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A Peabody first

Aug 3rd, 2007 by Nelson Benton

Legend has it that columnist Walter Winchell once advised his readers that if they wanted to learn the art of politics they should visit Peabody, Mass.
I’ve never been able to find the exact quote, but the truth is that politics has long ranked behind only football as the North of Boston community’s favorite sport. But times may be changing.
City Clerk Tim Spanos reports that for the first time since Peabody was incorporated as a city in 1917, there will not be a preliminary election for either ward or citywide office this year. There just aren’t enough candidates in any race to require one.
So all the name-calling, rumor-mongering and sign-stealing that have been staples of the municipal election season in the Tanner City can be put on hold until well after Labor Day.

Posted in Nelson Benton | View Comments

  • Harry Birmingham

    There is no doubt Peabody politics has taken a short nap but time will tell if it be thankfully so. There will be politicians and other city officials who will have their agendas hidden or not. I remember only to well the untiring efforts by the now City Clerk and former City Clerk Natalie Maga and their past staffs . Maybe you should seek help from the radio stations of that time to see what Mr. Winchell had to really say about Peabody’s politics. The city was certainly small then but it did have its way of being ” dirty ” when it came to the candidates running for office . As I had been told , the alledged dirtiness affected whole families because of tongue wagging directed toward them and their favorite candidate [s].

  • Jim Carlson

    Todays Salem News (August 7) has an article about the dearth of candidates in Peabody. The thrust of the articles 2 or 3 interviewees is that ” nobody wants to run because you can’t do right by everyone and you get no respect.”
    OH!!! Gosh, you don’ see many incumbents withdrawing, you usually see them running for higher office.
    The reason most people won’t run is because they don’t see how they can beat the incumbent(s).
    The only way we will get rid of them since they (the legislature and the courts) won’t allow us to have term limits is by exercising our own term limits and voting the “buggers”out.

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