I'm thinking of running for County Commisioner. Some background for those from where counties are worthwhile. When I was in college in Quincy, IL there was Adams county. Between Quincy and the next town there was nothing but Adams county. In Massachsetts there is no space between towns. Where New Bedford ends Dartmouth begins and where Dartmouth ends Westport begins. I've been searching, but I can't find exactly what the county governmemnet does short of the Sheriff and the Registrar of Deeds. In Massachusetts we already have "assimilated" some counties. (In MA the State is the Borg.)

This is what I wrote to better explain it to Libertarians who think I'm nuts. (Oh, by the way, I tend to stammer when excited and writing this out helps get the point across.) (Signatures forms I have to get filled out ballot access come out Feb. 12th.)

Why I may run for Bristol County Commissioner in 2002


In the best-case scenario, we win. We close the office. We gain experience and voter trust as people who do what they say (Even if they are promising their own unemployment). Yes, I know the legislature will probably waste the savings. That is not the point.
In the worst case scenario the incumbent pulls in all his favors, donates many turkeys at Thanksgiving, etc., and we lose. We gain experience and name recognition. Those favors will not be available in 2004. The incumbent’s salary continues to be paid for his deciding which of his family members are best suited to be county treasurer.

Considering the costs (yard signs and incidentals) the worst-case scenario is not horrible. (The best-case scenario is better, but that is why it is “best”.) The biggest thing I can see this eating up is my time. I am willing to spend my time. A fundraiser that says – no that is too much is different and may get noticed for being different. As for campaigning, I’ll talk to anyone anywhere and since the position is so simple I won’t stammer (much).
If you want to know my position on the Bristol County Commissioner, here it is.

We don't need a Bristol County Commissioner.

My Long answer will be:

The Sheriff will get his budget directly from the Secretary of State; the Registrar will get his budget directly from the state; etc. We did it with Hampden, Worcester, Essex, Suffolk, and Berkshire counties but the current commissioner was too intent on appointing his brother-in-law the county treasurer. I don't think we need to pay those salaries anymore. I will become unemployed to prevent bureaucrats from stealing our children's money.

If someone tries to tar me with the “kooky-Libertarian” label I will ask what difference does it makes since I will put myself out of a job if elected and why are you changing the subject?
If they say the Sheriff is an important elected official and they don’t want to change that I will say, “Neither do I. MGL section 34B, which ended several county governments, has a section exempting the Sheriff and his staff (sub-sections 12 – 14). Instead of getting paid by the County Treasurer the checks will come from the Secretary of State.”
If they say the Registry of Deeds is too important to close I’ll say, “Yes it is. That’s why in sub-section 10 the registry is taken over by the state. Instead of the checks coming from Bristol County they will come from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

(Some more background may be worthwhile: One of the current Commissioners hired his brother-in-law to be county treasurer. To be fair his brother-in-law was the most qualified of all his relatives.)

My question for you nitpickers, is should I run? And if I do I'm partial to the slogan "Berry will stop bureaucrats from stealing our children’s money!" (You only think that's a joke.)

Sounds like a neat idea to run on that platform. One bit of advice, that slogan is a good platform but it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

Interesting platform. However, I know it's impossible in MA, but I'd rather see less state control and more county control...

Here in L.A., some portions of the city are trying to secede from LA proper and form their own city, because downtown doesn't really pay attention to them.

If you hand over governance to the state, you'll have people who only care about what happens in Boston (don't know if that's anywhere near you) making decisions.

Um, what is the minimum age for running for the Senate in the U.S.? I forgot.

30.

Peter.

Very good Peter, epically since you are not American.

BTW 25 is the age for running for the House of Representatives and 35 is the age to run for president.

We are doing America this year in Politics lessons.

Peter.

ScottN,

Boston is 60 minutes away if no traffic or State Troopers are in the way.

Occaisionally someone will mention seceding from Massachusetts until someone asks if they really want to join Rhode Island. (I'd rather be a forgotten colony of someone who thinks they are superior than a remembered colony of a corrupt government that gives up all pretence of superiority.)

