August 10, 2010

Spat over Carros appointment turns ugly

The possible appointment of Republican activist Alex Carros has created a firestorm that’s become the talk of the political establishment these days. The growing controversy may have even played a role in the vandalism this past weekend of the business run by Carros’ father and uncle, Bristol Instrument Gears. Carros said the place was “severely vandalized” Sunday night with 30 or so windows smashed, including the windshield of a company pickup truck. Carros, who hasn’t worked there in four years, called it “a vicious act of vandalism.”
Sources said today that police are investigating the vandalism and looking into whether it’s connected to the political spat.
The controversy can be seen rather clearly from a few emails that have been bouncing around city circles recently. Here they are:


June 28, 2010 email from city Councilor Kevin McCauley to city councilors:
Hello Colleagues,
I know I don¹t have to remind you of 'Concerned Conservative' who inappropriately attacked Terry Parker last Fall, as it was discussed when he last asked to be considered for appointment.
This is a much more serious appointment and I believe Alex Carros is not someone we should consider at this time.
I am critical of Alex for any of the land use boards, as my concerns for the lack of decorum he has shown time and again should preclude him from consideration.
I would consider Alex for some lesser board/commission if he learns how to restrain himself on the blog and in public. It may be tough for him.
Thank you for considering my position.
See you on Tuesday,
Kevin McCauley


July 21 letter from Alex Carros to Mayor Art Ward, city councilors and others:
Dear Mayor Ward:
It has come to my attention that recently my name was put up for appointment for two volunteer city official positions. One was the Historic District and the other was the Planning Commission. I’ve discovered both times my name was brought forward, it was blocked by Council-person Kevin McCauley.
An audacious and maligning statement (via email) to all of the Bristol City Council was sent by Kevin McCauley urging council-members not to allow my name to be brought forward for appointment. In the emailed statement Council-person McCauley referenced anonymous blog comments that he unsubstantially cites as mine, and stated that my “lack of decorum he has shown time and again should preclude him from consideration” and “I would consider Alex for some lesser board/commission if he learns how to restrain himself on the blog and in public. It may be tough for him”. This is obviously twisted logic by Councilperson McCauley. How could he cite my “decorum” and public conduct by anonymous blog comments? Besides being misguided, McCauley’s email remarks to Bristol City Council-people (and the public) are slanderous and hypocritical. The statement from Council-person McCauley via email to the Council is an insulting and defamatory act against me and the entire Carros family. How dare he criticize my decorum and ability to conduct myself correctly in public! McCauley obviously used poor judgment in stating that I, with a graduate and undergraduate degree and with my career in business cannot conduct myself professionally. Not to mention my tenure on the Planning Commission and the numerous other volunteer activities that I have been involved in. In actuality, it would truly surprise me if McCauley actually believed that I can’t or have not conducted myself in a proper manner publicly. It is bad politics (on his part) inhibiting what is best for Bristol.
With this in mind one must wonder if McCauley knows or realizes that I served a full five year term on the Planning Commission already from 1998 to 2003. After finishing my term I asked not to be reappointed because my graduate school classes would have interfered with my duty on Planning. Upon announcing to Mayor Nicastro that I was not seeking reappointment, I received a letter of appreciation voted unanimously by the City Council in 2003.
I am probably one of the best qualified people to serve on the Planning Commission in the entire City of Bristol, but McCauley has blocked voting on me apparently for political reasons. During my term on Planning, besides serving on the Commission that oversees subdivisions, certain site plans, and numerous other tasks associated with land use, the commission in coordination with the city staff developed the current Ten Year Plan of Development. I am well educated and experienced in regards to city land use procedures, ordinances and protocol.
Since I am a fifth generation resident of Bristol and a fourth generation resident on Federal Hill one would think McCauley (the Council Liaison to the Federal Hill Association) would be enthusiastic to my appointment to either the Historic District Commission or the Planning Commission. That would be of course if he was relying on common sense rather than innuendo. Then again of course since McCauley’s only attended approximately one meeting per year of the Federal Hill Association in the last three years, apparently he doesn’t care much for the input of that area of the city anyway.
Obviously Kevin McCauley has no respect for all the accomplishments I have made in my life including my education and my career and this I believe reflects McCauley’s lack of respect for business and higher education all together. If it is so tough for me to restrain myself as he claims, how could I have achieved what I have? It’s a ridiculous statement on his part!
I know Councilman McCauley a bit and have had a conversation or two with him in the past. Never would I have imagined that this person felt this way about me. If McCauley was truly concerned about my name being brought forth by Mayor Ward perhaps he would have done the professional thing and scheduled and interview rather than simply relying on here-say?
Although the blocking of my appointment is a loss for Bristol, it’s certainly Council-person McCauley’s right to make decisions regarding appointments and lobby as he feels fit. But it would have been appropriate if McCauley kept his unjustified statements regarding me to himself. I believe because of what he has said and done, Council-person McCauley should be reprimanded in some way by the City Council. I also believe that the position as liaison to the Federal Hill Association should be given to another Council-person based on McCauley’s lack of respect for one of the Association’s members (me), the bad relationship this action of his has caused with an officer of that organization (my wife) and his poor attendance.
I truly hope that you will agree with my position on this issue. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Alexander J. (Alex) Carros
CC: Councilman David Mills, Councilman Kevin Fuller, Councilman Cliff Block, Councilman Kate Matthews, Councilman Kevin McCauley, Councilman Ken Cockayne, Elliot Nelson, Bristol DTC Chairman, Thomas J Barnes Jr., Bristol RTC Chairman, Michele Boyko, Federal Hill Association President


