Don Howell's Blog

Whose Voice Is It?

A few years back, as a Selectman, I was at a meeting about chapter 70 (school) aid. Joining other local government leaders, were a few Cape State Representatives. One of them (from another district and party) was a guy I have come to know as a decent, caring person who only wants to help. So imagine how shocked I was (really!) when he was asked about the prospects for increased aid in the session. He said that he, personally, was all for that, but he had to wait for the leadership to tell him what his position was. Wow. This came from a guy who has established something of a reputation for splitting with the leadership on issues, as a matter of conscience.

Recently, I saw a car with an aging Sarah Peake bumper sticker on it stating she was “your voice.” I have always wondered about politicians who represent “you” or “us,” because it always begs the question, which one of “us?”

Well, aside from the fact that I had never seen Sarah at midnight walkathons (much less organize them) or walk in the blazing sun for affordable housing (much less build affordable housing), I started checking around to see just who “you” are.

The first thing I learned was that it was mighty hard to learn anything. You see, my opponent wasn’t just spewing out smoke when she said this past spring she was really close to the leadership; she actually went along with killing your ability to look up legislative votes on the internet. I ran across a constituent who had taken the time to go to Orleans Town Hall to ask her why she voted to keep these votes from “us” (as opposed to “you”) – to the extent that any role call votes are actually allowed by leadership, of course. Without blinking, she told him that all her votes were public; all “you” needed to do was drive on up to Boston, and they’d all be there for “you” to see. Given the recent scandal over legislators “voting” without actually being there, it was probably a good move (especially for the leadership buddies of Sarah who had turned a blind eye to the practice as it was performed right out in the open - not once, but numerous times).

Another constituent (a Realtor) tried to meet with Sarah on Beacon Hill to discuss the rooms’ tax bill (probably having gotten the message that Beacon Hill is where the openness occurs). Now, part of the bill is a good idea; why let condos get away with charging no tax even as the motels right beside them (organized just a little differently under the law) have to? He wanted to bring the message that a lot of the Lower Cape homeowners (also covered by the bill) moved out of their own houses each summer and rented them (some staying in Nickerson State Park or friend’s houses) in order to make money to pay their mortgages through the winter. The honest ones (most, I’ll bet), paid Federal and State income taxes on the money already.

Now, I was five years ahead of Sarah back in the same high school in a very, very affluent community (the “richest square mile in the United States on a per capita basis” as it was proclaimed by a publication of the day). Difference is, I was a tuition student from “over the tracks” with both parents holding down two jobs to do it.  So with the folks she is familiar with, I guess she saw no problem. I mean, who rents a $5 million house out by the week anyway? So how could this affect any of the “average” folks?

I guess we’ll never know; she dismissed him by saying that he’d be wasting his time talking to her as she was one of the bill’s sponsors.

Yet, over the summer, she did manage to spend quality time with some of “you.” Sal DiMasi, Speaker of the House (and, by her own account, a good friend) hosted a high priced fundraiser on Vineyard Haven. A little later, Boston Mayor Tom Menino (part of “you” from off Cape) was with her in Truro. A large number of out of state “you’s” have held giant PAC fundraisers for her in Provincetown, perhaps believing I’m some sort of threat to the cause, if elected.

So, with all this in mind the rest of “you” can look forward to a discussion in the next few weeks about what “your voice” has been up to, as well as what I have done – and want to do – for you.