Pure Common Sense

http://www.bennettforboston.com/

Doug Bennett is a candidate for city councilor here in Boston.  He is only 32 years old but has past experience as a city councilor in Nantucket.  The Boston City Council is due for some fresh blood as two of the incumbents are running for mayor this year.  Boston Mayor Menino has been in office for 16 years and is now running for a fifth term despite saying that he would only serve two terms when he started out.  With the hard drug problem getting worse with heroine and crack being commonplace on our tough streets and the cost of living getting higher, I can’t help but blame Menino, since he’s been in power all this time.  But that’s another story as Doug is running for councilor, not mayor.  But the elections are on the same day.  Tomorrow, September 22^nd is the primary when the number of candidates will be narrowed down for the general election in November.  There was a sweet incident recently where Mayor Menino was holding a meeting on a proposed tax hike and Doug came to the meeting to sit in the audience with a “No New Taxes” sign.  Unlike George Bush Sr. though, Doug is for real on this one.

Doug has highlighted the key issues that are important to him this campaign:  cleaner streets and sidewalks, crime and the higher cost of living with property taxes.  It’s simple Common Sense that people won’t want to live in Boston if it costs too much for them to do so.  The high property taxes are overrated, to say the least.  It takes a lot more than funding to run a school and Doug is a man who speaks my language on that one.  I personally would like to see a competent voucher program, but that is of course highly unrealistic in the short term.  Doug’s idea is very good on its own though.  Placing kids in neighborhood schools saves money on transportation and, as the host in the above video said, would encourage parents to become more involved in their children’s schools.  The critical place of role models in our lives – especially those of children – cannot be taken for granted.

Working with Doug Bennett, I have seen firsthand one of the most active local campaigns around.  I consider it a privilege to play my part in the process.  At several local parades around the Boston area, Doug’s supporters are energetic, holding large signs, shaking people’s hands and handing out candy while sporting balloons and honking the horn loud and clear.  This is a campaign filled with enthusiasm.  These are not bandwagon followers and anyone who supports Doug’s campaign is proud to be a part of it.  There are so few campaigns out there – and certainly no other ones in this election – that are like that.  Doug has brandished a hands-on approach to his campaign.  He has set a goal to knock on 100,000 Boston doors personally – and from what I last heard he’s right about up there now.  He is serious about his campaign and does not rely on social networking through the internet like some of his opponents.  Although the internet does help sometimes.