Decentralizing government is good, but someone must break up the old-boy networks and patronage that local politics breeds. As soon as you have a represntative republic as opposed to town meetings with 100% participation, you have corruption. At some point that "pure" democracy becomes unwieldly. (Is un wieldly a word? I miss spell check!) Where do you draw the line? In this state the line is already drawn in Boston (in pencil, it has been drawn in stone in Washington D.C. but the concrete is still wet [I hope].) I can spend my life quixotically trying to change the grain, or I can cut along the existing grain.

Brian,

How about, "Berry will turn off the lights when he leaves."

Thanks Pete!

Good point ScottN, however, don't you think the authority should devolve to the cities and towns instead of Boss Hogg? (A reminder for those reading this late, there is no space that isn't part of a city or town in Massachusetts [Where one town ends the next begins, and so on].)

I'm going to do it. After Wednesday Feb.12th I stand outside supermarkets (with my extended family) during Blizzards (It'll be February) to get signatures. Of course, there may be another hurdle. As a Libertarian I have to get Libertarian or unenrolled signatures if this is a "partisan" race. (Yes, all politics is partisan, but this is Massachusetts. City councilors are in a "non-partisan" race.

Welcome to Massachusetts! I have two months (two winter months) to collect 1,000 signatures. Doesn't sound too bad until they add that signatures from people registered Republican or Democrat (or any other "thrid" party except the Libertarians) don't count. I will get 1,000 Libertarian or unenrolled (there is an Independent Party) signatures to get on the ballot. OK, there are worse hoops and getting the signatures is a good way to "get out the vote" or get "name recognition". Still, for a position that does not do anything and should be eliminated to require seven times the signatures for a State Rep (1,000 vs. 150) seems a little excessive.

I might be a little busy until April 30th. Try not to miss me too much. ("OK, Bill, that's do-able.")

Amusing vignettes from the getting signatures for ballot access trail.

Oh, background. I need 1,000 signatures and they can't be from Republicans or Democrats. I'm using the voter list to go door to door and beg for signatures. I've learned to dress nice but avoid a white shirt and tie. To avoid the conversation about JESUS they pretend they aren't home. About 50% sign when they realize I'm not nuts. The Fun stories are in the other 50%.

Most of the people who say no just say no. Actually that is he best negative response I can get since it quickly lets me move on to the next potential signer. The funny ones offer an explanation.

I am at their door and they try lying. "I'm not a registered voter," they say. I look at the list and show them that they are. Then they try explaining they are Democrats. I show them the "U" that means they are unenrolled in any party. Then they ask what I am. ScottN, it is distressing how many people associate us Libertarians with Lyndon LaRouche. (BTW, Lyndon is a Democrat.)

There was the guy who didn't want to get jury duty. I asked if his car is registered and told him his name was already on a list at city hall.

There was the couple that talked to me for five minutes about what the commissioners do. (A short conversation I assure you.)

There were the guys who pretended to be deaf. I say pretended because their TV was on, in plain sight, without closed captioning.

There was the person who wouldn't sign because she didn't know me. (I'm not friendly with 1,000 people maybe I shouldn't get into politics.)

There was the woman who didn't want to "lock in" her vote. After I explained that she could vote against me if she found out I was $tupid, she signed.

The encouraging ones just ask where to sign. We get enough people running unopposed here in Massachusetts; choices are good.

Well I've rambled enough.

Here's one that had me speechless. A man answered the door and listened to my spiel and said, "I'm not home." Of all the responses I thought of, I was totally unprepared for that. I figured even if I could get him to admit his existence he'd probably resent me and not sign anyway. I said, "When you come home I hope you have a nice day," and left. I got ten signatures, but that story... I'm still speechless.

I told that story around work. Some one said I should've said, "Oh, what time will you be home? I can come back then."

So how many signatures are you at?

William,

Congratulations for standing for political office - I hope you get your target.

To stand as a candidate for the local council here (England) you have to get far fewer signatures (my hazy mind says ten...) And as long as the signatories are registered on the electoral roll they can be from any political affiliation - or none.

What I found heartening from my experience of going round an area to get those nomination signatures was that although about 50 % (at least) said they weren't going to vote for me (or rather the party) they all signed - just so an election could be held ... Indeed within the same council there is one member who has been returned unopposed for at least ten years ....

