Valley Patriot

Why Todd Woekel Can't Win in Methuen

Todd Woekel is going to take a beating at the polls on November fourth and the reasons are clear to any observers watching the race.  

Two years ago Bill Patnaude came very close to defeating Pollard with a positive message, a pleasant demeanor and the ability to recognize when to give his opponent credit and when to criticize. To Mr. Patnaude, the race wasn't personal and he would never support something (or oppose it) just to spite Mayor Pollard.  

He was willing to debate anytime, anywhere and never passed up a chance to trade ideas with members of the public, even if he knew they supported his opponent. In short, Patnaude was someone the average Methuen taxpayer could relate to. He was someone with an open mind and willing to listen. His demeanor made it perfectly clear that the Patnaude campaign was about ideas and not about personalities.  

Unfortunately, Councilor Woekel never learned how to do any of those things by studying the Bill Patnaude campaign. For all his good intentions, Woekel cannot see past his bitter feelings for Sharon Pollard (some of which are justified) to recognize what is best for the people and suck it up for their benefit.  

This is not only bad news for Woekel's campaign but it is bad news for the people of Methuen. Very few people could doubt his ability to run the town. Nobody I have talked to can dispute his intelligence or his dedication. Winning an election, however takes a little bit more than good intentions and ability.  

His judgement is clouded by hatred, whether personal or political, and it comes across in such an overbearing way that Mayor Pollard (and the Eagle Tribune) have been able to effectively capitalize on it with very little effort.  

Facing a different challenger with a little more political savvy, Mayor Pollard was ripe for defeat this year. Her involvement with David Spada and the Gleason Street project touched a raw nerve with the average voter and could have been capitalized upon by a candidate seen by the voters as "issue driven" instead of personality driven.  

She would have also had a hard time explaining some of the hiring practices and the centralization of public information (I'm being kind) through the newly created position held now by Tootie Healy.  

But Woekel cannot see the forest for the trees. He damages his own credibility with the average Methuen citizen when he votes against "whatever" Pollard proposes simply because he doesn't trust her motives and hates her politics. As a result, valid criticism by Woekel is dismissed by the vast majority of Methuen voters.

Case and Point  

City Councilor Todd Woekel voted against a "no tax increase" proposal by Pollard just days short of the election. He said he voted against it because he saw Pollards motives as political. The voters and taxpayers, however, generally do not care what a politicians' motives are. What they care about is that they won't face a tax increase. And now, instead of being able to tell the taxpayers he was part of the "no tax increase" vote, he is castigated by Pollard and the media for voting against it.  

Any responsible City Councilor would have voted for the "no tax increase" regardless of Pollard's motive because it would benefit the people. Woekel just doesn't get that.  

But Taxes Went UP!  

And what about Woekel's point that taxes have gone up despite no increase in the tax rate? Lawrence had a similar situation last year when the city assessor reassessed the property values, which is based on the real estate market not politics. 

Since the value of properties increased, a net increase in property taxes had to be paid even though the tax rate itself remained the same. Whether it is Lawrence or Methuen, property reassessment works the same. The mayor doesn't set the property values.

So when Pollard says she has not raise taxes and Woekel holds up a tax bill showing an increase, it is not Pollard who is responsible. Either Woekel doesn't understand the way property taxes and property values are assessed or he does know and he is trying to confuse the voters so that they will blame Pollard for the net increase in their bills.  

Either way, it looks like Woekel is behind the 8 ball on the tax situation and the public is smart enough to see through it.  

The people of Methuen would have surely benefited by having two candidates this year who talked about issues and why each of them feels differently about them. Instead, the voters have a choice between the current mayor and the "anti-mayor" candidate. Absent a major scandal or deep hatred by the majority of voters towards an incumbent, "anti-" candidates generally do not win.

When the polls close next Tuesday, Woekel will be defeated by his own inexperience and lack of proper perspective on what local government is all about. It's not about personalities or hatred, it's about who can do the best job and who can convince the voters they are capable of working with their adversaries for the best interest of the public at large.

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