Bennett's Blog

Renee Sherwood looks to oust Cynthia Stead as top Cape GOP Woman.

Breaking News:  Hyannis-  The Cape Cod Times announced at 11:17 this morning that due to the election between Cynthia Stead and Sherwood, Stead will be stripped of her Bi-Weekly Column until after the February 5th, 2008 Showdown.  According to a phone message from Bill Mills, member of the Cape Cod Times Editorial Board, to ensure fairness and objectivity, Stead will be discontinued as a "stringer writer" until after the GOP State Committee Election.  

Peter Porcupine may come acroper of another female pol 

On February 5th, 2008, the GOP voters of the Cape and Islands will go to the polls and vote to decide who they want as their GOP State Committee Woman.  This year voters will decide whether they support embattled GOP operative and current incumbent Cynthia Stead of Dennis, or the Vice President of the Cape Cod Republican Club, Renee Sherwood of Barnstable.  Let's look at the tale of the tapes: 

The incumbant Cynthia Stead (she insisted we not use her campaign sie photo so we used file photo on right) is a long-time Cape Cod GOP operative who had at one time worked for both former Cape Cod State Representatives Tom George and Shirley Gomes as their legislative aide.  She was first elected State Committeewoman in 2004.  However in this upcoming February 5th 2008 Presidential Primary,  Stead faces the fight of her political life. 

Breaking GOP's 11th Commandment 

Ever since becoming State Committeewoman, Stead has been marred with controversy.   Among criticisms of Stead, former supporters accuse her of divisiveness, polarization, being disingenuous, and nastiness among fellow Republicans.  Among the many criticisms that Stead has received heat for has been her use of the pseudonym "Peter Porcupine" to author unfair and scandalous charges against her opponents all over the internet and the world of "blogging."

Stead made it her mission to reveal to the public Maloy's personal business which enabled a "whisper campaign" to begin which defeated his candidacy.As Peter Porcupine, Stead has repeatedly ripped apart fellow Republicans for political gain.  Additionally, Stead is accused of abusing her power as a columnist for the Cape Cod Times.  Whether the allegations of him were true or not,  Stead is also credited with destroying any hope that the GOP could keep Shirley Gomes seat when Stead outed fellow GOP State Representative nominee Aaron Maloy's sexual preference in her column in the Cape Cod Times immediately following his September 19th 2006 Primary victory.  Instead of discussing the issues behind his candidacy, Stead made it her mission to reveal to the public Maloy's personal business which enabled a "whisper campaign" to begin which defeated his candidacy.

It is also a violation of a journalism ethic to allow a political candidate to write a column for the "newspaper of record" in any area. 

Sherwood instead because Stead is dead

The movement to oust Stead is very strong and her former supporters have declared mutiny against her.  Of those supporting her opponent include both of Stead's former bosses: Representatives Tom George and Shirley Gomes who both believe that Stead's "reign of terror" has been detrimental to the development of the GOP on Cape Cod. 

Also, Stead's own Town GOP committee in Dennis is supporting her opponent.  The following is a list of local Cape Cod GOP Heavyweights who look to oust Stead and have signed on in support for Renee Sherwood on February 5th, 2008:

• Representative Thomas George, (Ret.)
• Representative Shirley Gomes, (Ret.)
• Robert Dwyer, State Committee, (Ret.)
• Will Crocker, Former Candidate, State Rep.
• Joe Bunce, Vice Chair & Former Chairman Dennis Town Committee
• Robert Chamberlain, Chairman Dennis Town Committee
• Carol Mitchell, Former Chair Dennis Town Committee
• Richard W. Neitz, NEITZ Real Estate
• Mallory Hatfield, M.D.
• Judy Crocker

The next State Committeewoman for Cape Cod 

Other than serving as the Vice President of the largest GOP organization on the Cape and Island's , Renee Sherwood (on right) has been heavily involved in many other ways.  She has served on the following boards:

• Eagle Scout Board of Review (mother of three Eagle Scouts)
• Board of directors, Cape Cod Council of Boy Scouts of America
• Board of directors, Cape & Islands Chapter of American Red Cross
• Vice President, Cape Cod Republican Club
• Publicity chairman, Barnstable Republican Town Committee
• Board of Directors, West Barnstable Civic Association
• Volunteer with Cape Cod Healthcare
• Barnstable Public Schools Education Foundation
  

This contest for the top GOP woman's position for the Cape and Islands will be a blockbuster match-up on February 5th, 2008.   It will be on this date, when the Cape and Island's GOP voters decide whether politically, "Stead is dead" by electing Sherwood, or whether she will be forgiven for her deeds of public mistrust and deception.

For more information on Renee Sherwood's campaign click on this link.
For infomation regarding Cynthia Stead or Peter Porcupine click on this link.
For Aaron Maloy's election day blast at Stead, click on this link.
For Mass Resistence's outing of Stead/Porcupine, click this link.
For MediaNation and another outing, click this link.
For the outing by Massachusetts Liberals, click this link.