While Ed Krawiecki’s nomination for appointment to a Corporation Counsel position has played out in public, another intriguing appointment has played out behind the scenes at City Hall.
It is expected that Republican Paul Tonon will be appointed by Council on Tuesday evening to the Board of Finance to replace Republican Dan Soucy. Not much controversy here- the mayor is replacing a Republican with a Republican. However, there’s more to the story…
Mr. Tonon was not the Mayor’s first choice. Mayor Ward initially nominated Robert Dunlap, an Unaffiliated voter, on June 26 to replace Soucy. I must admit, I was among those who found it curious that Mr. Dunlap was listed as ‘Unaffiliated.’ Why? Well, Mr. Dunlap was Art Ward’s campaign treasurer. Mr. Dunlap is the one, you may recall, who was fined earlier this year by the State Elections Enforcement Commission for breaking election laws during last year’s mayoral race.
Upon checking with the Office of the Registrar it turns out that Mr. Dunlap had been a registered Democrat until June 24 when he changed his party affiliation from ‘Democrat’ to ‘Unaffiliated.’ After this was brought to the Mayor’s attention, the nomination of Mr. Dunlap was withdrawn.
I will leave it to the reader to put together the rest of the story but suffice to say the good ol’ boy network is alive and well in Bristol.
Hey, Ken, the City Council already appointed Tonon - a week ago
Update: I let Ken know. He's changing the appointment to the past tense.
*******Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
39 comments:
Nothing surprises me in regards to the people we have elected in Bristol over the years. The problem is that the voters keep placing these incompetent people into office thinking these people are the answer to keeping their taxes down, but in reality all it has done has hurt the city by keeping those taxes down. And now they have no choice but to raise the mill rate for a long time to come. So Mr.Johnson you are correct the good ol boy network is very much alive, but we first must lay blame on the voters who keep voting these "old boys" in..Opps meant "Ol"
How unprofessional of Ken to send out such an email - and after the public already knew the facts he stated.
Kenny is staying on top of the issues, a few days late and a few dollars short - but he's trying hard.
Well, a meaningless press release is certainly better than no press release.
But an untimely and inaccurate press release just shows why Kenny should stick to petition drives and leave the real process of governing to those who are wide awake.
Hey Kenny, everyone hates the "Good Ole Boy" network until they work hard, pay thier dues and earn the respect of the GOB's.
Then they stop rebelling against Da Man and become an accepted part of the network. BTW: There are a number of women in the GOB but like the men they have worked hard for the good of the community and earned their acceptance.
So how do you, a guy supported by Rell, Betts, Barnes, Krawiecki, et al claim to be so resentful of a network many of your supporters are such a big part of?
Grow up.
The housing market is slow so clearly Ken has too much time on his hands...Tonin was already appointed and Steve already reported the fact that Dunlap changed his voter registration. But why bring this up now? Dunlap is already out! What's alive and well is Ken Johnson's sour grapes and mud slinging because he didn't get elected.
Johnson's point is a good one and is sure to score points with the electorate. The "good 'ole boy network" (including a few girls as well) is alive and well, is a relatively small number of people and is resented by many.
There are many people who feel left out, feel they have no voice nor have much of a chance of being in involved in city government.
Sorry, July 7, 2008 5:34 PM, you're wrong. And please spare us the "hard work" garbage. Time for some new blood!
too bad that johnson didn't put this much effort into delivering something to the taxpayers for the $10,000.00 that he has ripped us off for on the street-lighting issue - let me repeat - too bad that johnson didn't put up this much effort into delivering something to the taxpayers for the $10,000.00 that he has ripped us off for on the street-lighting issue.
by the way ken - tonon's appointment to the finance board was approved by the city council last week so it doesn't need approval tomorrow night at the council meeting - by the way, if you were so concerned about it, where the hell were you when it was brought up?