Fingers

Matthew Patterson,

I haven't counted. The signature pages must be pristine (or so I told) and I turn them in fast before someone tests a pen in the corner and invalidates a whole page. I guesstimate about 60. (Of those sixty maybe 98% are valid.) February was cold and it got dark early. I hope to do better in March and April, although it looks as if I won't make it.

By the way, if there weren't enough hoops already, I'm dealing with the Office of Campaign & Political Finance. (It's a Massachusetts government thing.) If I screw up I can face penalties of $10 a day. Considering I will not fund raise without ballot access, that seems a little steep. I am ready for the hoops, but I don't want them set on fire.

Good news. My call wave recorded the call from the Office of Campaign & Political Finance while I was posting and I had to disconnect to call back.

If I haven't raised or spent money yet (some candidates pay petitioners) I am not required to clog up the office with paperwork that may be meaningless come May. Of course, if I get on the ballot I'm a candidate regardless. If I get on the ballot and if I form a committee we have to open up a separate bank account and deal with the IRS. The next set of hoops will be on fire if I make it through the first set.

I need an average of 18 valid signatures a day. I was getting about twelve (raw) a day. I gave up. Before the elections when it is settled that they are unopposed (they because there are two) I'm thinking of writing a letter to the editor asking those that did not sign to look in the mirror.

If you want something done sometimes you've got to do it yourself. The age of good nicknames is over. No one will call me "cannonball" or "satchel" or "bird" or "batman".

If anyone is curious who this Blue Berry person is, I'll be changing my voter registration in November. The final straw was delivering signature petitions (for the Libertarians who run where Republicans fear to tread [minor offices, like US senate, etc.]). When writing out the receipt the clerk (or Clerk) would ask my name. I usually answer, "Berry as in Blueberry." I was twice asked how many r's and is that with a y or an i. I decided I'd rather be known as a little seed bearing fruit that a disease.

http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/biolib/hc/nh1.html for info on beriberi.

What, you don't want to be William "Beri-Beri" Berry?

If I go by Bill "beri-beri" Berry I can be B⁴. That can lead to a Abbot and Costello routine:

Costello: who did you vote for city council?
Abbot: B⁴
Costello: Not before you voted, when you actually voted who did you vote for?

Signature petitions come out in May, but it is never too early to do a web page.

I'm running for City Councilor

Below is what I stand for (besides the lovely interns city councilors get.)

I favor limiting spending. No, not tax reduction. Spending reductions must be first.
What spending would I cut? Neither of us have the time for that list. Let me tell you what I wouldn’t cut.
1) Police Dept.: We can argue about what laws are worth while, but in the end we need police to enforce what we agree on.
2) Fire Department: Getting a dental hygienist for the mayor is nice, but if my apartment were burning I’d regret closing a fire station to fund the Historic Commission.
3) DPW: That’s really a catch all for all the things you don’t think about but must be done. Things like, garbage collection, pothole filling, snow removal, park and building maintenance. I don’t think this is just non-cutable, but I agree with Dick White when he says garbage men should be able to take a lunch break.
4) The Standard-Times claims that 90% of our education costs are paid for by the state. While I don’t favor Beacon Hill having that much control, I’ll take the money. The 10% is non-cutable. In that I include the libraries. Education does not stop after high school. Sure, we may finance someone reading Stephen King, but that is a small price to pay for giving someone access to the State Laws and information about hot issues of the time.

That’s it. Everything else is an extravagance.
It may be justifiable, but the onus is on the program supporters to say why we should get it.
I’m not totally deaf to arguments like “The Federal Government will pay $1 million if we hire a Director of Atomic Wedgies for $20,000”, or “We will attract $17 million in new business if we fund a bureau of Sofia Milos worshipers.” The agencies sound silly, but the numbers will get my attention.
Oh, I’ve been kind of silly here, but did you know there was a dental hygienist on the payroll? It was in the Standard-Times: the one with the crying school librarian who got her pink slip. In an article underneath there was a list of cuts the Mayor made. One was a dental hygienist.
Was it one member of the dental hygiene department?J

Oh, my web page can be found at http://home.earthlink.net/~castlelong

Just an update. I need 50 signatures for ballot access and no one knows I'm a Libertarian so I can get any registered voter. (City Council is a much lower office than County Commisioner.) I was at afair in the North End of the city and was amazed at how easy the Republicrats and Demicans have it. In about an hour I had ten signatures. Some of them may even be good! ("I'm aregistered voter! I voted for Reagan!") The rudest response to "Excuse me, are you a registered New Bedford voter?" that I got so far is "No. Go away please." (Hey, "please" is not rude.)