August 6, 2010 email from Mayor Art Ward to city councilors and Carros:
This is to inform everyone that I, along with the Democratic and Republican Town Chairpersons and the President of the Federal Hill Association, have received a communication from Alexander J. Carros regarding an E-mail forwarded to the council members by Council member McCauley regarding any potential appointment of Mr. Carros as a member to any city boards/commissions.
I would strongly recommend, in the best interests of the City of Bristol and both individuals, that a meeting be conducted between Council member McCauley and Mr. Carros to address and resolve these concerns as soon as possible.
If so requested, I would be willing to provide use of the Mayor's office to hold these discussions.
Mayor Art Ward
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

84 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe McCauley doesn't want to appoint him because he is a "Jerk" And has no class at all. Does Bristol really need people like that ?

Anonymous said...

How does it feel to get a taste of your own medecine? Can't take it? Too bad!

Anonymous said...

Who is Kevin McCauley?

Anonymous said...

By whose definition is Al a "Republican Activist"?

Is he even on their Town Committee?

Anonymous said...

Anyone who has had any contact with Alex knows that he is an opinionated hot head. Alex is the first to name call, insult and act unprofessionally.

Bristol can do better and I agree with Kevin McCauley that careful consideration should be given before Alex is appointed to anything.

Anonymous said...

Why is Ward sucking up to the Republicans?

Anonymous said...

Did Kevin get his cast off before he put his foot in his mouth?

Anonymous said...

12:47 PM,

And McCauley's insults and slimy, sneaky, back-stabbing attack on a fellow citizen is NOT an unprofessional, opinionated act???

Maybe his handlers need to shorten his leash?

Anonymous said...

It is McCauleys responsibilty as an elected official to do what he thinks is best for Bristol.

I am sure that many people agree with him in this case!

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Barnes will come out in support of Caros???

Anonymous said...

Kevin said what others are thinking. I am disturbed that there is clearly a leak among councilmembers and that the mayor continues to show no leadership.

Anonymous said...

Alex probably vandalized himself to help his cause

Anonymous said...

1:21

I doubt it!

Anonymous said...

poster 12:47:

this is certainly not backstabbing nor is it slimy. Let's get the facts straight. If Carros has a beef with anybody it should be the Mayor. McCauley or any other council person can and do make their opinions known to each other via PERSONAL e-mail to each other which means they do not announce it to the world. Confidential conversations should remain that way and remember that this was a suggestion. For Mr. Carros to say that mccauley single-handedly blocked Carros's appointment is absured. In the end it is up to the mayor to decide whose name to put forward and obviously Ward agreed because he never put Carros's name forward. Remember that Mccauley is only one out of six voices to be heard on the council.

