Behind the Times

Wee want your vote

Posted on March 15, 2008 by Michael Ballway
Filed Under Clinton, Elections, Mike's posts |

What a great tradition we have in Clinton, the annual Leprechaun Convention and Parade. Edward Sheridan and the folks who help put the convention together, and those who participate in it, deserve all the thanks they’re getting today.

That’s not to say it doesn’t have its serious side, by which in Clinton is meant its political side. Having so many Clintonians in one room afforded this reporter an unparalleled chance to touch base with several local politicos at once. Where else would you find the news that Dennis Sargent, late of the town solicitor’s office, is enjoying work at the courthouse?

OK, so I didn’t go in there looking for any hot scoops. Or at least I didn’t find any. Or at least not any that I can publish (this just in: they still make those little grenade-shaped juice bottles. And they taste a lot more like sugar water, and a lot less like grape juice, than I remember from 4th grade).

Only in Clinton: not only does an ethnic event turn into a press-the-flesh opportunity for candidates, but the emcee, Himself, actually reads a list of who’s in the room. It’s like reading attendance in elementary school, and you can see who decided to show up and who didn’t. And draw your own conclusions.

The roll, as best I can remember: Selectman Kevin Haley, who isn’t really running for anything this year (he still has two years left on his term), but got announced anyway; selectman candidate James Leblanc; Parks and Rec. commission candidate E. Russell Grady; town solicitor candidates Jay Duggan and Robert Gibbons; town collector candidate Marc Iacobucci; state Senate candidates Jennifer Flanagan and Brian Knuuttila — both from out of town; incumbent state Senator Harriette Chandler; incumbent state Rep. Harold Naughton; and selectman candidate Kathleen Sheridan — announced last, with great fanfare, possibly because she’s married to the emcee.