Reporter Jackie Majerus' story about the treasurer's race:
In a stunning upset, Republican challenger Rose Parenti won the city treasurer’s office over incumbent Democrat Bill Veits.
“I'm quite humbled by the amount of support I received,” Parenti told the crowd at the GOP's victory party.
“What can I say?” said Veits. “The voters have spoken. I thank them for the last two years as city treasurer. I really enjoyed it. Good luck to Rose. May she have a great two years.”
Parenti, who has been active with local Republicans for years, owns Computer Development on Riverside Avenue.
As treasurer, she said, she will “fulfill the duties of the office to the best of my ability.”
The two candidates differed on a proposal to use excess city pension money to cover health care costs of municipal retirees, a move the unions vigorously opposed.
Parenti vowed to fight the proposal, while Veits sided with those who wanted to look into the possibility.
Veits said that vote “might have been” what cost him the election.
“I’m still in favor of it,” said Veits. “I don’t have any regrets.”
Mayor Art Ward called Veits' defeat “a great loss to the treasurer's office.”
Veits, who had thought absentee ballots might make a difference in a close treasurer’s race, learned from a reporter that unofficial final results showed Parenti with 4,199 votes to 3,974 for Veits in an unofficial tally.
“So she beat me,” he said.
Veits, who said he was “somewhat surprised” at the election results, didn’t rule out another run in the future.
A part-time post, the treasurer’s job pays $4,000 annually. The treasurer oversees a professional staff at City Hall and also serves as a trustee of the city’s retirement funds.
Veits, a self-employed tax preparer and the longtime chairman of the Bristol Planning Commission, won the treasurer’s office in 2007 after former Patti Ewen decided not to seek a ninth term.
Update: As an aside, there hasn't been a Republican treasurer since Phyllis Spooner held the post for a single term back in the 1980s.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
18 comments:
I'm shocked by this. Bill's professional knowledge regarding taxes, investments and City finances were a huge asset. I hope Parenti can live up to the position. She has a lot to learn in a very short amount of time.
Rose will do just fine! She's a breath of fresh air in that department.
November 4, 2009 7:59 AM:
You didn't seem to have a problem with the unqualified, fiscally liberal, city employee suck up, long time city treasurer Patti Ewen. What accounting experience did she have? Bill V. would have come to work in Bermuda shorts if Ward told him to. Now you have Rose, who might be the next mayor. So get a new tune.
Congratulations and Best Wishes to both Rose and Bill.
They are class acts: we need more like them involved.
Bill Stortz
cc - suck it up.
Was Viets saying that the public does not want the pension fund raided?
woe is pee...on:
I'm living it up! Go Rose GO baby!!
Bill:
What about Cockayne? He's not a RINO like you?
Bill Veits was screwed by the city hall unions. They threw him under the bus because he had the courage to put the best interest of the taxpayers ahead of the selfish, "gimme gimme" city workers. Rose, on the other hand, pandered to them in a very clever move.
So enjoy your victory, Rose...but don't be surprised when the union leadership comes looking for their quid pro quo. We'll be watching you.
ODIN, Another Ward PUPPET!Get a clue.
CC is whining again I see. Oh well gotta consider the source!
November 4, 2009 4:16 PM:
How can you be so dumb not to see that I am celebrating Rose's victory?
You need to stop posting...really.
4:16
Be careful, CC should be the next RTC Chairman.
Whine on you goof ! CC The goof and obviously a friend of Steves cause I put several post on here Alex and he never posts it. You are the one that should stop posting .......But then what would you do ?
I sure hope he is 6:57 then we'll have two Mocabees. Wow kiss the Republican Party good by !
November 4, 2009 7:27 PM:
Again...what are you talking about Mr. Anon?
You're so concerned who CC is, who are you? Just an anon name caller?
Why not take the lead and tell us who YOU are?
I know who and what CC is.
Rose,
Watch out that the bosses don't try to get their hooks into you.
Be your own person. that is what got you elected, not them.
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