The Bristol Blog features news and information about Bristol, Connecticut.
May 18, 2009
New City Council contenders
Announcing their candidacies tonight were incumbent Republican Mike Rimcoski and 2nd District Democratic hopefuls Al Marko and Tom Ragaini.
******* Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
26 comments:
Go Tom GO
said...
Ragaini has supported every democratic candidate throughout his years as both a councilmember and afterward: he attends more city meetings than most elected officials, without a doubt the most qualified candidate to run so far.
Tom Ragaini is the least qualified person to run, even after years on the Council. He is a yes man with limited skills, but a nice guy. I am sure the mayor will want him in, but I will reserve judgement until I hear what Al Marko has to say.
Oh please about Ragaini. If Tom Ragaini is such a good Democrat, then why did he threaten to run as an Independent in the lat election when he couldn't get enough support to make the ballot as a Democrat? Same thing with Ward, who threatened to run as an Independent if he didn't win the Primary against Zoppo. Real loyal Democrats they are.
Oh come on now. Of course he agrees with Ward a lot of the time...they're on the same team. He's a good guy who really cares about the city. He's active in the community and is more than qualified for the position.
The problem is that the mayor is not always right, and in fact is often obstinate, impulsive, and downright wrong. To compound the problem, he surrounds himself with yes men. This is the height of self-deception, and is very dangerous. That being said, he's not the worst mayor this city has ever had.
We need candidates for office who will think for themselves and make decisions based upon what is best for the city, not what will keep them in the mayor's favor.
I'm not sure that Tom will do that.
I like Tom. I would just like to see him be more his own man. He doesn't need the mayor to succeed.
Marko is highly intelligent and very knowledgeable regarding city, state and national politics. Ragaini did absolutely nothing when he was a councilman. I remember watching the council meetings on Nutmeg and he never had anything to say - just sat there like a plug. He is definitely a Ward lap dog. It is a joke in Democratic circles that Tom is Ward's body guard. Ragaini is yet another city employee - don't we have enough ties to the city workers and their unions? Say NO to Ragaini and YES to Marko. It's time for some fresh new ideas on the council and Marko can provide that.
7:39 a.m.: aren't public school teachers also unionized city workers? am i missing something? based on 7:45 p.m.'s description of marko's and ragaini's jobs, they sound like they have similar interests to me.
Although I believe it's true that Marko is very interested in politics and he is very adhered to leftist ideology, it is very arguable whether he is "highly" intelligent. Apparently he is a former lawyer that became a teacher (perhaps because he was a lousy lawyer?). He has had a few brush-ups with people that disagree with him.
Ragaini is a well liked Democrat hack, He is NOT a city employee. He is a state employee. He works in supply distribution at the Health Center.
The question about Marko is not whether he'll be sympathetic to the city unions (he is a union member). We all know he hates most of the GOP and the Blue-Dog Democrats in Congress (moderates) at the national level (or any level). The question is whether he is in favor of the maga-schools. If he is not, no matter what his position on global warming or gay marriage is, I might support him (but probably not).
In 2007 Tom said he would run as an independent for a seat on the city council against the endorsed Democrats if his buddy Art lost the mayoral primary. Personal loyalty is important but in this case, party loyalty is more important. In crunch time, his party loyalty was a centimeter deep.
Actually there's plenty of issues he and I most likely disagree on.
The new school construction is a controversial issue that many teachers and tax-payers are against.
I actually praised him a bit and was attempting to find common gound on an issue that I feel to be the most important.
As as long as there has been no construction contract signed or there has been no state or federal money taken, the new school issue is still debatable.
26 comments:
Ragaini has supported every democratic candidate throughout his years as both a councilmember and afterward: he attends more city meetings than most elected officials, without a doubt the most qualified candidate to run so far.
Tom Ragaini is the least qualified person to run, even after years on the Council. He is a yes man with limited skills, but a nice guy. I am sure the mayor will want him in, but I will reserve judgement until I hear what Al Marko has to say.
Oh please about Ragaini. If Tom Ragaini is such a good Democrat, then why did he threaten to run as an Independent in the lat election when he couldn't get enough support to make the ballot as a Democrat? Same thing with Ward, who threatened to run as an Independent if he didn't win the Primary against Zoppo. Real loyal Democrats they are.