To BLUE BERRY

1. Do you have a soul?
2. Have you ever done anything that could be used against you in a Government Hall?
3. Can you handle having you, your family, your pet goldfish demonized at the personal level?
4. Can you handle people NitPicking beyond all imagination, everything you say?
5. Can you handle people twisting and distorting everything you say?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, You are not fit to assume a leadership position.

Start First by forming your own Political Smear Organization like Jessie Jackson did and go from there.

Polls voice

1) I want to go to City Council, not Heavan.
2) No, I can't afford foolishness.
3) Family? I'm divorced. They can hassle my ex-wife all they want.
4 + 5) Easy to handle. For #4 say one thing loudly. For #5 have it in writing.

Smear?! What do you think I am a politician.

No, you're chancellor of the Klingon empire... oh wait

Also, for number 3), I meant know offense.

NO offense

I better go to bed

AUUGGHHHHHHH!!!!!

No offense or offence or whatever taken. A "" means "I'm smiling when I say that." If you were concerned about accidentally pouring salt on the wound, relax. After 8 years it isn't festering although the scar is still visible.

I reread my post: I better add to that.

My ex-wife is an extremely wonderful person of whom I can honestly say it would be a shame if she was inconvenienced in anyway. The possibilty that a reporter may try to get a scoop and interrupt her at dinner does not amuse me in any way.

However, since the most wonderful person I ever met has such a low chance of being bothered that way, it is a sacrafice I must make.

Sacrifice is the correct word. The well being of my ex-wife and her lawyer is, and always will be, one of my top considerations. Unfortunately, it is not my only consideration. With a heavy heart I accept the extremely remote possibility that this may have impact on her.

The only thing that could move me to accept such an unlikely sacrifice would be the greater good of humanity. While my election to city council would not cure all the worlds ills, it would in a small way improve humanity's lot.

I'm stuffed.

But, Monsieur, (how do you say "Mr." in Polish?), it is a wafer thin pirogue. - Polish M'aitre D.

First the Polish festival. Kielbasa
Then the Greek Festival. Matchkeys (sp?) and stuff I can't spell so I won't even try.
Then the first Portuguese festival. Linguica
Then the second Portuguese festival. Chourico

Politicking was good at the Polish Festival. More Kielbasa.

If I was Polish, Greek, or Portuguese I might get away without politely sampling the ethnic food. I'm Irish. I'm not $tupid. I gained a zillion pounds.

I feel my arteries hardening.

What nationality is chocolate?

Either Swiss, Belgian, or Italian (Perugia).

Of course, technically, it's really Mexican.

You tell them that.

Do you know the cuisine you so highly prize is a FRAUD?! Your ethnic group stole it. Your ethnic group is proud to be thieves! Are you proud to be a thief too?!

What's your name again?

It's not so much where the ingredients originally came from as it is what the new culture made of them. Italy's spaghetti is different from either Ramen or Chinese noodles, and their polenta is different from either grits or Indian pudding.

The Aztecs did not know chocolate: they knew chocolatl, an unsweetened "herbal tea" type of drink made from cacao and chiles. The Spanish left out the Chiles and added sugar. It took the Dutch (or maybe the Germans -- "Deutch" often becomes "Dutch" in English) to process cacao with alkalai to produce cocoa, and the English to sweeten a variation cocoa made extra rich in cocoa butter to get eating chocolate. Finally the Swiss added milk to make it lighter, smoother, and creamier.

So I have to find an active German or Swiss community. Thanks for the 411, TomM.

how do you say "Mr." in Polish? Blue Berry

That's "Pan", with an "a" like in "arm" or "baa".

By the way, Spell Check insisted Perogue was right. It is Perogi. I won'd spellll chuck dis posty.

Oh it's Ba-KLA-va not BA-kla-va. There goes the Greek-American vote.

Good luck!