Mayoral rumblings

By Rosalie Tirella

Main Souther Joe O’Brien says he’s running for mayor.

Why would Joe O’Brien run for mayor of Worcester? He doesn’t seem to be able to garner enough votes to win any big political seat. More than a decade ago, when he first ran for political office, he lost big time to Vinny Pedone.

The times that he’s run for Worcester School Committe, he barely made the cut. He was always one of the lowest vote getters, last on voters’ list, it seems. While Joe is a nice guy and a progressive Democrat (like this writer), he’s lacking … charisma, which is no big deal if you are a normal person with normal ambitions, but a big draw back if you want to do cart wheels in the political arena. Joe’s lack of OOOMPH!! is probably one of the reasons why Tim Murray didn’t take him along to the State House in Boston.

We like Grace Ross who ran for city council last election cycle and is considering a run for mayor. But - and how weird is this? - she probably won’t get very far before she was/is tarred and feathered by the folks who killed her last political campaign - the folks lead by Lisa Weinberg - mayoral candidate Joe O’Brien’s WIFE. That’s right - Lisa wrecked Grace’s chances and now she can rah rah rah! for her drippy hubby!

Grace Ross seemed to be doing very well last election. In fact, she did exceedingly well in the primaries - seventh on a list with room for only six at large folks. So she was primed to knock some incumbent off (some thought former city councilor Mike Perotto looked the weakest) … BUT THEN LISA began the trash talking. She gave birth to the rumor that Grace Ross was anti-semitic, a Jew hater. Just look at the Green Party’s website! Lisa and pals said. And Grace is a member of the Green Party! My God! What’s next? Totally new, outside, fresh-faced politicians for Worcester! Call the WPD!

Was Lisa truly concerned about Grace? Or was this a ploy to help her husband’s political pals (the old boy network, led by Timmy Murray) Ric Rushton, Joe Petty, etc hold onto to their city council seats? Or, was Lisa, like so many folks in Worcester, afraid of something/someone new? Grace Ross ran for Massachusetts governor under the Green Party banner, hails from Cambridge and is a lesbian who is out and proud. Lisa and her crew continued to hammer away at Grace. By the time the November election rolled around, Grace Ross was beaten to a pulp, had lost her lead, had fallen way behind.

Thank you, Lisa, for knocking out a progressive, decent person who cares about (I bet) pretty much what you and your husband care about: the inner-city, the working poor, urban education etc. Why knockout someone who could have done great things for Worcester based on the Green Party website’s ramblings about Palestinians?

So your husband can run for Mayor of Worcester next election cycle. Yawn.

Then there’s Gary Rosen - supposedly a friend of Mayor Konnie Lukes. He says he’s running for mayor because he thinks Konnie is doing such a shitty job. He wants Kate Toomey (another mayoral candidate) and Joe O’Brien to step aside so he can go at Konnie alone - and beat her. Konnie and Gary live near each other. I thought they were pals. Yeesh. With friends like Gary Rosen, who needs enemies?

Then there’s Kate Toomey. Rather than run for mayor she should begin a serious weight loss program. In her 40s, Toomey walks with a cane. Arthritis? If so, losing 50 or so pounds could be the best thing for her - not a political win. She can do that in 5 or 10 years. And besides, she’s just an echo of L.G. Tim Murray and the Worcester old boys political club/clique. She will do whatever they (Rushton, etc) tell her to do. She is their echo/echo chamber.

Why would anyone vote for her? Because she was adopted by the Tinsley’s - an illustrious Worcester political family. And she has an Irish surname. Well, that gets her half way to the mayor’s office!

So let the whacky, whacked out Worcester mayoral race begin!