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Former Alderman Bill Cashin Endorses Ted Gatsas for Mayor
9.18.2009
September 18th, 2009
Cashin backs Gatsas for mayor
Former Alderman Bill Cashin crossed party lines yesterday with the announcement that he is endorsing Ted Gatsas for mayor.
"I know Ted, and I know he's really concerned for the city. That's why I'm supporting him," Cashin said.
Gatsas' rival, meanwhile, Alderman Mark Roy, challenged the Republican alderman and state senator to debate him 12 times between now and the Nov. 3 election -- one debate for every ward in the city. Each of the debates would last 90 minutes, he said.
"You and I have been given a great privilege by the voters; let's thank them by making this election the most open and accessible in our city's history," Roy wrote in a letter to his opponent.
Gatsas declined, saying that he and Roy are already slated to square off in four debates.
"We will certainly have enough opportunities to get our ideas and thoughts out there," Gatsas said.
Gatsas touted the Cashin endorsement as a signal that his appeal is not limited to Republicans.
"The results of Tuesday's election and this key endorsement are both clear demonstrations that my experience and record of bipartisan leadership are being recognized by Republicans, Democrats and independents alike," he said in a statement.
Cashin, a Democrat, is the longest-serving alderman in Manchester history. He represented Ward 10 from 1974 to 2002.
Gatsas joined the board at the end of Cashin's aldermanic career in 2000. "I worked with Teddy," Cashin said. "He and I got along very well."
Roy became an alderman two years after Cashin stepped aside. In an interview, Cashin had no unkind words for Roy, describing him only as a "very nice fellow."
Cashin said he has not been happy with the direction the city has been taking in recent years. "I was very upset by some of the things the board has done," he said, "and believe me, I don't agree with everything that Ted's done."
But Gatsas, he said, has proven to be a capable leader. "Anything Teddy brings to the board, 90 percent of it passes," Cashin said. The board is dominated by Democrats, he noted.
Roy said he has a "deal of respect for" Cashin. "He's entitled to his opinion, as is every voter," Roy said.
Roy's press release calling for 12 more debates was laced with knocks on Gatsas, mainly concerning the Republican candidate's "big money supporters from Merrimack and Nashua."
"This race should be open and accessible to all of Manchester's voters, not just the wealthy out of town contributors who are writing $5,000 and $10,000 checks to Senator Gatsas," Roy said in the statement.
Gatsas said he is talking to voters across the city. "I will be in all 12 wards," Gatsas said, "just not with Mark Roy dictating when we're going to be there."
- Printed in the Union Leader on Friday, September 18, 2009
Related Link: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?...0c760
9.18.2009
September 18th, 2009
Cashin backs Gatsas for mayor
Former Alderman Bill Cashin crossed party lines yesterday with the announcement that he is endorsing Ted Gatsas for mayor.
"I know Ted, and I know he's really concerned for the city. That's why I'm supporting him," Cashin said.
Gatsas' rival, meanwhile, Alderman Mark Roy, challenged the Republican alderman and state senator to debate him 12 times between now and the Nov. 3 election -- one debate for every ward in the city. Each of the debates would last 90 minutes, he said.
"You and I have been given a great privilege by the voters; let's thank them by making this election the most open and accessible in our city's history," Roy wrote in a letter to his opponent.
Gatsas declined, saying that he and Roy are already slated to square off in four debates.
"We will certainly have enough opportunities to get our ideas and thoughts out there," Gatsas said.
Gatsas touted the Cashin endorsement as a signal that his appeal is not limited to Republicans.
"The results of Tuesday's election and this key endorsement are both clear demonstrations that my experience and record of bipartisan leadership are being recognized by Republicans, Democrats and independents alike," he said in a statement.
Cashin, a Democrat, is the longest-serving alderman in Manchester history. He represented Ward 10 from 1974 to 2002.
Gatsas joined the board at the end of Cashin's aldermanic career in 2000. "I worked with Teddy," Cashin said. "He and I got along very well."
Roy became an alderman two years after Cashin stepped aside. In an interview, Cashin had no unkind words for Roy, describing him only as a "very nice fellow."
Cashin said he has not been happy with the direction the city has been taking in recent years. "I was very upset by some of the things the board has done," he said, "and believe me, I don't agree with everything that Ted's done."
But Gatsas, he said, has proven to be a capable leader. "Anything Teddy brings to the board, 90 percent of it passes," Cashin said. The board is dominated by Democrats, he noted.
Roy said he has a "deal of respect for" Cashin. "He's entitled to his opinion, as is every voter," Roy said.
Roy's press release calling for 12 more debates was laced with knocks on Gatsas, mainly concerning the Republican candidate's "big money supporters from Merrimack and Nashua."
"This race should be open and accessible to all of Manchester's voters, not just the wealthy out of town contributors who are writing $5,000 and $10,000 checks to Senator Gatsas," Roy said in the statement.
Gatsas said he is talking to voters across the city. "I will be in all 12 wards," Gatsas said, "just not with Mark Roy dictating when we're going to be there."
- Printed in the Union Leader on Friday, September 18, 2009
Related Link: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?...0c760
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