write a post talking about our kids future and, in it, advocate casino gambling in Barnstable? You ask why Lopez has no credibility?

Now, the only forum he has left are the blogs. You see, he has lost all credibility with the local press because... well, let's just say some of us are truth challenged. He also rarely if ever appears personally at a meeting because, well, let's just say that some of us have trouble completing a sentence. So he usually gets his minion, John Julius, to do the dirty work for him. Every week he calls Johnny with the play book and gives him the speech to be given at the Council meeting. Good work John!

So Gary doesn't have many options left. He resorts to sitting at home and attacking away. Personal, mean-spirited attacks on anyone and everyone who volunteers their time to make our community better.

And Gary thinks we have a problem getting more people involved. Gee, I wonder why?

What do you think?

Is Schwaab out of Touch?

You get to know someone by looking to see who they associate with. In the case of new voter Eric Schwaab, what does his best friends Gary Lopez and John Julius do for his image? He'll find out on Election Day!

And in this case, you kind of get to know someone by the candidates he endorses. Since no one knows anything about Eric Schwaab, let's take a look at who he endorsed during the last election on his Hate Blog. (even though he wasn't even a voter)


"Cape Cod Living Reader Endorsements "

Precinct 4: Ted Panitz.

Ted Who?

Precinct 6: Joe Pino vs Janet Joakim - TOSS UP

Now there's a courageous endorsement. Eric Schwaab is so out of touch, he called Janet Joakim, "Janice" Joakim.


Precinct 8: John Alden.

Alden got blown away by Harold Tobey, even with his great name recognition.

School Committee: Dagwan and Porteus.

Hey-- he got one right with Deb Dagwan. But he supported Rick Porteus.

Enough said.

What else do we know about Schwaab? He criticized the acquisition of the private Barnstable Water Company in Hyannis, after the fact, of course.


He believed that it was a bad deal and even supported a law suit against the Town, which cost Barnstable taxpayers thousands of dollars. Of course, the Town won the case when the Judge threw it out as a frivolous suit.


Schwaab's position is contrary to the position of every Town Councilor who represents parts of Hyannis including Councillors Tobey, Milne, Rugo and Brown and of the Hyannis Civic Association, Hyannis Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Business Improvement District. He quit his seat on a citizens group to oversee the new enterprise as soon as he was appointed. Too busy, I guess.

Of course, Eric Schwaab arrogantly thinks he knows better than anyone else including our elected representatives.

And just think. He only been a registered voter for 3 days!

Can you imagine how arrogant he will be when he's been a voter for a month?


What do you think?

Eric Schwaab Already in Trouble

Eric Schwaab really knows how to start off with a bang. He hasn't been a candidate for office (or a voter, for that matter) for a day and Hate Blogger Eric Schwaab of Hyannis (or Brighton, depending who you ask) is already being questioned by the local press regarding his candidacy to the Charter Commission.

The local Barnstable Patriot wrote, "Before Schwaab could take out nomination papers, he had to change his voter registration from his Boston address to Barnstable, which he did Monday.

In an e-mail exchange with the Patriot in March, Schwaab said that he was considering a town council run for Precinct 3. Asked then about his residency, he pointed to his tax assessment. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2006, Schwaab the residential exemption for his Barnstable property. That carried forward for FY’07 and represented a savings of $665 in town taxes for that year.

At the same time, Schwaab was still voting in Boston according to the Barnstable Town Clerk’s office, which has access to voting histories. Town assessing director Jeff Rudziak confirmed that Schwaab received the exemption for both 2006 and 2007, but said that Schwaab did not make a request for the exemption. He said that the tax bill mailing address is the same as the property, which was among the screening criteria for determining residency in the initial year of the exemption. A request to Schwaab for clarification on residency was not answered at this writing."

So, it appears we have a candidate who did not make himself available to the local press to answer questions. There also appears to be major questions about whether he was in fact, a resident, when he said he was. Did candidate Schwaab pay his fair share of local taxes? Or did he shirk his responsibilities to this community? Was he truthful about his residential status? Why is he now attacking the local newspaper?

