One of the reasons that I hope Donna Holaday gets elected as one of the Newburyport Councilors at Large is that she is so good at finances. Not only is she good at finances, but she understands the “players” and the “politics” and the way the very complicated civic structure works.

In my mind, having Donna Holaday on the Newburyport City Council would be much better than having someone who has only been in Newburyport a short time, or who has not served on at least one of Newburyport’s many civic boards and committees, because it would take that person at least one, if not two years to understand all the “players” and how things work around here. Donna Holaday has got that one in the bag.

And I remember Ms Holaday’s last evening on the Newburyport City Council. Newburyport City Council President Tom O’Brien graciously thanked Ms Holaday profusely, especially concerning all her contributions to the city’s very complicated financial picture.

Could you imagine Gary Roberts (who I also hope wins a seat as Newburyport City Councilor at Large, and I would be mighty upset if he didn’t) and Donna Holaday on the Budget and Finance Committee? Two real smart and knowledgeable “political” (as in the understanding how people work “political,” and how to work with them in a productive way, to the benefit of the people of Newburyport, MA, “political”) folks help handling our very precarious financial civic ship. Would I be relieved or what.

My experience with both Gary Roberts and Donna Holaday is that I have always been able to talk to both of them about just about anything, and they listen. A huge asset in a Newburyport City Councilor, not an character trait Newburyport City Councilors (over the years) might necessarily possess.

The conclusions that the two Newburyport City Councilors might come to could be very different than what I might have in mind. But, I would know that they had taken what I had said into consideration when they made their decision. And would I know that whatever decision they would make, would be a very thoughtful and well thought out one.

So in precarious financial times, the residents of Newburyport, MA have a choice here. There are two really good people running for Newburyport City Councilor at large that I would trust with my tax dollar. I’m hoping like crazy that they both get elected.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport