The Problem With Schwaab

Congratulations to all Premary Election candidates, winners and losers alike, for their commitment to our Town.

Now the real work begins. In the 3d Precinct, James Munafo will face Eric Schwaab. Schwaab, a newcomer who is sponsored by the hate blogs, says we can do better. He is right about the fact that Barnstable should always work to do better. But his cheap campaign slogan seems more than a tad bit opportunistic. So what are Schwaab's campaign issues? He says he has three.

1. He favors the residential exemption, or a tax break for full time residents, at the expense of second home owners. Munafo apparently doesn't. But wait. Munafo doesn't want a tax increase for anyone. Schwaab favors a tax increase for second homeowners. Precinct Three residents should be leery that if he supports a tax increase for second homeowners today, who will be next? Do you want a candidate who does not believe in tax increases for anyone, or do you want a candidate who SUPPORTS tax increases for one group today, another tomorrow.


2. Schwaab is for eliminating the School Committee's bus fees. But wait a minute. Munafo is against the fees too. So the difference is?


3. Schwaab says he wants to replace the water pipes in Hyannis because some contain asbestos. But wait a minute. Isn't Munafo for improving the infrastructure too? Schwaab shamelessly wants you to believe that there is asbestos in our water. Sounds like a scare tactic to me.

So what is the problem with Schwaab? He is too gimmicky. He has no local experience and has just became a voter. He has proven that he can't and won't work with anyone to build consensus. In short, he will not get anything done.


He also has much to answer for in running a mean spirited hate blog for two years.

And we can't figure out what he really does for a living. All he has done, over the past six months according to his own testimony, is campaign. If that is true, he is either independently wealthy or unemployed.


In addition, he has brutally attacked good and kind residents who had the decency to run for office, like Michael Hersey. He has attacked residents like Deb Krau and Allan Goddard on the Hyannis Water Board. Unlike Schwaab, they choose to do more than complain by volunteering.


Schwaab has attacked and aliented Hyannis and/or Barnstable residents like Representative Demetrius Atsalis, Senator Rob O'Leary, Town Manager John Klimm, Water Board Chairman Deb Krau, the members of the Hyannis Chamber of Commerce, the Business Improvement District, Main Street merchants, Hyannis Golf Club golfers, to name but a few.


And now his last minute attempt to suck up to residents just won't work. Our residents are not that dumb.


That is the problem with Eric Schwaab. He is arrogant, he is mean-sprited and he thinks we are all dumb. So maybe we are too dumb. Too dumb to vote for you Eric.

What do you think?

Election Day Around the Corner

We're into the swing of things in Barnstable with Election Day right around the corner. Barnstable citizens will have an opportunity to vote in the preliminary election on Tuesday, September 18th for at least one race (depending on where you live, it may be more).

For Tax Collector, the BarnstableBlogster hopes that Maureen Niemi and Gary Brown advance to the final elections. Why?

Because both have a record of accomplishment in the Town of Barnstable. Ms. Niemi is presently employed by the Tax Collector's Office. She obviously brings some hands on experience that would serve us well.

Gary Brown has many years of dedicated and committed service to the Town as a Town Councilor and a volunteer on many efforts. He also is a decorated Veteran which means much to the Blogster. He has the educational background and the experience to serve us well.

We hope Niemi and Brown advance.

In the Hyannis based precincts we have two preliminary contests. The Barnstable Blogster believes that Barnstable would be best served if Michael Hersey and James Munafo advance in Precinct 3 (although Eric Schwaab has waged a serious challenge) and Lou Gonzaga and James Tinsley in Precinct 9.

See you at the polls!

An Embarrassing Record of Failure

The Hate Blogs, authored by Gary Lopez and Eric Schwaab, have been whacking away with their mean-spirited attacks on hard working and decent town employees, elected officials and volunteers for two years.

They said they represent the vast majority of Barnstable residents. They promised to field a slate of candidates in every race. The results thus far?

Councilor James Crocker is unopposed.

Councilor Anne Canedy is unopposed.

Councilor Greg Milne is unopposed.

Councilor Rick Barry is unopposed.

Councilor Henry Farnham is facing a challenge from John Brennan, who ran against Farnham four years ago and is not a Lopez candidate.

Councilor James Munafo has two challengers. One is Michael Hersey who is a local lawyer and not affiliated with Lopez. The other is Eric Schwaaab, the only Hate Blog candidate in this year's Council race.

Councilor Gary Brown is term-limited out. Three candidates are vying for the seat, Jason Cox, Lou Gongaga and James Tinsley, none of which are Hate Blog sponsored candidates.

The net result? After a six month recruiting effort, the Hate Blogs, AKA Gary Lopez and Eric Schwaab, convinced the grand total of ONE person to run for Town Council. Eric Schwaab.

And let us not forget the School Committee race. Three incumbents, Patrick Murphy, David Lawler and Peg Dandritch are up for re-election. Former Superintendent Tom MacDonald tossed his hat in the ring, too. He obviously is not a Hate Blog candidate. He cares about Barnstable too much.

Two hate Blog candidates have entered the race, Thomas Dolby and Sean Walsh. So the Hate Blogs recruited two candidates.

One just dropped out. Sean Walsh announced he is no longer in the race.

That means there is only one candidate left, Thomas Dolby.

So that means that after months of recruiting, Lopez and Schwaab recruited a grand total of three candidates. One dropped out. That leaves Tom Dolby and one other. Eric Schwaab.

An embarrassing record of failure.

What do you think?