It's encouraging that for the first time in many years, members of the community are engaging in meaningful discourse about our public education system. To that end, it's disappointing to be disparaged in this letter by Mr. Drolet.
Myself, and other candidates for School Committee, have enjoyed several public debates and have established our views and what we see as the path to success in New Bedford.
I believe my path to be the most effective and most efficient -- a path that encourages family involvement in education and commits resources to funding that initiative among others. I see the opportunity for change, and it could come at a time when the city needs it most.
I was born and raised here. I was a student at all levels of New Bedford Public Schools, and I graduated just a few years ago. Since then, I've returned to study the schools and volunteer wherever I could. I know the system inside and out, and this unique perspective is why I decided to run and why I think I'm worthy of one of your three votes on Tuesday, November 5th.
Mr. Drolet, a respected member of the community in his own right, is certainly entitled to his opinion. His support for Mr. Pastori and Mrs. Mojica-Mosquea is not at all unreasonable. I do object, however, to the contention that I am "too closely tied to Lou St. John and the Jack Nobrega nepotism machine, and would not buck their system." -- The logic here does not follow. I have a cordial relationship with Mr. St. John, which I would expect any School Committee candidate or member with an eye on change to have. In order to transform New Bedford Schools, we must work together with the teachers and their union, not against them. The adversarial relationship that exists between city officials, St. John, and indirectly the 1200 teachers responsible for educating children in New Bedford is not a trend we should continue. Richard Drolet should know how it works, being an active union official in his own union. I am the only School Committee candidate endorsed by the Greater Southeastern Massachusetts Labor Council. Further, aligning me to any sort of "nepotism machine" is patently absurd and it's unclear to me how this conclusion could be drawn in earnest. I can only assume it's an intentional smear done to dismiss me and advance the two candidates that are being actively and unabashedly run by the Coalition for Social Justice, where Mr. Drolet sits on the Board of Directors. Please take his words with a grain of salt.
----------Original Message----------
From: Richard Drolet
Date: Nov 3, 2013 10:10:52 PM
Subject: My recommendations for Tuesday's New Bedford elections
To: Richard Drolet
Dear members of the N.B. Democratic City Committee and Town Committee members:
Good evening!Just wanted to remind all of you to go vote this Tuesday in our municipal elections here in New Bedford, and in the city or town elections where you vote in. I'm attaching my article on my suggestions here in New Bedford. It's a rather long piece, so you might want to get a drink (coffee) first! Enjoy! While I identify myself as the chairperson of the city committee for I.D. purposes, I want it to be clear to all of you these are my individual thoughts, ideas and selections. Enjoy?! I posted them on facebook also.
Richard Drolet, Chairperson, New Bedford Democratic City Committee
9 comments:
Wow. What a disgrace. Playing politics to slander a young man. I am disgusted. I will never look at the city Dem committee the same way.
Shouldn't our Democratic Leaders support unions? Am I missing something here? If caring about the working conditions of our teachers is not important to the Democrats in this city--my party has left me. Plunk for Josh Amaral-HARD! Bubble that, connect the arrow, WHATEVER IT TAKES!
As the head of the City Democratic Committee, Richard should not be dictating to people to vote for the candidates he is endorsing. He should remain neutral and encourage people to get out and vote.
Disgraceful! There is a new political machine in town, and it has nothing to do with Mr Nobrega but everything to do with another school committee member... A member very interested in having a solid four vote block. Josh is an independent thinker, and as such deserves a chance to serve the city he loves and calls home. I for one can not vote for someone who is willing to be a puppet in exchange for time in the spotlight. Seek out those who are truly eager to serve their community... Not those serving the agenda of a select group. Vote your conscience.
This district reeks of misconduct and bad politics.
Richard Drolet is a @@@@@@ &&&&&& $$$$. He is Marlene Pollock's $&& wipe.
Richard Drolet is a patron of Pastori, with Pastori his junior partner on political campaigns like the bus riders movement. When you use your position to support your political buddies you are practicing patronage. Especially when you don't declare your existing ties.
All 4 (Pollock, Pastori, Mojica, and Drolet) are active campaigners in the following campaigns: Liz Warren, Ed Markey, and T. Cabral, serving as the go to campaign team in the city for well connected Democrats.
In term, democrats fund groups like Pastori's CEDC and Mojica's Ross program to keep them in a job.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. Not mentioning Drolets wife's political connections to national Democrat movement.
Local, state and national, Drolet is the machine.
This is patronage. This is nepotism.
Unlike the Drolet machine, my NBEA colleagues never show up in Democrat campaigns. Their jobs are the most highly regulated licensing structure in the US. And yet he slanders 1200 teachers as being in a patronage machine.
Drolet then attacks a recent NBHS and UMD graduate and freshman candidate as the machine.
Drolet then sides with management in the current discussion on teacher concerns. This is little over a year after teachers stood next to Drolet's postal union ( told you, machine), to expose the USPS management lies about the postal crisis.
Just add hypocrisy to the nepotism and patronage of Drolets machine.
To everyone, at the next Citywide Democratic Committee meeting, I encourage you to attending and become part of the committee. We need to become involved in the process and begin showing our strength in unity. We need to stop the takeover of the city by Drolet's political team.
Richard Drolet is a punk.
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