Welcome to my campaign site!
ElectJOE URENECKfor Boston Councilor-At-Large
Running as a WRITE-IN CANDIDATE in the Boston City Election
on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 (Preliminary-THANK YOU FOR YOUR WRITE-IN VOTES IN THE PRELIMINARY ELECTION! ) and on Tuesday, November 8, 2005 (Final).
To the voters who gave me a write-in vote in the final election, thank you, and please remember there
is another election in 2007! Though we have a campaign spending ordinance ($20,000 limit-see below) in Boston all the candidates
in this election appeared to pay it little mind. Does money buy elections? Not by itself. Connolly, a non-incumbent, spent the most of all the candidates per vote but
still fell short. Incumbent Flaherty's spending in the stratosphere at over $400,000 may have helped him win first place.
Incumbent Murphy spent the least but was re-elected. Non-incumbent Yoon was no slouch in his spending and so when compared to
the other young newcomer, O'Malley who spent much less and failed , his investment paid off. Should we care how much a candidate spends? I believe we should because the more money raised means more donors asking the
election winner to satisfy their special interests. Not a resounding start for anyone who has run on a slogan of changing
'politics as usual'.
Here's the approximate spending breakdown (pending final submissions) by the other candidates to the Campaign Finance Office:
- Candidate-----Amount------Per vote-----------------
- Connolly-----$289,196----$9.15 spent per vote:--fail
- Flaherty-----$410,000----$8.33 spent per vote:--success
- White--------$156,745----$5.81 spent per vote:--fail
- Yoon---------$195,895----$4.68 spent per vote;--success
- Flynn--------$61,677-----$2.84 spent per vote:--fail
- Arroyo-------$107,473----$2.47 spent per vote:--success
- O'Malley-----$63,837-----$2.26 spent per vote:--fail
- Murphy-------$67,545-----$1.90 spent per vote:--success
TOTAL SPENT BY THE CANDIDATES SO THAT THEY CAN SERVE THE PUBLIC: $1,352,368. I can't help but wonder what a million dollars-plus could have done for the victims of hurricane Katrina or the tidal wave in South East Asia or perhaps even to deal with a few problems here in Boston.
In comparison my campaign spent less than $7,000.(For which, since we are still paying, your donation would be greatly appreciated!)
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MY PRIORITIES ARE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SAFETY, HOMELAND SECURITY AND TRADITIONAL FAMILIES!
Dear registered voter,
I ask for your write-in vote in both the preliminary and final city elections for the Boston City Council.
I have been active in housing, education, economic development and judiciary issues in Boston since the 1970s. Born and raised in Boston, I am an alumnus of Boston public schools through high school and a translator by profession. My parents and children live in the city. I want Boston to remain a liveable city and I believe my knowledge and experience will help Boston meet the many new challenges, both expected and not, in the years ahead. Councilors provide policy direction for the city administration on many important social issues that affect us daily. As councilor I will address the underlying causes of the difficulties we face in housing, education, medical care and fiscal oversight. As city councilor I will:
On Tuesday, September 27 and Tuesday, November 8, please vote and if you agree that these issues are important please consider casting your vote for me by WRITING-IN my name at the bottom of the paper ballot in the spaces provided! WRITE-IN CANDIDATE for COUNCILOR-AT-LARGE Your Contribution is Needed! 
Please support my campaign with a donation by credit card so that I can reach voters in both the preliminary and final election. You may make a donation online or send your donation by mail to:
Ureneck for Councilor Campaign
2 Marlowe St.
Dorchester, MA 02124
617 436-0320
Many believe our election procedures are derived from the system practiced by the ancient Greeks but there is a major difference-the Greeks built in term limits. All political candidates were chosen by lottery to serve for a specified term and, once selected, were held to the highest standard. Compared to the Greek method being a write-in candidate is not so unusual! Boston has a city municipal code limiting campaign spending for at-large councilors to $20,000. The law doesn't dampen the enthusiastic campaign expenditures of some candidates, however, who spent well over $100,000 in their 2003 campaign. Support for traditional families means respecting the city’s cultural and religious heritage. Unfortunately, Boston is not immune from the movement to disallow notions of morality in the public sphere even though religion is an undoubted part of our nation and our city’s history. Given the type of current events sponsored by the mayor’s office the so-called Family Protection ordinance created by the city council is really no surprise. We can't expect much from this city council and mayor except more of the same. Perhaps the current city government will decide that Boston’s city seal “Sicut Patribus Sit Deus Nobis” (“As with our fathers may God be with us”) is too divisive a statement and should be replaced with a more politically correct slogan.
Here are some of my recent essays: |
