Dick Sullivan Jr.

Dick Sullivan Jr. impressed me at last week's candidates forum until he declined to raise his hand when the Councillor-at-Large candidates were asked if they supported the Local Historic District.

I had hoped Sullivan's opposition was conditional, that he'd support an LHD in some manner. But today's profile in the Daily News eliminated that notion.

Sullivan said that he would be against a Local Historic District if proposed plans do reach the council next year.
"People have pride in their property, and we don't need a new level of bureaucracy when it comes to permits," he said.

Game over. I admired his stances on the schools and waterfront, but there are two many qualified candidates who do support the LHD to compromise.

I can't wait to see how he fares in the coming election. There was a time when the Sullivan name would carry someone into office. (This isn't Sullivan's fault, but roughly two thirds of the profile is spent talking about the Sullivan family including former Mayor Dick Sullivan.)

But I wonder if that's the case in today's Newby-buryport? Sullivan is a former fire firefighter and school committee member, so he's well connected in his own right. But a failure to finish in the Top 5 might say something about the make up of today's electorate.

See Edwin O'Connor's "The Last Hurrah."