'Not Many...Get to Do What We Will'
Three of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention next week are from Barrington.
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Three of the delegates heading to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., next week are from Barrington.
Town Council President June Speakman, Democratic Town Committee chair Mary Alyce Gasbarro and Democratic activist Anne Connor will participate in the four-day convention that starts Tuesday. Neither of them has ever attended a convention.
“I was at President Obama’s inauguration,” said Connor, “and I wanted to continue this journey.”
“I’m a loyal Democrat,” said Speakman, “and this is a big deal. And as a political scientist, I wanted to see how this works.”
Speakman is a professor of political science at Roger Williams University. She expects to bring back to her students a wealth of information gathered first-hand on this political process.
“I wanted to attend one in my lifetime,” said Gasbarro, a longtime Town Committee member. “I want to experience the process, read the platform, and be a good American.”
Neither of the delegates leaves for Charlotte with any expectations.
“I have no idea what to expect,” said Speakman, although she does anticipate that the logistics will be difficult given the size of the small city and an invasion by 7,000 delegates and 4,000 journalists.
“I have none,” Gasbarro said of expectations. “I just want to be in on it.”
“I’m going with a clean slate,” said Connor. “I want to experience everything.”
Connor said she is particularly interested in meeting delegates from other states. The RI delegation is staying in the same hotel as delegations from Michigan and Maryland, so she will get her chance.
Each of the women said they plan to participate in caucuses and attend receptions. The Women’s Caucus and the Hispanic Caucus are of particular interest to Speakman and Gasbarro.
Speakman is looking forward the most to President Obama’s speech next Thursday evening after he receives the Democratic nomination. But she also can’t wait to hear the speech by First Lady Michelle Obama because of some of the sniping done this week at the Republican National Convention about her dress and look as a First Lady.
“If I could have one wish filled,” said Connor, “it would be to meet the President.”
She doesn’t expect that will happen at the convention.
The delegates said they have been receiving constant emails and information about the convention. They expect to run into a variety of protesters as well as scores of delegates and politicians.
“We’ve been told to avoid them for security reasons,” said Gasbarro of any protesters. “Just walk straight ahead.”
Their days will start with breakfast with the entire RI delegation, which includes most of the state’s major Democrats. That’s when they will get their daily credentials and their intineraries.
The women said they have received “goodie bags” to carry to the convention. The bags contain RI delegation T-shirts, pins, buttons, pens and other memorabilia.
Do they believe that the convention is a meaningful exercise to most people?
“It’s the celebration of our candidate,” said Speakman, “and it helps us define our political differences. Millions watch. And most candidates get a bump in the polls. This is the kickoff to the general election.”
The women all said they are “very excited” about going to the convention and hanging out with this country’s leading Democrats.
“Not many people get to do what we will do,” said Connor.
John Baron
12:44 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
Look at that, the three ghosts of democrats past visiting Scrouge, or is that Obamba, I forget
Pledgling
7:55 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012
I thought Speakman was going to throw in the towel, especially after getting the town in an uproar about plastic bags. I can't believe the people of this town were used like that. She should be hiding her head in the sand, not running off to see Obama.
Manifold Witness
9:38 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012
Scientist June is an oxymoron embedded in an oxymoron– a “’political scientist’ from RI”.
Not many get to do what Scientist June does.
Scientist June doesn't offer true, factual, specifically-applicable science to support her pet issues. Instead, she uses her non-science to try to fool us into supporting whatever she & Kate Weynouth want to sneak in next.
Scientist June spends more time hoping we don’t notice her tricks than she actually spends actually governing. Throw in the towel? Oh, no. Scientist June simply decided that the time wasn’t right for her next move. She has great aspirations for higher office for herself because she believes that she is a superior politician.
Scientist June doesn't care if your taxes skyrocket unjustifiably- as long as her taxes continue to go down. Scientist June wanted a wind turbine in YOUR backyard, even with no wind study to support viability. She reinstalled the same crony BCWA directors year after year. Scientist June never listens to the public unless it furthers her personal agenda & she has only just begun forcing you to pay for “affordable” housing you can’t afford.
Scientist June out-and-out lies. When caught, she plays on the sympathies of others.
Scientist June was on David Cicilline’s transition team.
About allegations of voter fraud, tell us, Scientist June:
How widespread was the fraud? Who benefitted? And were non-eligible voters paid to vote a straight Democratic ticket?
GG
12:27 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
It is very important for our Republic that citizens participate in the process of governing. Otherwise, the vacuum is filled with self-serving people who promote minority positions over the common good. The negative comments serve only to dissuade others from putting themselves in the spotlight for fear of criticism. We should encourage participation, not denigrate it. Congratulations to these women who are participating and supporting what they believe in.
Susan Story
1:27 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
I watched Fox News all last week and never heard one word of sniping about First Lady Michelle Obama. Too bad Councilwoman Speaker doesn't focus on the positives of her candidate, but then that has been her party's practice this go around. I enjoyed three conventions and wish them well in Charlotte.
Sue Story, Milford, NH
Manifold Witness
2:12 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
It is very important for our Republic that some citizens take the time to participate
in the process of governing
by honestly critiquing the governing process.
Otherwise, the vacuum would be filled with self-serving people
who are in office simply because they filled the vacuum.
Fear of criticism may reflect a healthy self-evaluation process.
Those who are elected into office should be those who represent things we ALL can believe in –
as opposed to those who simply
“participate and support what THEY believe in”.
The truth is the truth.
If the truth about a particular government official/politician is viewed as “negative”,
that, in and of itself, says something.
If a potential politician is afraid that a potential constituent will say the truth,
that, in and of itself, says something.
If a politician wants the voters to stop critiquing political performance,
that, in and of itself, says something.
Some say, “You can’t critique politicians unless you are willing to run for office”.
The corollary to that fallacy is that the voters have no right to critique the politicians who run for office.
Imagine that.
Imagine that at the Democratic convention-
Mr. Obama and all the other speakers will spend their time setting the example
by simply praising Mr. Romney for his willingness to serve.
Bristol County Anonymous
2:55 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
June Speakman’s record includes:
1. Illegal Property Tax Revaluations- Well before revaluations were finalized, hundreds of June’s constituents presented scientific evidence to June showing that Barrington needed to adopt legal standards. Scientist June ignored them & accepted a personal property tax reduction. Then Barrington got sued by, oh, 800 people who won, in effect, when the settlement said that, yes, Barrington was not exempt from the law. Barrington had to redo the faulty reval. Legal expenses. Ouch. Where are those written standards, Scientist June?
2. Then there’s a massive wind turbine Scientist June wanted to install in residential Barrington to tower over homes. With no supporting wind data. Scientist June didn’t care.
3. BCWA crony directors were re-installed every year, even though they were not performing in a responsible manner. The problems at BCWA are well-documented and still need to be addressed.
4. The Zion property – Scientist June had Barrington taxpayers pay for the due diligence that was handed over to the buyer which was NOT the town because the town government couldn’t structure a deal and now there is ominous uncertainty as to the future and what the expense to the town might end up being.
5. “Affordable” housing – more to come on the eye-opening status of the problems with June’s plan.
6. Let’s not forget the EBEC just yet– Let’s not forget that June’s been at the table for that one.
Gary Morse
3:55 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
GG,
I have to disagree with you on this one. Indifference has become a strategy of those who have been "participating" in the running of our government.
We would still be drinking water from the polluted Kickemuit Reservior, and Pasquale DeLise would still be running the water authority, had it not been for strong relentless commenting.
It was over two years of work on that matter mainly because the councils chose to minimize the significance of the problem.