About Last Night

The Sentinel called him "fiery." The Telegram noted his tone. We were a bit taken aback. For some reason, Steve DiNatale decided to play the role of the bully last night in his Worcester 3rd House debate with Republican Ed Niemczura.

Simply, last night wasn't about comparing and contrasting the two. It was about taking one last, close look at DiNatale. He's winning on Tuesday. Everyone knows it. And he was better last night that Niemczura, as he should have been. He wasn't debating Niemczura last night, he was going up against our expectations for our next state representatives.

Last night's meeting won't be FedEx'd to the Lincoln-Douglass Discourse Hall of Fame. But three points in particular left us a little uneasy with Rep. (in waiting) DiNatale.

First, on his School Committee accomplishments, he pointed to the opening of the new high school, even as he noted he didn't work on the plans to build. The construction was well underway when he was on the board, and he was on the committee for its opening. Right place, right time, no real responsibility to the effort. Also, Rappa may or may not be Fitchburg focused, but as noted here last night, he has had plenty of material to work with. And the state's increased mandates do need to be funded, but the city's effort in education has been woeful for years. Until its shop is running smoothly, the city needs to drop the finger-pointing. The city carries the majority of the responsibility for its school system's weaknesses. The blame starts at home, and an answer that doesn't include the demands that the city work its hardest to improve its schools and instead points the finger at state officials is a lacking one.

Second, toward the end of the debate, moderator Robert Antonucci asked candidates for one first-term priority. DiNatale talked about public safety. Afterward, Antonucci jokingly said he was taken aback no one mentioned FSC funding. DiNatale's response was so forceful that Antonucci blurted out, "I was only joking." Easy, big guy. Why so much aggression last night? DiNatale was spoiling for a fight last night, and we're not sure why. He could have picked Niemczura apart in a million different ways, but went with the bat-to-the-head method, and he didn't come across very well doing it.

Third, and most strikingly, was DiNatale's arrogant, smarmy questioning of why Niemczura was running for office now. The tone of the question and DiNatale's rebuttal was, "How dare you run? I've been in public office for years." It doesn't matter why Niemczura is running now. Why did DiNatale run the first time he ran? It was the right time for Niemczura. Certainly, DiNatale wanted to highlight his experience, but instead he came across as the typical insider, deriding anyone from the outside who would like to join the kingdom. As DiNatale knows, it takes time, effort, and a set of stones to run for public office. Niemczura, and anyone else who isn't a criminal or Jack E. Robinson, should not be forced to explain why they picked this year to run for office.

Niemczura did in fact get smoked last night, but this was not DiNatale's best performance by far. He clearly did not want to be on stage with Niemczura, and his entire attitude screamed "this guy is beneath me." DiNatale has made a career on constituent service, so we don't think he'll treat the voters the same way.

DiNatale has based his campaign on two things: That "customer service" record and public safety. He has talked about improving downtown, securing more local aid and protecting seniors on the second level. For a former School Committee member, he has woefully undervalued education in this campaign. His ideas have revolved around bringing home the bacon through increased funding for everything, including more cops primarily and some local aid and Chapter 70 money secondarily. His campaign is one of urban mechanic and grinder, not of one delivering hope and a grand vision for the city.

He goes to Beacon Hill in January one of 160 representatives looking for the same thing: More money. Whether it's for cops, teachers, or just some extra spending money for the city. All 160 House members want and need the same thing. Some fiscal feathers in their caps to show off at re-election time. DiNatale will have to work in that atmosphere to make sure the majority agrees with his priorities, something that can be dicey when it comes to funding, especially with state revenues seemingly flat or falling. He'll have to deal with funding formulas and high-priced priorities like health care as he tries to find money for Fitchburg. He has the skills to run a winning campaign in Fitchburg, but does he have the talent to operate on Beacon Hill? We're going to find out soon enough.

DiNatale was certainly the class of this field, but that is faint praise indeed. His performance last night did not inspire confidence in his tenure on Beacon Hill, it only left those questions lingering. Hopefully when he gets there, veteran House members don't dismiss him because this is the first time he ran for representative.