The real concern here is that an e-mail meant to be an opinion shared amongst council members was given to Mr. Carros who is known to be a hothead and certainly has a reputation that is less than flattering. I wonder who would be so low as to do that? Hmmm ... makes one wonder, doesn't it? That's what I call slimy and backstabbing and underhanded behavior.

One last thought. Mr. Carros should remember that the blog is not "anonymous".

mccauley is doing the job he was elected to do and that is to put the best possible people in the positions that are open, pure and simple.

Anonymous said...

To say that Kevin McCauley “blocked” Carros’ appointment is pure delusion, and ignores the fact that there are 7 people (mayor plus 6 councilors) who would vote on such an appointment. Had Carros had the support of 4 or more members of the council, he could have been appointed, even over McCauley’s objection. Because the mayor dropped that potential appointment like a hot potato, we’ll never know who would or would not have supported Carros. I applaud McCauley for taking a stand. I’ve read Carros’ email, and frankly, he doesn’t seem to have the temperament for such a key appointment. This is sour grapes.

Anonymous said...

August 10, 2010 1:08 PM:

Can you read? the guy served four good years on the Planning Commssion. The city struggles every year to get good people to take appointed office and elected office. We as citizens get stuck with uneducated people of arguable qualifications to occupy important positions...case in point Kevin McCauley.

Carros has a history of getting along well with Democrats in Bristol including the Chairman of the Planning Commssion and the members of that commssion. Any other comments are attacks from a small group of people who are simply jealous of him. My guess is he couldn't really care less anyway.

Anonymous said...

Steve,
I am disappointed with you even writing in the paper that the police are wondering if the vandalism at Mr. Carros's family's shop is politically motivated. Just because the police state it doesn't mean it should be printed. I'm sure the allegation was made by Mr. Carros who seems to have an agenda to get Mr. McCauley at all costs and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Apparently you didn't even bother to contact Mr. McCauley, because I do not see any comments from him. How unfair is that? Is that what you call unbiased reporting?

Judging by the previous posts and by his off-the-wall letter, Mr. Carros has a reputation for being out of control and you are just feeding into his anger. I am not a reporter, but I suggest in the future you contact all parties involved instead of, once again, giving only one side of the story.

Anonymous said...

August 10, 2010 3:11 PM:

"Simple" is the correct word. Just like you are. LOL!

Anonymous said...

Macauley has done nothing wrong. please show me where it is against the law to speak with your fellow councilpeople on matters involving the city? macauley can voice his opinon and i am sure he is encouraged to. isn't that why we elected them? if he sat there like a lump, i'd be concerned. to take words from a previous poster, it is slimy and sneaky and backhanded to hand over an e-mail that it seems to me should have been kept between councilpeople. seems that macauley got some info about carros and decided carros wouldn't be good dealing with the public. carros is acting like a baby because he wasn't considered. shows that he shouldn't be considered because he doesn't know how to play nice and ran crying to the mayor and everybody else which was also uncalled for in my opinon. a letter full of "i did this and i did that" doesn't mean anything if you can't control your temper which is written all over his venomous letter. such childish behaviour should not be rewarded with a position on any committee in this city. i hope the mayor sees through his charade.

Steve Collins said...

3:28 - Do you really think it would help to include a quote from Kevin saying that he did not vandalize anyone's property? That would just make it seem all the more tied together, particularly given that Carros didn't actually accuse anyone of doing it.
I would have asked Kevin except that it struck me as essentially pointless. It would have been one of those "Have you stopped beating your wife?" kind of questions. There would be no good answer.
But if you have a question that you think I should ask him, then tell me what it is.

Anonymous said...

I guess McCauley likes to communicate by e-mail and script votes and counsel meetings like his hero used to do. Maybe the leak(Ward) isn't comfortable with this as he wasn't before. I commend Ward for bringing this into open for the public to see. People volunteer their time and are shot down without any knowledge as to why. I don't know Mr. Carros at all, but it is usually the people like him who are passionate that want to volunteer and sacrifice their time. If he is a yahoo, then at least have the courtesy to let him know with a letter or a face to face that he is not being considered for appointment and why. McCauley clearly appears to dislike this guy for political reasons.