Ragaini is another Union boy lap dog for Ward.
Ragaini is a has been..never was... contributed nothing while he was a councilman...accept to the court system and the DUI program.
Step down Tom from your self appointed perch.
Oh come on now. Of course he agrees with Ward a lot of the time...they're on the same team. He's a good guy who really cares about the city. He's active in the community and is more than qualified for the position.
Either one have relatives that work for the city (yet)?
Please not Tom Ragaini again...what is this 1999 era again.....
Just another recycled person!
Ragaini and Ward are union buddies. Can't we get better people to run? I mean c'mon on recycled councilmembers? Enough already.
Ragaini, although of limited ability, is a nice guy.
Defeating Alan Marko will be one of the most important (and enjoyable) endeavors conservatives and people with any common sense can/will pursue.
Tom's devotion to the mayor makes me very uneasy.
The problem is that the mayor is not always right, and in fact is often obstinate, impulsive, and downright wrong. To compound the problem, he surrounds himself with yes men. This is the height of self-deception, and is very dangerous. That being said, he's not the worst mayor this city has ever had.
We need candidates for office who will think for themselves and make decisions based upon what is best for the city, not what will keep them in the mayor's favor.
I'm not sure that Tom will do that.
I like Tom. I would just like to see him be more his own man. He doesn't need the mayor to succeed.
CC, what's the problem with Al Marko? Just curious. New to the scene.
May 19, 2009 11:56 AM:
New to the scene? Yeah me too.
Marko I will guess would beat Rags in the primary. And I must admit, that might just be a good thing.
You make the choice. Marko (a left-leaning public school teacher) vs Ragaini (a state employed janitor).
Marko is highly intelligent and very knowledgeable regarding city, state and national politics. Ragaini did absolutely nothing when he was a councilman. I remember watching the council meetings on Nutmeg and he never had anything to say - just sat there like a plug. He is definitely a Ward lap dog. It is a joke in Democratic circles that Tom is Ward's body guard. Ragaini is yet another city employee - don't we have enough ties to the city workers and their unions? Say NO to Ragaini and YES to Marko. It's time for some fresh new ideas on the council and Marko can provide that.
7:39 a.m.: aren't public school teachers also unionized city workers? am i missing something? based on 7:45 p.m.'s description of marko's and ragaini's jobs, they sound like they have similar interests to me.
Although I believe it's true that Marko is very interested in politics and he is very adhered to leftist ideology, it is very arguable whether he is "highly" intelligent. Apparently he is a former lawyer that became a teacher (perhaps because he was a lousy lawyer?). He has had a few brush-ups with people that disagree with him.
Ragaini is a well liked Democrat hack, He is NOT a city employee. He is a state employee. He works in supply distribution at the Health Center.
The question about Marko is not whether he'll be sympathetic to the city unions (he is a union member). We all know he hates most of the GOP and the Blue-Dog Democrats in Congress (moderates) at the national level (or any level). The question is whether he is in favor of the maga-schools. If he is not, no matter what his position on global warming or gay marriage is, I might support him (but probably not).
In 2007 Tom said he would run as an independent for a seat on the city council against the endorsed Democrats if his buddy Art lost the mayoral primary. Personal loyalty is important but in this case, party loyalty is more important. In crunch time, his party loyalty was a centimeter deep.
Concerned Conservative:
Al's position on the new schools is moot, since it's a done deal. Find some other issue to pigeon hole him.
(PS: so it still rankles you that he opposed you on that church issue? I'd almost forgotten about that.)
May 21, 2009 12:22 PM:
Very strange comment from you
indeed! You're barking up the wrong tree. But perhaps people will find out someday what I'm referring to.
May 21, 2009 12:22 PM:
Actually there's plenty of issues he and I most likely disagree on.
The new school construction is a controversial issue that many teachers and tax-payers are against.
I actually praised him a bit and was attempting to find common gound on an issue that I feel to be the most important.
As as long as there has been no construction contract signed or there has been no state or federal money taken, the new school issue is still debatable.
Sorry Tom your wasting your time Al beats you 2- 1
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