Dan Boyle for Mayor

Comment

Comment by Daniel C. Boyle on September 2, 2009 at 5:03pm

I will participate in the September 14 debate, and look forward to communicating my vision and ideas for the city of Holyoke.

Comment by aaron vega on September 2, 2009 at 4:03pm

Thank you for sharing Mr Boyle.

I hope you will participate in the Sept 14 pre-preliminary mayor forum hosted by the Latino Chamber, the Holyoke Health center and c.r.u.s.h.

There will be no endorsements from this event, just an opportunity to get your ideas out.

Comment by Daniel C. Boyle on September 2, 2009 at 3:47pm

Over a week ago, a friend was contacted by someone from the Firefighters Union stating they were interested in holding a mayoral debate. That firefighter was told that we wanted an invitation in writing that spelled out -- who, what, when, where, why and the expected ultimate outcome. As of 1:30 p.m., this date, I have had no direct contact from anyone in the Firefighters Union.

Yesterday (Sept. 1), I wrote and mailed a letter to the Firefighters Union describing my position. When I read the "debate" story in the Republican today, I made a copy of my letter and had it hand-carried to a representative of the Firefighters Union so they would have it in case they did not receive it in today's mail.

Below is my entire letter.




September 1, 2009

Mark Fortin
President
Firefighters Local 1693
C/o Holyoke Fire Dept.
600 High Street
Holyoke MA 01040

Dear Mr. Fortin,

It has come to my attention that Holyoke Firefighters Local 1693 is interested in holding a mayoral forum, the result of which would be the endorsement of a mayoral candidate. Please be advised that I am respectfully declining any invitation to participate in such an activity.

As you may know, this is my first venture into municipal politics in the City of Holyoke. I am an independent business person. I am not a member of a special interest group and my only allegiance is to the residents of the City of Holyoke collectively.

As Holyoke mayor, it will be my responsibility to develop a strategy and oversee collective bargaining and other labor-related matters for all municipal unions. With this in mind, I do not want to support the idea that I will favor one union over another on the basis of having received a political endorsement. So, paraphrasing the words of President Lyndon B. Johnson – I will not seek nor will I accept the endorsement of any municipal employees union in the City of Holyoke.

In my opinion, there is no more demanding a job in Holyoke than that of a municipal employee. I am asking for the equivalent of an endorsement from all municipal employees – and every other Holyoke voter – at the ballot box on September 22, 2009.

Respectfully,

Daniel C. Boyle
Candidate for Mayor of the City of Holyoke