Please don't tell me that you were trying to justify your lack of performance on the $10,000.00 raping of us taxpayer on the lighting issue because I think that your lights have been dimed for quite a while.
how come johnson wasn't as concerned when ward fought for johnson's (re)appointment to the water board? evidently, what's good for johnson can be a screwing for the gander.
Questions are the same, character is the same; where has ken johnson been since the election, where was he during the budget stuff?
I'm tired of hearing about the "Good Ole Boy" network. There is one in every political group. The Dems have theirs and the Rep have theirs. Nothing new and nothing worth sending a press release out for.
Ken, do your own research next time instead of just using Steve's blog for your own purposes.
~ Aw, come on guys...You better quit picking on Kenny. He might get mad and throw a temper tantrum!
You go Ken, I would also be aware of where the new school is to be built. Mr. Scaila is hoping to be included in the "Good Ole Boy" GOB Clan.
Ken is right he should know because he has his own "good ol boy" network.
Since when does a private person issue a "Press Release"??? And Steve, why do you call it a press release? That's really making it sond waaay more important than it is.
or good ole girl network
You have to understand Ken's logic.
It's only a good ole boy network if they are in office.
July 8, 2008 12:08 PM Poster
Not that facts should get in the way of a good jab, but Mr. Scalia passed away several years ago. The company s now run by his widow and various children.
Are you all forgetting the sweetheart $25,000.00 NO BID deal that Johnson got in ousting the Bugryns?
He can, and you can, thank Johnson's group of "good old boys" of Nicastro, Russo and Rosenthal who made or let it happen.
It all depends on whose Ox is being gored.
When a former GOP mayoral candidate sends me something labeled "Press Release: Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain" what would you like me to call it? I think press release is pretty accurate.
Does that mean that anyone can submit a "press release" and you will run it?
Sure, as long as I find it interesting or you've been nominated for a major elected office in Bristol.
how come johnson couldn't show up at the city council meeting to explain the logic behind the decision to seek these extra dollars; was it because he doesn't believe that it won't fly ot that he screwded the city out of $10,000.00 and then had the public works department do all of his work - great scam artist but crappy politician.
How far back do the nominations have to go, or does it have to be current?
As far as I know, no on has been nominated yet, yet alone announce.
Mr. Johnson:
There is an old expression that I think might apply to you... When you have dug yourself into a hole, stop digging.
12:18
Johnson has a record of not showing up at a lot of things.
Was it reported?
Steve, maybe you can get Kenny a free subscription to the Press so he might know what is going on.
yeah ken, better off to cover yourself up with dirt - makes it easier to hide
There truly is a good ole boy network in Bristol. Too bad all of you complaining didn't vote for Zoppo. Things would have been in much better shape right now if she was in charge. You ripped her a new one because she wrote an agenda for a meeting (calling it a "script"), but you're fine with a Mayor who tried to illegally submit Kraweicki's resume after the RFP closing date. And you all looked the other way when he tried to submit his campaign treasurer's name for the finance committee after the campaign fiasco made the front page of the paper. You all got what you asked for. Go Ward! Not onward and "for-ward" -- just go away. Can't believe we have another year and a half to endure his ineptness.
I voted for Johnson, but Zoppo would have been my second choice.
Kenny, don't you remember that you got those two easy deals with the city because of YOUR good ole boy networking?
DUH???????????????????????????????
JOHNSON ALSO TOLD YOU THAT HE WOULD ACTUALLY DELIVER SERVICES FOR TAXPAYER'S MONIES - U B DA JUDGE - GUILTY FOR LACK OF PERFORMANCE - AGAIN!
8:17
What were your possible choices besides Ward, Johnson, and for awhile, Zoppo?
Too bad Mr. Johnson doesn't put his involvement in the past tense.
? - 6:51pm - Yawn, Yawn, Yawn - get over it, you lost.
saw a lot of the so-called "good ole boys" getting their hands dirty at the West End clean-up but didn't see " the always absent" KEN JOHNSON; must have been swept up in all of the excitement. At least the "good ole boys" were "good" for something.
Too bad Johnson didn't run against Larson.
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