Anonymous said...

Kevin may have said what others were thinking, but instead of saying it to Mr. Carros' face, he chose to take the cowardly low road (his usual pathway). His behavior was classless and underhanded, pure and simple.

Perhaps instead of worrying about a "leak" amongst the council members (hardly the first time by the way), we should be much more concerned about the apparent lack of character of some them.

Anonymous said...

McCauley did Ward a favor with this one. Ward would never have wanted Carros. Now he can say he knew ahead of time that he would not have had the votes and McCauley becomes the poster child for his lack of support. Thanks Mr. McCauley you just moved Bristol for Ward LOL!!! I could just see Ellen and her cronies pouting right now.

Anonymous said...

Judging from the hostility coming from McCauley's side of the table, I would also question whether or not the vandalism was politically motivated.

Anonymous said...

Nice. Someone has pulled back the curtain again. So much for transparency. So I guess this is how the scripted meetings used to work. Zoppo would tell everyone their part and all would play their rolls. This time, McCauley sent his e-mail badmouthing a viable candidate for a board, hence blocking a potential vote. Great job by Ward bringing this public. The public has a right to know the truth on the inner workings of our government.

Anonymous said...

I look at it as another example of Wards inability to run the city, chair the council and get things done.

To bad all of his inadequacies didn't get noticed sooner!

Anonymous said...

"It is McCauleys responsibilty as an elected official to do what he thinks is best for Bristol."

Right about now that should be a public apology to Mr. Carros immediately before resigning from the city council.

Anonymous said...

Alex Carros has always been a pompus a@# Besides being a one sided "Hothead"

Anonymous said...

4:35 p.m., Ooooooo...BIG SURPRISE there! Only YOU would try to find a way to blame someone else for McCauley's obvious inadequacies. Too bad they weren't noticed sooner.

Anonymous said...

I find it really amusing that Alex Carros is blaming Mr. McCauley for "slandering" him when he would have (a) never known about it unless some snake on the council told him; (b) he didn't announce it to the whole world by writing a self-serving letter and then forwarding onto a slew of other people and (c) then he runs to the Bristol Press and submits his letter where everyone can see it. He has slandered himself.

If he was so aggrieved, he could have just spoken to the mayor and Mr. McCauley alone, but this just shows what an angry and vindictive person he is. I am afraid his dirty laundry has done nothing more than backfire on him and painted him to be the person that others have portrayed him to be ... self-centered, arrogant and just plain mean.

Anonymous said...

Wow the Ward lackies are out in force!!! It is sooo obvious when there are people on this blog who are giving credit to Ward for this. First of all, it was Carros who went to the Press and to Ward. Check out the date on McCauley's letter. It's June 28. Ward has had this for over a month and he knew about it and did nothing so he obviously feels the same way McCauley does. Again, as a previous poster said, the buck stops with the mayor. McCauley can't make the decision on his own to block Carros. Only the mayor can decide to bring his name forward, which he obviously didn't and if the mayor was so outraged at that time, then he certianly didn't show it because he didn't do anything about it over a month ago. This is totally political on the ward camp and continues to prove what an inept leader he is. Either you were outraged, mr. mayor, or you weren't and you obviously didn't care until Carros put your feet to the fire. you are more responsible than mccauley is, plain and simple.

Anonymous said...

poster 3:22.

He did not have four GOOD years on the planning commission. Of course we can read and we read what CARROS wrote. This is a self-serving letter if I have ever seen one. I heard he was difficult to work with at best. Remember that once a person is on, it's tough to get them off and they certainly didn't realize what a powder keg he was until he was already on. mccauley is an honest man and gave an honest opinion about someone he knew would not work well with people.

If this man is truly Concerned Conservative, then the Democrats should be outraged. He tore Terry Parker apart. Is that who they really want on a board or committee? It isn't okay for Mr. McCauley to tactfully express his opinion to the mayor and have a councilperson blab that e-mail that was written a month earlier (I guess they were plotting what they were going to do) but it's okay to have a man who viciously attacked one of their own to be considered for a board or committee. Talk about talking out of two sides of your mouth. But then again, that's all the Dems have been doing since ward took office.

