Happy New Year to all – as we enter the local political season here in Somerville, the usual and unusual rumor mill starts grinding away.  The Pod People (old definition = political prostitutes) have been busy scurrying around rumor mongering already.  Let’s jump right into some local news and then roll into the rumors, shall we?

Long time city employee Mike Foley, who once served as the Head of Inspectional Services and recently as the Supervisor of School Facilities, has moved on to another community to work.  Apparently negotiations over his salary didn’t work out, so he applied to and landed the Assistant Superintendent of Inspectional Services post for the Town of Framingham.  We also heard that he wasn’t happy and wasn’t recognized as part of the “team” here.  Well now he’s gone – and hopefully he will do well working in Framingham.

One big time rumor overheard recently was that former State Rep. Vinny Ciampa might be switching party affiliation and going over to the Republicans.  Vinny lost his seat in the Democrat Primary to self-proclaimed “Progressive” Carl Sciortino, whom Vinny says was a “one issue” candidate.  It seems that Vinny is apparently considering a position in Gov. Romney’s administration.  As the saying goes:  “One door closes and another one opens”  Hey, stranger things have happened.

Are you ready for the local political rumors and what we have heard on the street?  Here goes: 

Former Mayoral Candidate Tony Lafuente is taking a poll and weighing his options on whether it’s a good time to run and what office to run for (that always helps). 

The so-called “progressives” (led by State Rep. Pat Jehlen and new State Rep. Sciortino) are sizing their ranks up to see what Ward Alderman seats they are going to go after.     Alderman Bob Trane, who won his election two years ago by a very small margin, is said to be all set for his “progressive” opponent this year.

Alderman Jack Connolly will probably have an opponent this coming year – who apparently used to be an aide to State Rep. Jehlen.

Former Alderman Kevin Tarpley’s return to local politics has been apparently derailed over bad publicity recently.  We hear he will still go after his old seat from Alderwoman Maryann Heuston – even though he recommended her when he left – and she’s doing a good job.  The whole “that’s MY seat” mentality started in Ward Four last election and here it goes again – with silliness like that, it’s no wonder the progressive’s smell blood in the water across the city.

Ward Three is the one to watch early on – Alderman Tom Taylor, who has done an outstanding job for years, may not have an opponent.  Or will he?  We have heard plenty of names being thrown around, all of them being tossed aside once Former Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay’s name is mentioned as possibly running for Tom’s seat.  We heard an even more interesting rumor – that it might not be Dot, but actually her husband Bert who runs for the seat.

The so-called “Progressives” – all 25 of them – met recently to plan out their strategy for this year’s local elections – or takeovers – however you’d care to phrase it.  We know that the “regular” or “normal” people in the Democratic Party will be waiting for them this year – with well planned and attended caucuses so hopefully the “progressives” will be knocked out of the box early on.

Did anyone watch the SCAT show with two panels of local women headed by State Rep. Pat Jehlen and Former Alderwoman Helen Corrigan?  From what we could tell, the main portion of the discussion was regarding John Kerry’s defeat in the recent Presidential race and why.  It was kind of silly watching them blame everything and everyone for the loss – ignoring the real reason.  Not to copy Jeff Foxworthy’s shtick but “When the other Senator from your state is Ted Kennedy – and he’s known as the “Conservative” Senator – you just might be a Liberal”.

Pod Person alert!  A well known local property owner and political “hanger-on” who lives on Benton Road has been making a spectacle of himself as of late.  Apparently this resident has attracted a lot of attention from his neighbors by the way he keeps his property.  Don’t those people know that he will do what he wants and doesn’t care what they say?  The neighbors think he’s politically connected – we know his history and we’d probably use the more accurate term of “political prostitute” – which just means being with the winner, no matter what.  You’d be lying if you said you didn’t know at least one of them.

The Mayor’s Christmas Party (privately paid, not city money) went off very well – the room was packed.  After all the hoopla over invitations not being mailed out correctly, you can be sure that the first list will be corrected and it will probably not happen again. 

The city’s first big storm of the season was handled with precision by the DPW.  The streets were well plowed and the big snow mounds removed in short time.  DPW Commissioner Stan Koty and Mayor Joe have earned well deserved congratulations for a job very well planned and executed.  The DPW crews work very hard to keep our streets cleaned – everyone is pitching in down there.

The big rumor in Union Square is that with the demolition of the building across from Dunkin Donuts – that this could be the location for the train station for the hopeful Green Line Extension.  We also heard that the city might take Ricky’s Flower Mart and the Fred M. Susan Auto Body Shop by eminent domain for a new Police/Fire Station to replace their existing building.  Some people might remember that this site was an MBTA garage for many years and it has been said that the ground should have been cleaned up prior to the rushed construction in the 1980’s – this has led to the environmentally unhealthy conditions inside.

The Somerville News was recently audited by an independent organization for distribution and circulation in Somerville and unofficially it shows that we have more readers then the “Farm Team”.  When the audit is official, we will be making a public statement regarding our audit, as well as other publication’s audits which should surprise everyone but us – we know we will be happy.  Also of note – The Somerville News will be moving its operations out of 7 Davis Square into a more visible and accessible location in the heart of Davis Square – the new address will be announced soon.