By Rosalie Tirella

Don’t forget to vote TODAY! We urge you to vote for:

1. Congressman Jim McGovern.

This election cycle incumbent Jim McGovern has a bevy of Republican challengers nipping at his heels, a la little chihuahuas in doggie day care. They think they can ride the nutty/racist/cynical Tea Bagger wave to Washington. They think they can spew the same crap as Rand Paul and expect it to work here. They will not prevail, if we all do what we have been dong for years – vote for Jim McGovern!

McGovern is one of the most well liked politicians in the region. Why? Because Jim McGovern is a genuinely nice, modest and effective Congressman. Because he not only brings in millions of federal dollars for all sorts of Worcester/Worcester County projects but because he always votes his conscience.

Let’s get past the millions of federal dollars McGovern has brought to Worcester/Worcester County for our streets, highways and byways, schools and parks. Let’s get beyond the fact that if reelected, McGovern will be one of the most powerful figures in Congress. Let’s put aside the political folks lore that under his political tutelege Tim Murray, Joe O’Brien, Jim Augustus and every other local Democratic bright boy blossomed and bloomed to become … political heavy weights in city and state politics. Which translates to more jobs, dough and projects for Worcester. We have never been a Tim Murray fan, but we have always loved McGovern, his political mentor.

Why? Because for years McGovern has advocated for the hungry and believes that in America no one – absolutley no one – should go hungry. It is because of Jim that we have SNAP, more school lunches and breakfasts, more summer feeding programs for low-income kids and more poor kids eating more nutritious school breakfasts and lunches.

McGovern is also working to rescue the wonderful Ernest Hemingway house in Cuba, thus preserving the literary legacy of one of America’s greatest novelists – and opening cultural doors to Cuba.
Maybe most important, Jim McGovern is not afraid to say NO to war. He comes from a Catholic tradition where the weak – usually the poor and children and women – are never sacraficed to the storng, are never mere cannon fodder. They are the people whom Jesus had in mind when he preached: “The last shall be first and the first shall be last!”

Jim was one of the first in Washington to decry the Iraq War and the Afghanistan mess. I have always admired McGovern for his votes on the wars and his protests over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have smiled proudly when I watched the TV news to see Jim being led away by police, with other anti-war protesters. While other politicians would worry and ask themselves: Will this affect me back home – make me unelectable? Jim McGovern follows his conscience. Not the latest polls.

It is rare that we get a politician who can both bring home the bacon (important community projects, $$$ and more) and set our souls soaring!

Please re-elect James (Jim) McGovern to Congress!

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2. Guy Glodis for State Auditor!

Yes, we know, Guy has hit a few “Bumps” on the road to becoming State Auditor, but I think – I know – he will prevail. This state needs Guy! He is the only Democrat capable of winning state wide, when it comes to the auditor’s race.

Guy is not as liberal on social issues as we are, but he won’t be making social policy for the state of Massachusetts. He will, however, audit every state agency – no matter how gargantuan and complex or teeny and straightforward. We know Guy will pore over every state check book, Dome book, pay roll, stipend and petty-cash coffee can. He will track every last nickle down for the taxpayer. It is our money, after all!

This is why we like Guy! He will save us money! Money that we can redirect to kids, parks, neighborhoods, health care, property tax relief and more! Like I said, it’s our – the taxpayers’ – money. Shouldn’t we know where are dough is going? What our money is buying us?

Look at what Guy accomplished as “high” Sheriff of Worcester County: He refused to live in the free-taxpayer-paid-for home on the prison grounds, where his predecessor Sheriff Flynn squatted for many, many years. This allowed Flynn to save a ton of cash and even keep horses (at the taxpayers’ expense). (Flynn’s daughter really liked the prison horsies!) Well, Guy Glodis donated the former sheriff’s house to Dismas House, a nonprofit social service agency that works with offenders.

Dismas House converted the place to a half-way house for offenders, where the guys are able to reenter the work force, meet with councilors and learn/relearn daily living skills. Glodis even donated the the prison horses to folks who could pay the thousands of dollars it costs (per year) to feed, house, provide veterinary care for, etc a 2,000 pound animal. It should never have been the taxpayers!

And ya know what? We like Guy’s ballsiness! We like his verbal mis-steps and goofy, off-color jokes that get him into trouble with all those thin-skinned pols! (Guy never picks on the weak – or even the regular guy.)

Guy is real! Guy is himself! Just like InCity Times!

In politics, a bizarro world, where every politician bleaches his teeth chalk white and test drives every sound byte with his/her personal poll takers and media advisers, Guy stay trues to himself!

Vote for Guy Glodis for State Auditor!

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3. Margot Barnet for State Representative – 13th Worcester District.

Margot Barnet is the gal for us! We liek the fact that she is endorsed by Worcester Mayor Joe O’Brien – a true progressive and community activist.

We like the fact that Barnet was endorsed by unions that represent janitors who at this point are making about $9 bucks an hour. One shouldn’t be ashamed of being endorsed by janitors and other working people – people wo wanted to be treated fairly – not be exploited. Barnet, a chiropractor with deep roots in the heath and environmental fields, has sided with the nurses at Saint Vincents hospital and worked on community gardens with the Main South based Regional Environment Council.
During the recent candidate debate Barnet proved herself to be honest, compassionate and committed to Worcester/Worcester County.

The only candidate to be anti-casino bill, Barnet doesn’t hide her stand. She – like InCity Times – believes casinos will canibalize local economies, shut down our local small businesses. Hanover Theatre’s executive directors have said that if a casino opens up (in Palmer?), they most likely will end up shutting Hanover’s doors.

And let’s not get started on gambling addiction and other social ills that come with casinos … .

We hope Margot Barnet wins the primary. Please vote for her today!