Yeah, the kids are gonna hear about this for a long, long time. Sucks for them.
But as far as "mistakes" and "bad choices", I'm not so generous. A mistake is when you accidentally cause something to happen. I don't think Spellane accidentally cheated on his wife (that'll be the part of this story that really effects the kids). That's a deliberate choice to f-up your own family.
The financial mess he got himself into may be a "bad choice", but after his violating the campaign laws to pay his personal expenses (but apparently not to pay his mortgage), he had to know that you pay YOUR bills with YOUR money, not with a backroom deal from the industry you are supposed to be overseeing, or with cash from an obviously well-intentioned (and probably misled) father-in-law. Bob was a mortgage broker, he knew better than most of us exactly what he was trying to get away with. The "bad" part of his choice is indicative of bad character.
Sorry, Bobby, but it's 3 strikes and you're out, just like when you played for Mass Electric.

Nope, I saw some posts on the T&G site, but didn't recognize any of the names. Maybe I've been out of the old neighborhood for too long.

Yup, pretty sure that's him. Now we've got Trotta and Mahoney. We thinking they're going to split?

I like John Mahoney too. He seems like a very decent guy.

Just know that state law says that all that has to be clear is intent (yeah, I know that brings up bad Florida 2000 memories). It's been litigated.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20081030/NEWS/810300657/1052

Uh, Bob? What about the law do you not understand?

I actually noticed that the other night when I was checking the candidates' finances. Why was I checking the candidates' finances you ask? I'm nosey and like to know who's funding whom and where each candidate gets his/her "motivation.

You can go it too if you like. Click here, http://www.mass.gov/ocpf/ then click on "candidates and committees, then under "Registered Candidate and Committee Online Database" where is says click here.

Sadly, I think we're seeing Bobby's career going into a death spiral. He no longer pretends that he "didn't know" (he's holding a fund-raiser this week, for crying out loud!!), he's just hoping to lard his coffers with as much cash as he can before Johnny Law takes a serious interest in him. It's a shame.
For those who don't know, as long as Bob (whether he's in office or not) claims to be running (or "exploring possibilities of running for future offices") he can maintain control of his campaign funds. Even from prison (not that I expect that this will go that far, it won't) if need be.
That means a couple years of dining out, running up bar tabs, taking "working vacations", etc. as long as he mentions running for Office between bites, shots or skin-diving excursions. All paid for by the people who were hoping he'd be representing them in the Statehouse.

I regretfully add that I actually voted for this dope. I wish I could take that one back.

Voting for the kid who used to mow your lawn is a tradition on the West Side. How do you think Rushton and Murray got their first public positions?
In the Democrat Party (the ONLY Party in Worcester) , a candidate is bestowed with the blessings of former office holders, he then runs with the full machine of the local Dem. Party behind him. After the election he gets the "bill", consisting of relatives/supporters who need jobs/breaks with the law/zoning variances, etc. It's the way it works. You either vote for Spellane (I believe he was running unopposed) or you don't vote at all.
I assume this is your first day in Massachusetts if you didn't already know all that.

The blank spot on the ballot never actually represents you. It's a blank spot. You do understand that, don't you?

That's all the qualification you need.
Well, that and some verifiable Jesse Burkett playing time, a position as an altar boy at Christ the King and a caddying job at Tatnuck CC.

I know that Rushton, Spellane and Murray had no greater qualifications when they won.

It could be a television show! "Worcester: 01602"

(only Murray went to Blessed Sacrament. Otherwise, you've got it!)

Wait... Murray went to BSS? Can't be. Place was torn down in '75 or so.

since i'm "not from around here" i've always found the cult of 01602 to be one of the more entertaining aspects of worcester life. who's in, who's out, who went to what school, who dated who's sister in 7th grade, who stole that bike at duffy field in 1983, who's lived within the same 10-block area the longest - it's like the world's biggest high school - hilarious!

Anyone else go through that strangely silent Spellane standout at Newton Square tonight?

I've never seen one where no one honked, or waved, or even made eye contact before.

I went through Newton Square, beeped and waved at my daughter's friend, and was later congratulated by Bob at the JBLL banquet, as he personally condemned the person I was speaking with--for not beeping. Of course in the moment, I failed to tell Bob that i was simply beebing at my daughter's un-informed friend, because she told me to.