Anonymous said...

Steve, it would be interesting to see what the mayor's response was to Kevin's letter when he sent it back in June. I'm sure he responded to it in some form or another. I wonder if any other councilmen responded. Now that would be really telling.

Anonymous said...

"If he was so aggrieved, he could have just spoken to the mayor and Mr. McCauley alone..."

Oh, you mean like how McCauley spoke to Mr. Carros? Oh no, wait a minute, he went behind his back and slandered him first.

Talk about talking out of both sides of your mouth!@

Anonymous said...

LMAO! "This is totally political." Ya think? Only Ward's camp isn't the one pulling McCauley's strings. We all know he answers to a different master! You should try shifting the blame there.

Anonymous said...

5:41 PM:

The snake is the one who slithered under the rock, not the one who flipped the rock over exposing it to the sunlight, and now we all know who that snake is.

Anonymous said...

Surprise!!!

Ward set McCauley up in his usual fine fashion!
Hope the people are starting to wise up!

AnonymousWestconnStudent said...

IF...Mr. Carros is in fact "Concerned Conservative" than the situation is indeed disappointing. Not just for what may have been said about Terry Parker but because this is another example where one person's opinion, when posted on the internet, seems to be treated differently than an occurrence that might happen in real time within the vicinity of the person.

Lord knows this or other blogs aren't protected by the first amendment or by any other code of laws. We are in fact a society unable to handle comments made anonymously in real time that at one point in the past may have been solely proprietary to a back room somewhere where the person attacked wouldn't see or hear.

I've made my fair share of stupid, hot headed comments. Most of the time I've attempted to keep my dissensions professional and fact based. In reality when it comes to politics facts and opinions can become blurred.

I've had my fair share of sparring with "Concerned Conservative" and banged my head in frustration at some of the posts. But 99.9% of the time that frustration was limited to differences of political ideology.

If the comments against Ms. Parker (whatever they might be because to be honest I don't remember what they were or when they were said) are beyond reproach or impossible to resolve then it's fair to say that Mr. Carros (IF he's the author) may have burned his bridge. If there is room for reconciliation then it would be fair to try, just as there would be if they were made within earshot of Ms. Parker in a work environment.

Differences of opinion on politics, especially local politics, can often be divisive and personal. It's important to remember being professional and to keep some level of trust that whatever the differences, the people whom you disagree with are doing what they think is in the city's best interest (and you would believe about yourself).

Anonymous said...

If the Republicans want to get rid of McCauley, why don't they run Stortz?

Anonymous said...

no "concerned conservative" postings, huh? well, isn't that something. coincidence, alex?

Anonymous said...

8:52 poster: right on, bro/sis! You may be a student, but you are light years ahead of most people who post on the blog. Your comment is concise, not vicious and true.

Anonymous said...

The time line says it all:

email on june 28.
no response until july 21 and response is by carros.
no rebuke of email from the mayor or anyone else

say what you want but it is obvious that the mayor agrees with mccauley's position and one of the council members leaked the email. there is nothing underhanded about giving your opinion to the mayor on appointments. they do it all the time. but the leaking of the email was unprofessional and just proves that someone has an agenda which I am sure will play out at some point during next year's election. as has been said many times on this post: it is up to the mayor to bring mr. carros's name forward and he chose not to. why is that? if you actually believe that ward took mccauley's advice blindly, then i have a bridge to sell you in brooklyn, ny. mccauley is one vote out of six or seven, if you include the mayor, but it didn't even get that far because the mayor made the decision to ignore the request.

Anonymous said...

Kevin was stating his position and concerns. Nothing wrong with that and I applaud him for doing it.

Just read Alex's (Concerned Conservatives) reply and you can see what Kevin was talking about.

Anonymous said...

August 11, 2010 6:56 AM:

You don't know what you're talking and nor do you make any sense.

The issue is elected offical McCauley's unsubstantiated, and unprofessional comments.

Anonymous said...

Somehow i see Cockaynes heavy hand behind all of this

Anonymous said...

"Kevin was stating his position and concerns."

