I read the letter by Jim Recore, “In defense of my fellow Conwaynians,” published on July 31. I have not spoken with Jim since before June 30, so Jim had no idea of my reaction concerning the faux election, but he still attributed the emotion of “despair” to me. Jim did not have the facts, so to fit his narrative he made them up.
Despair is an emotion I have never experienced, and it certainly would not be my feeling over the minor event of a Conway election. My initial reaction after the faux election was amazement over the non compos mentis political behavior of the leftist mob.
Jim also claimed that I “lashed out at its (Conway’s) citizens.” I simply outlined the facts of the political hit engineered against me by the leftist mob and referred to their control of the town in the phrase “its predominant true nature as a malicious, vacuous and ungrateful community.” That certainly did not include those residents not part of the leftist mob and, especially, not those in the moderate majority. Guess Jim did not catch that.
So, who were the big losers in the faux election and what did they lose? The Conway residents who lost my 30 years of senior level executive business experience; the knowledge and experience of my nine years of actual dedicated and effective service on the Select Board; my extensive knowledge of Massachusetts General Laws, municipal government policies and operations, and municipal finance and budgets; representation on regional and state boards and commissions to guard against adverse legislation, including the 40-member Massachusetts Municipal Association Board of Directors, my appointment by Governor Baker as one of eight selectmen in the commonwealth to the Local Government Advisory Commission, the Massachusetts Select Boards Association Board of Directors, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments; the important political relationships developed over the years with access to politicians and cabinet secretaries in state government up to the lieutenant governor and other important municipal officials; etc.
What did Conway get? Someone who has no knowledge of or experience in municipal government, no memberships in municipal organizations and claimed to be “deeply committed” to the town, but in 23 years of residence had never served on a town committee.
How dumb was that trade? It is obvious that it was more important to the leftist mob to carry out a personal vendetta than to act in the best interest of all the residents of Conway. I have received many communications from town residents who were shocked, upset and angry over this faux election and from people outside of town who know me whose overwhelming sentiment was what is wrong with those people. One caller from a Franklin County community who knows me well and knows the time, effort and work I put into serving Conway expressed it very succinctly in referring to the leftist mob, “what a bunch of bleeping political idiots.”
Who was the big winner? Me. In the last two months I have not had one night that I was lying awake in bed at 3 a.m. thinking about town business. As one who has never done anything in half measures, I have realized how much time I was actually spending on town and town-related business. Much too much! I have reclaimed all the time I was working for town residents and am spending it for my own benefit. And I am more relaxed and content, and laughing more, especially at the collective political ignorance of leftist mob, with the knowledge that I will not waste another minute of my time on this town.
What is a predominant message of Conway? If you support the rule of law and disagree with the leftist mob, they will take you out. Not a great example to set for the children of Conway.
What has been the effect? Inadvertently, and aside from the obvious internal negative consequences, as the circumstances of the faux election have been spreading near and far, the reputation of Conway, generally, and as a town of honest and fair elections, has been trashed. Conway has become a political laughingstock. Guess the leftist mob was not cognizant enough to foresee the fallout of their actions.
My advice to the good people of Conway in the moderate majority: communicate, organize and take back control of your town.
John P. O’Rourke is a resident of Conway.