Cape Politics

Vote for the Quiet Guy

Local elections are just like high school. 

Do you remember sitting next to the "quiet kid"? The one who didn't say much, got good grades, but wasn't a geek. He had friends but wasn't in a clique.  He worked after school, while the rest of us played.  Became the "millionare next door".  I don't think he's quite that rich, but Curtis Sears is a Master Plumber today, which in my book is more valuable.  And he's running for Selectmen.

Then there was the tall good looking "jock".  Everyone's friend. Even the teachers. An OK student. He had fun in school. Went to college. Got serious. Earned a degree. Chose a profession. Then returned to his hometown to start a family. Erik Tolley reminds me of that guy.

We all knew the "prom queen" or the head cheerleader. The popular girl. She had nice hair and talked alot. Not about much. Went to college. Got a nursing degree. Married a doctor. Had lots of free time. Started volunteering. She went back to being popular. I think her name is now Suzanne McAuliffe.

And then there was the "know it all".  The kid who always had an answer, always raised his hand, who the teachers got tired of calling on, and everyone else groaned when he started talking.  He joined lots of after school clubs, the ones with three or four members. Became President of a couple.  Years later he became a doctor, sort of.  But I don't think he got the girl. Isn't that Bill Marasco?

It almost doesn't matter what the issues are in town elections, because the issues are always the same.  The only thing that changes are the men and women that get to sit at the head table.  And when we go to the polls we're not really voting for the gal who supports the schools or the guy who's trying to keep the lid on the fire department.  It's more about who we like and who is more like us.

Were you popular in school? Active in sports or school plays? Were you smart or at least did your homework? Did you sit next to the kid who talked too much or the one who never said a word? Did you trust him with your lunch money, or were you afraid he would take it away from you?

I couldn't stand the ones that talked too much.  I always liked the kids who you could tell were listening, even if they didn't talk alot. I still like those guys. Next week I get to vote for one of them. Curt Sears. The quiet guy. He can also fix a leaky faucet.