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Race is on in the North End, East Boston and Charlestown
By adamg on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 8:27pm
Chris Kulikoski of the North End said today he'd been certified for the ballot this fall for the city council seat now held by Sal LaMattina.
Kulikoski, a former teacher who now runs the Mazzaro Family Market on Salem Street in the North End, was to formally announce his candidacy at party at Joe's American Bar and Grill tonight:
It is time that city government was better attuned to the working people, families and retirees of the city. Being a city councilor means representing everybody and looking out for the specific needs of each neighborhood – not catering to the well-connected.
He pointed to neighborhood schools, public safety, the structure of the city council and cleaner streets and parks as his major issues.
Neighborhoods:
Free tagging:
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Comments
Sticking with what I know works...
While Chris seems like a nice guy (from his website) and I truly appreciate his sercive to our country, Councilor LaMattina has been doing an excellent job.
His staff is always responsive and he seems focused more on doing someting useful, rather than doing something that will get him a headline. Focusing on improving street cleaning, controling the placement of cellphone antennaes, and regulating the annoying noise of icecream trucks and motorcycles may make some newsreporters smirk and will never get you on the 10 o'clock news. But this is exactly the kind of quiet and productive leadership that we need.
Sorry Chris, but I think I will stick with the guy that I know is already doing a good job.
As someone who has been to
As someone who has been to several meetings with Sal, I have to disagree about his effectiveness. One meeting, in particular, comes to mind where he and Chris were present. I have to say that Chris outshined him. Chris was very knowledgeable about the community and put forth practical solutions. While Sal is good at listening to concerns, there is little to no follow through. I think it is time every voice in District 1 have a chance to be heard and believe that Chris is that person.
I do not have a horse in
I do not have a horse in this race...
You have to be careful if you are going to base all of what a person is about in one meeting. There are plenty of topics where I can blow my state rep/state senator/other elected officials out of the water. So if I were at a meeting and one of those topics came up I would have a great advantage. Problem is I have glaring blind spots when it comes to topics, and geographic areas. So basing everything off of one meeting about one set of topics is dangerous. Id also be careful making these assumptions because many elected officials , especially those that listen, tend to hang back at times and take in the surroundings rather then pushing their own views on people.
Just to clarify, my opinions
Just to clarify, my opinions of neither the Councilor nor Chris are based on one meeting or one topic. I mentioned one meeting in particular because it was a good opportunity to see both "in action". I also cannot and do not deny the complexities of being an elected official, however, I am ready for change and I believe Chris is up for the challenges that this District brings.
Personally, I think that
Personally, I think that "sticking with what we know" is what makes government grow stale and lazy. I think there are more important issues to be tackled than ice cream truck noise....like education and safety. Chris Kulikoski seems like a stand up, hard working guy with strong values. I've talked to him a number of times now and what I like is that he isn't afraid to tackle the important issues head on. He served in Kuwait and is a leader in the community. Personally, I think a change from the status quo would do us good.