Public figure Eric Schwaab needs to start telling the truth and fast, if he wants the citizens of Barnstable to consider his candidacy seriously.

And isn't this the resident (non-resident) who has relentlessly questioned the honesty and integrity of many local officials and town employees over the past two years? We will find out just how honest this candidate is during this campaign.

You want some advice Eric Schwaab? Start telling the truth!

What do you think?

A Hat in the Ring

I have to give it to the local politicians. If nothing else, they know politics. And somehow and some way they did it. They drew the opposition out into their ring.

News has it that both Gary Lopez and John Julius have or will take out papers for public office. These are the two who have viciously attacked anyone and everyone who serves our community in any way, be it a Councilor, employee or Committee member.

You know the drill. Everyone (except them, of course) is corrupt. Everyone (except them, of course) is dishonest. Everyone (except them, of course) is a liar.

For two years they have questioned the honor, honesty and integrity of everyone associated with local government. All, of course, under the guise that you can say anything they want, true or not, against a person who is either a public official or a public figure.

Well, guest what? These guys just did something that no one would have predicted. They became public figures by announcing their candidacy for public office.

Oh my!!

CapeCog is short for HATE

CapeCog is really one person, Gary Lopez. Well o.k., two, if you count Lopez' gofer, John Julius.

For any person involved over the years in Barnstable politics, Gary Lopez has been seen as a do-nothing cheap shot artist who gets some perverse pleasure in attacking others while NEVER really getting anything done. He has lost all credibility with every local media outlet over the years for one simple reason. He can't be trusted. He'll stretch the truth and the facts so much, you wouldn't recognize them on a bet.

He has run for office many times but rarely gets any votes to mention. Why? Because people see him as a joke, a circus side show who is funny on occasion, but never meaningful and always humorous at someone else's expense.

If you believe him, he is responsible for everything that is good. But the successes that he claims are almost always completed by someone else. He is a legend in his own mind. If you doubt it, just ask him.

He's the type that when he meets his maker, he will wonder why there is no one at the funeral home to grieve. I have said it many times, but here it goes again. No one likes or respects a bully. And Gary Lopez is a bully who hides at home taking cheap shots at others. Can we say, gutless?

What do you think?

We Love Barnstable

There's no doubt about it. We love Barnstable. We could be elsewhere, but we CHOOSE to live in Barnstable. It is absolutely a great community. Is it perfect? Of course not. But this is where we choose to raise our family.

I love going to Craigville Beach, and Sunset Hill and Sandy Neck. We love Main Street in Hyannis and Route 6A on the northside.

There is no other place we want to be. No place. We love Barnstable. And we are not afraid to say it.

We are going to Barnstable Village to watch the morning parade. And then we will go to the beach. And we will end up the day in Hyannis at the "big" parade and Town Band concert.

The hate blogs can stew in their juices.

We love Barnstable.

Period!

A Sad Commentary

Over the past few weeks, I have asked several residents whether they would consider running for the new Charter Commission. Their response was disappointing. In a nutshell, they are discouraged by the present atmosphere of negativity that they hear about on the hate blogs and listen to during public comment at the Town Council meetings.

What a shame. These are upstanding citizens with years of professional experience and commitment to various causes in our community. They would bring an incredible level of expertise and integrity to the review process. But it looks like they, and others, don't want to get into a food fight. Life is too short and there are too many worthy endeavors that they can, and will, volunteer for.

This community loses when good people are discouraged from participating because the handful of critics take their legitimate criticism from discourse to personal attack and mean-spiritedness. The attacks that have been made on town officials, employees and volunteers are just plain wrong. And they ruin communities, not improve them.

The hate blogs need to claim ownership of that fact! Why doesn't the legitimate press, the Cape Cod Times, The Barnstable Patriot and the Register speak up on this issue? Are they now fearful of attack, too?

What do you think?