Unfortunately, instead of stating his position and concerns face-to-face with the gentleman and allowing Mr. Carros a chance to defend himself, he once again chose the coward's approach. Kevin's behavior is an embarrassment. Please, save the applause for his resignation.

Anonymous said...

Does Carros currently reside in the Historic District over which he may have pervue?

What were Carros's contributions to the creation of the Historic District and his background in Historic Preservation?
Is he able to make an informed decisions over the management of the Overlook Historic District?
I don't think "politics" should be played over people's most important lifetime investment - their historic architecturally signifcant home!
Is all this fighting and hissy- fitting going to carry over to the tough decisions sometimes made by the Historic District Commission?
This would be a disservice to the district and the people residing there.
I would hope the Mayor would appoint someone actually residing in the Overlook District or would choose someone willing to use their experience on the Historic District Commission to advance and expand our local historic to both the proposed High Street, and proposed Federal Hill Green Districts which failed by very few votes.
The property owners in our sole local Overlook Historic District deserve better than what I'm reading here.

I am not amused.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

August 11 3:39 PM

Even if everything you anonymously accuse Mr. Carros of is true, the whole situation was handled very, very badly by the ethically challenged, morally bankrupt Mr. McCauley. Whoever suggested he resign was dead on.

Anonymous said...

August 11, 2010 3:39 PM:

Everything you stated is an out and out lie.

Please reveal your name so Carros can sue you.

Anonymous said...

Mr. mcCauley is far from morally bankrupt. It is mr. carros who is lacking in tact and morality. I am appalled at this whole situation. Mr. Mccauley did nothing wrong. He is allowed and is encouraged to voice his comments to the mayor and the council. To ask for a resignation over this is absolutely absurd should be disregarded by Mr. Mccauley. I have seen much worse come through that council in recent years where heads turned the other way. The ward people are just looking for anything to slander mr. mccauley and they think they have it in this e-mail but the one who should be worried about this email is the mayor. i haven't heard anything from him. you know why? because he agrees with mccauley. where is the backlash against the mayor? again, mccauley doesn't make the decision to bring the name forward. it's up to the mayor to do that. no matter how you feel about it, that's the way the rules and regulations are in this town. his name wasn't brought forward and obviously the mayor feels mr. carros is a ticking timebomb otherwise he would have disregarded mccauley's suggestion and brought the name forward. where is the outrage and disgust in the mayor's inaction? there isn't any because the posters here are mostly ward supporters. Ward is responsible for mr. carros not being considered. end of story.

Anonymous said...

In his comments Mr. McCauley states that he would consider him for a lesser board. He didn't suggest precluding him from EVER serving. This whole thing has been blown out of proportion. I don't think the citizens of Bristol would like to have just anyone serving on some of the most important committees and boards in this city. Let's face it. Once you're on, it's difficult to get you off as we have seen time and time again and if Mr. Carros is indeed Concerned Conservative, which can be substantiated, then Mr. Carros has no place on very important committees. Mr. McCauley is doing what he was elected to do and has done during his tenure as councilman. He is not afraid to speak his mind but at least he does it in a civil manner. He certainly didn't rant and rave as Mr. Carros did in his overly lengthy letter. His comments were short and to the point and were a suggestion to the council and the mayor. If the citizens of this city thought that the council didn't get along before, this has surely put up the dividers and that is a loss for our city. How can they trust each other? They certainly will never be able to discuss appointments properly because of the ever present concern that their opinion will be leaked. A bad precedent has been set here. Unfortunately, the person or persons who orchestrated this charade can't see past their own desire/desires for power. The outrage should be on the person who leaked the email. Will the backstabbing within the city council never end? I guess I answered my own question.

Anonymous said...

Kevin stated his opinion in a professional and concise manner in an email to other council members. He explained his point of view. The email was not meant to be leaked yet it was. So the person who leaked it should be explaining himself or herself.

Alex (Concerned Conservative)has done more harm to himself by his actions then the opinion of Kevin could ever do.

Bottom line... Bristol can do better than Alex and should.

Bristol Citizen said...

AnonWestCon has got it right!!! Each person wants what is best for Bristol. They just have different ideas. I find it interesting how many Anonymous have posted on behalf of each person. I really think it is just the same 5-6 people posting many different times. Let's just get back to our daily lives and let these 2 fight it out in private.

