Public Records Should Be Made Available to the Public – IN YOUR CORNER WITH SENATOR IVES

Public Records Should Be Made Available to the Public – IN YOUR CORNER WITH SENATOR IVES

By: State Senator Katy Ives – June, 2015 Last week, I testified on a bill I filed, S.1700, An Act Relative to Obtaining Information, before the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. This bill promotes access to information, available to all, within a reasonable time frame and for residents to have recourse in […]

Public Officials that Lead, Who We Should Support in the Merrimack Valley

Public Officials that Lead, Who We Should Support in the Merrimack Valley

By: John Macdonald – April, 2015 Every so often I like to sit back and observe local elected officials. I often rate them for their real leadership ability, political courage (if any) and potential for higher office. I’ve come to the realization that we have some real political stars in our midst. Some of these […]

Easy Win For DiZoglio in State Rep Race

Easy Win For DiZoglio in State Rep Race

By: Tom Duggan  – November, 2014 State Representative Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) handily defeated Rosemary Smedile (R-North Andover), on Election Day by 1,133 votes. Smedile is Chairman of the North Andover Board of Selectmen and does not come up for re-election until 2016. DiZoglio represents Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Lawrence. “I’m just glad it’s all […]

What North Andover Voters Really Said on Election Day

What North Andover Voters Really Said on Election Day

By: Tom Duggan – November, 2014 According to Town Clerk Joyce Bradshaw, 10,607 voters participated in the November election in North Andover. GOVERNOR – BAKER OVER COAKLEY Republican Charlie Baker won North Andover by 3,098 votes on Election Day with 63.05% of the vote (6,643 votes) to Democrat Martha Coakley’s 33.65% (3,545 votes). Baker won statewide. […]

PAYING ATTENTION! ~ My Pics for the 2014 Election

PAYING ATTENTION! ~ My Pics for the 2014 Election

  By: Tom Duggan, November 3, 2014 While The Valley Patriot newspaper has a policy against endorsing candidates, each member of our editorial board is free to endorse or make public who we are voting for. Here are my personal picks for the 2014 election season and why.  Governor Charlie Baker, Republican As a right […]

PODCAST: Paying Attention! GUESTS: Ann Wofford, Diana DiZoglio (10-25-14)

PODCAST: Paying Attention! GUESTS: Ann Wofford, Diana DiZoglio (10-25-14)

CLICK to LISTEN TO OR DOWNLOAD HOUR 1 CLICK to LISTEN TO OR DOWNLOAD HOUR 2 Rosemary Smedile refused to come in for a debate with State Rep Diana DiZoglio so we gave DiZoglio time to talk to the voters about why she should be elected. Congressional candidate Ann Wofford also joined us she is running against […]

Distorting the Record, Political Deceptions – Valley Patriot Columnist Apologizes to Rep. Campbell, The Truth on the Gas and Sales Tax

Distorting the Record, Political Deceptions – Valley Patriot Columnist Apologizes to Rep. Campbell, The Truth on the Gas and Sales Tax

Political Deceptions Valley Patriot columnist and member of the Methuen School Committee, DJ Deeb wrote in his column this month that voters should choose Republican candidates in the upcoming state elections. Deeb listed a number of reasons to make his case, but is now issuing a public apology to Democrat State Representative Linda Dean Campbell […]

Merrimack Street Business Owners Give Mayor an Earful Over Proposed Changes to Street, Parking

Merrimack Street Business Owners Give Mayor an Earful Over Proposed Changes to Street, Parking

By:Tom Duggan – September 30, 2014 Business owners and residents on Merrimack Street in Lawrence across from Sal’s Riverwalk gave Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera and state officials an earful today as the Mayor proposed changes to the street.  The meeting was called by State Representative Diana DiZoglio who was approached by business owner Eli Haddad […]

Artie T is an Inspiration to us ALL

Artie T is an Inspiration to us ALL

  By: Tom Duggan – September, 2014 It was like a drama from a Hollywood movie. The “good” Arthur T. Demoulas vs. the “evil” Arthur S. Demoulas is how the scenario played in the news and on social media. The evil cousin, consumed with greed, profit, and the bottom line tries to take over a […]

Primary State Rep Debate Between Diana DiZoglio, Oscar Camargo and Phil DeCologero

Primary State Rep Debate Between Diana DiZoglio, Oscar Camargo and Phil DeCologero

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OR LISTEN TO HOUR 1 CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OR LISTEN TO HOUR 2 Paying Attention is hosted by Valley Patriot Publisher Tom Duggan. Tom’s, Co-host is Paul Murano was off today. Paying Attention with Tom Duggan is produced by Chris Poublon of Dracut. Paying Attention airs on 980WCAP in Lowell,Massachusetts on Saturday’s from 10am to […]

Thoughts from Councilor #5 ~ Methuen City Councilor Dan Grayton

Thoughts from Councilor #5 ~ Methuen City Councilor Dan Grayton

  Greetings Valley Patriots! It is my pleasure to begin to provide an article each month geared towards those of you with a eye trained on Methuen and its politics. Look forward to brief articles touching on several topics like Council votes and other decisions and events affecting those who live here. Enjoy. Uber ambulance […]

Lantigua Targets Dizoglio, Supports Phil DeCologero in State Rep. Race ~ Paying Attention with Tom Duggan

Lantigua Targets Dizoglio, Supports Phil DeCologero in State Rep. Race ~ Paying Attention with Tom Duggan

      By: Tom Duggan – July, 2014 You have to hand it to former Lawrence Mayor Willie Lantigua. Even as a private citizen, he continues to conspire for revenge against his so-called enemies and everyone he believes has ever slighted him, real or imaginary. Not only has Lantigua been targeting Rep. Marcos Devers […]

Phil DeCologero: Rep. Dizoglio Betrayed our Trust on Transparency

Phil DeCologero: Rep. Dizoglio Betrayed our Trust on Transparency

Twenty-seven year old North Andover resident Phil DeCologero is running for the Democrat nomination for the 14th Essex District State Representative’s race. In September, DeCologero will face off against incumbent State Rep. Diana DiZoglio, and North Andover veteran, Oscar Camargo. DeCologero appeared on the Paying Attention radio program with Tom Duggan last month. Duggan asked […]

DiZoglio’s “Lantigua Bill” Signed by Governor, Local Candidates Can no Longer Appear on Ballot if They Violate Campaign Finance Laws

DiZoglio’s “Lantigua Bill” Signed by Governor, Local Candidates Can no Longer Appear on Ballot if They Violate Campaign Finance Laws

By: Tom Duggan – May 21, 2014 Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has signed what has been called “The Lantigua Bill” by some lawmakers after the former Lawrence Mayor refused to file his campaign finance reports with the state’s Office of Campaign and Political Finances.  The new law, authored by State Representative Diana DiZogio (D-METHUEN), will […]