Bellicose Bumpkin

OK NOW I”M PISSED.
My anonymous coward fans out there on the ‘Net staged a write-in campaign to elect me to FinCom. The idea was that if I was busy on FinCom I wouldn’t be sitting around complaining about town government. These people are mostly the refugees from the defunct pro-casino Middleboro Casino forum and are well known to me. These guys generally hang on my every word and discuss/dissect every post, comment, and column that I publish. On the weeks that my Gazette column appears, they’re in a tizzy for days in anticipation.

All this attention simply because I oppose a project most of them stand to gain from personally.

As the election approached, a Mr. Don Baldwin also staged a write-in campaign for himself. I endorsed him and announced that I wouldn’t accept the FinCom seat if I won. Well, the results are in and I have to say that I’m hurt. The unwanted write-in campaign for the uncontested FinCom seat resulted in only 5 votes for me!

WTF!! I’m so disappointed.

I had visions of being swept into power in a wave of unpopular support and was looking forward to humbly declining the seat for the good of the town. But really 5 votes?!!! I’m pretty sure I could get 5 people to write in my dead cat.

It was all very flattering that a group of people would start a write-in campaign without my knowledge, permission, or desire. Seriously. Even though it was done in a mean spirit to ridicule me and to generally cause trouble for me, it was still flattering that so many people thought about me that much. Sadly “so many” turned out to be around 5. Disappointing. My ego is very bruised.

Congratulations Don – I’ll get you next time.

If you guys start organizing a write-in campaign for me right now, you might be able to scare up 10 or 20 votes for the Selectman race next year.

   Send article as PDF to

This is prelimary for now and I’ll update as info comes in:

McKinnon beats Spataro by 50 votes
Rullo beats Stevens by 73 votes
Perkins beats Beaulieu by 43 votes
Haber loses to incumbent School Committee by 133
Belanger over Baldwin by 22,231 votes

Very close indeed. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all for participating. If the McKinnon result stands thanks to Steve S. for his service. I disagree with many of his positions but there’s no arguing with the time commitment he’s made over the years in service of the town.

Update 2 – Don Baldwin won his right-in campaign despite a last minute attempt to take the seat by someone(don’t know who) that staged a write-in/sticker campaign at the MHS.

Update
Here are the results from the town clerk.

   Send article as PDF to

This in from the Nemasket forum:

As previously offered, I will publicize any event for any candidate on my blog if asked.

Candidates are highly encouraged to participate in the Nemasket forum as well.

UPDATE
Donations in the form of a check can be sent to

Be sure to tell him that Bumpkin sent you.

Radio, radio
Greg will be on Coffee Shop Talk with Adam Bond on April 3rd, 11 AM – 12PM.

   Send article as PDF to

Currently list of Middleboro town election candidates
This just in from the Middleboro forum. Orginal post has been reformatted for easier reading.

Since no one seems to know who’s running – is there a way to find out who had pulled papers?

You can call the Town Clerk on Monday at 508 946-2415 for a list of who has taken out nomination papers.

As of Friday

   Send article as PDF to