Anonymous said...

August 11, 2010 7:28 PM aka August 11, 2010 7:24 PM aka August 11, 2010 7:05 PM aka Terry Parker:

That's your opinion, which to many is useless.

Anonymous said...

McCauley's comments were short, slanderous, untrue and unprofessional. He is a disgrace to Bristol and should resign.

Anonymous said...

August 11, 2010 7:28 PM:

Your statement doesn't make any sense. You say, his email was "professional" but it was "leaked"? Don't you get it? If McCauley was professional then there should have been nothing to be leaked. In other words his email to the coucnil shouldn't have been private. IT WAS TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT. If it wasn't, then I doubt he would have stated what he did. McCaualey's email was also defamatory and baseless. It was based on lies and/or rumor.

Anonymous said...

"Mr. mcCauley is far from morally bankrupt. It is mr. carros who is lacking in tact and morality."

How nice of you and Mr. McCauley to serve as judge and jury! Is there anyone else you'd like to insult, belittle and black ball behind their back?

If Mr. McCauley is "not afraid to speak his mind," why is so wrong for Mr. Carros/Concerned Conservative to speak his?

Anonymous said...

7:50 p.m. Amen to that!

2011 is coming soon said...

McCauley, Marko and that gang of Democrats should remember the famous quote from Admiral Yamamoto after Pearl Harbor, "We have awakened a sleeping giant and have instilled in him a terrible resolve".

Anonymous said...

August 12, 2010 8:00 AM:

Exactly!!

Time for a change in 2011 said...

Let me get this straight. According to McCauley Terry Parker is qualified to serve on the city council but Carros not the Planning Commision? One must have to ask is Keven "Like it or not the city is in the real estate business" McCauley really up to the task of a City Councilor? Apparently McCauley isn't qualified to hold higher office in the BFD, so he got into politics. So the answer to that is NO.

Then there's his bud Kate Matthews who appointed a man charged with a felony to the Charter Revision panel but refused to support Carros for no good reason?

Time for a change in 2011!

The "wheel" will roll, roll wheel roll! said...

Only the hard-core hacks would think that what McCauley has done is acceptable. The Carros name has been in Bristol for 5 generations. We'll see next Novemeber how this pans out for McCauley.

Anonymous said...

August 11, 2010 10:44 PM:

My comment may be pointless to you but that is because you don't agree with me.

Kevin did nothing wrong. He is entitled to explain to others via email (in this case the other council members) why he could not support Alex. Everyone is up in arms because the email was leaked but Kevin was professional in his comments within the email and within his rights.

Again, Alex has done more harm to himself by his actions then the opinion of Kevin could ever do.



August 11, 2010 7:28 PM:

Anonymous said...

Public officials and volunteers should expect that what they do, say and/or comment is for the public to see, read and know. Privacy is a foolish expectation.

McCauley should express his opinion based on facts and stop at that.

His comments were condescending, self serving, vendictive and grandstanding.

Anonymous said...

August 13, 2010 7:12 PM:

Agreed!

Anonymous said...

Rmember, McCauley was the front man for Zoppo when they ganged up on Stortz!

Maybe Stortz wasn't so bad after all!

Anonymous said...

To Aug 13 4:59. You are right up to a point. Mr. McCauley does have a right to express his opinion. Mr. McCauley took it to far by adding this line "I would consider Alex for some lesser board/commission if he learns how to restrain himself on the blog and in public. It may be tough for him."
"It may be tough for him." Mr. McCauley should have never added "It may be tough for him." So Mr. Carros has his right to express his opinion.

A Proud Democrat said...

I'm Sure The McCauley's, Kate Matthews, Al Marko, Bruce Suchinski,Mary Rydingsward,Amy Breakstone, The Luczkow's, The Minor's Etc.(You Get My Drift) Are ALL Consulting With Ellen Zoppo On Their Next Move and How To Bring Down The Council, The Registrar's Office, The DTC and Force Art Ward Out...They Want CONTROL of EVERYTHING, Are We The Majority of The Citizen's of Bristol Gonna Give Them That Power???
OR Are We The Citizen's of Bristol Gonna Fight Back and Get New Blood In Who Care About Bristol and Want To Make A Difference...And NOT Control This City and It's People...WE ARE THE MAJORITY and The Above People Mentioned Need Us More Than We Need Them...Let's STAND UP FOR BRISTOL, CT.!!!

