Konnie Lukes: Why can’t the T & G treat her the way they treat the boys?

By Rosalie Tirella

… with respect, deference, etc.

Why must the T & G’s Clive McFarlane trash a Konnie Lukes or a Dorothy Hargrove – both strong, smart, articulate women – and give free rides to bumblers and idiots like City Councilors Ric Rushton and Mike Germain?

Listen to the boy pols and you hear: dopes.

Listen to the girl pols and you hear: complete sentences, clear ideas, plans …

And yet the gals don’t ever get a break in this town!

Mayor Konnie Lukes is a nice person. Real, genuine, caring. You would never know this if you read the T & G and Blow Mag. When I first began ICT, I threw a year anniversary party and invited everybody – all of Worcester and the city councilors, too! Konnie, with her husband Jim, was the only pol who showed. She didn’t have to come  to the Java Hut and celebrate with us and oher folks, but she did. I still remember what she said – “I wish you years of success.” Konnie didn’t have to do that – she didn’t know me from Adam and I’m not at all rich or “connected.”  When you meet Konnie - you meet a warm person.  She is a good friend to lots of people in this town and is committed to education, immigrants, culture, etc. Call her and talk with her! She really is great! Check out her website  www.MAYORLUKES.com

And smart! She represents the city really well – has a grace that’s hard to match.

And in case you’ve forgotten: We wouldn’t have Worcester’s first BLACK, FEMALE school superintendent, if Konnie wasn’t Mayor and at the helm of the School Committee. If Tim Murray had been Mayor or if candidate Joe O’Brien had been in Konnie’s pumps, we would have had one of Worcester’s retreads/good ol’ boys – Steven Mills. A guy who knew Tim M. and every pol in town, but a guy who was not – according to many in the system – qualified to lead our public schools.

We can thank Konnie for getting the president of WPI and other great folks to come together to form a search committee that took the decision outa the hands of the usual gang. They made an informed choice: Dr. Melinda Boone.

And why should every dope who knows a Worcester pol – but isn’t certified to teach a class – get a job in Worcester’s public schools? Once again, Konnie was at the forefront of the nepotism mess that is the WPS. With our new school superintendent and new transparency in the WPS Department, we will have many more qualified teachers in our schools – not friends of friends of … Tim Murray, Ric Rushton, etc.

Why can’t we move into the 21′st century with some kind of grace? Why can’t Konnie be the one to lead us?  She has already put us on the right path. She will continue to help the City of Worcester … grow up.