Anonymous said...

Proud Dem: agreed!

On the issue here, almost everyone believes McCauley was wrong blocking this appointment for anonymous blog comments.

Most people think even if he knew who these comments came from that these blog comments should have had no bearing on an appointment to the city boards.

This was a net loss for McCauley and Bristol.

SHAME ON MCCAULEY AND HIS SUPPORTERS.

Anonymous said...

8-16

2:55

These are basically the same people that gave Stortz a hard time, kept Rosenthal in office and then lost the election to Ward.

Bring Stortz back!

Anonymous said...

Alex is not even liked by his own party. That should say a lot. His insults of others and how he conducted himself prove he can not play well in the sand box. McCauley and others did the right thing.

Anonymous said...

August 22, 2010 8:57 AM:

If he is not liked by the Bristol GOP that shows he is an asset to the citizens of Bristol.

Anonymous said...

August 22, 2010 8:57 AM AKA Marko:

Sure there, but most like him a lot more than they like you. Case in point: all the pro-Alex comments here.

Don't count your chickens before they hatched Mr. Wacko.

Anonymous said...

August 22, 2010 8:57 AM:

Everyone knows you're McCauley's blog hacker and the silent majority thinks what McCauley did was inappropriate.

retire McCauley in 2011 said...

August 22, 2010 8:57 AM:

Hey moron! Judging by these blog comments in succeeding threads here, McCauley better worry about what his own party thinks of him than what the good for nothing Bristol GOP thinks of the man you obviously hate so much.

A Proud Democrat said...

10:41PM & 10:57PM....The Word Is Out That Kevin McCauley, Craig Minor or Ellen Zoppo Are Gonna Run Against Mayor Art Ward ( That Is If He Decides To Run Again)...
GOD HELP US IF THAT HAPPENS!!! Just
Giving A Head's Up........ They Want "CONTROL" Over The Citizens of Bristol...If Kevin Or Craig Won, Ellen Would Pull The Puppet Strings Behind The Scenes and If Ellen Won...I Hope You Get The Point...!

Another Proud Democrat said...

Talk About A Double Dipper...Kevin McCauley Is Supposedly Out On Workman's Compensation From An Injury He Sustained In A Fire...WOW!...He's Collecting Workman's Compensation and is Now Thinking About Running Against Artie(If He Decides To Run Again)...If He Has ALL This Energy To Try and Get Arty Out of Office...WHY Isn't He Back To Work...Oh Yah, Ellen Zoppo & Tommy B. Are Pulling His Strings...☺

Anonymous said...

Maybe Stortz wasn't so bad after all

Anonymous said...

Notice how Concerned Conservative has vanished? McCauley did the right thing. Bristol can do better than Alex and his unprofessional rants and behavior.

Anonymous said...

September 1, 2010 8:56 PM:

Allen, wake up and smell the coffee. You're a nut and everyone knows it. You and the dopes you support would do society good by staying out of politics.

pathetic land use boards said...

September 1, 2010 8:56 PM:

Whoever you are:

Clearly your opinion is partisan, uneducated or both.

Clearly the Planning and Zoning Commissions are pathetic.

Clearly the educated professional Alex Carros with a term on the Planning Commission under his belt would be a great asset to the city. Clearly Art Ward thinks so as do many of the even most partisan politicians.

Clearly McCauley either made a mistake based on either bad information, his lack of professionalism or his lack of character.

This was a net loss for Bristol...exclusively

Anonymous said...

September 1, 2010 8:56 PM:

Your statement is so feeble-minded, you must be Terry Parker.

Anonymous said...

September 3, 2010 9:35 PM
September 4, 2010 11:03 AM
September 7, 2010 9:16 AM

Alex (aka Concerned Conservative) give it a rest already. McCauley made the right call and Bristol is better off.