( Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! — Isaiah 5:20
NOTE: Cathy Richardson had just been reelected to her second term on the Dracut [Mass.] Board of Selectmen a couple hours prior to this incident. The three selectman candidates who lost were all professional lawyers, including one of whom being a two-term incumbent.
By all accounts, Bill McMahon has ZERO experience in Dracut politics other than, of course, being Ms. Richardson’s boyfriend and, in all likelihood, he’d probably get his butt kicked if he ever actually decided to run for public office himself. Say what you will about elected politicians, but for the most part, they’ve got a fairly good perspective of what the media and general public expects from them. Not to be confused with a politician’s friend, relative, and/or “significant other” who more often than not, usually wind up flaunting and exploiting their ill-gained political clout — mostly to the detriment of the gullible politician. I’m just wondering how often Mr. McMahon has been quoted as saying, “Do YOU know who I AM?” in Dracut social circles since he’s been “dating” Selectwoman Cathy Richardson.
Ironically, or maybe not so ironically, the last time a physical assault occurred regarding Dracut politics was several years ago when a couple of the water commissioners’ wives “duked it out” at a popular Chinese restaurant in town. Un – BLEEPIN – believable!!!
Would it be too much to ask from the other four Dracut selectmen to vote and “publicly censure” their colleague, Ms. Richardson, for her boyfriend’s actions at this campaign victory party – ESPECIALLY if Mr. McMahon is found GUILTY of criminal assault charges??? Is it too much to ask to hold an elected public official accountable for their actions, or the actions of a friend or relative that they personally bring with them to a public social event??? My answer to both those questions would be an astounding, NO. I think it’s high time to send Ms. Richardson and other politicians like her a very loud and clear public message.
Two old political adages quickly come to mind here:
1) Always judge a politician by the company they keep, and,
2) The Voters usually get the government they deserve.
Lastly, shame on all the Dracut registered voters who chose not to show up to the polls and cast their vote in that local election this past Tuesday. The vast apathetic majority have absolutely nobody to blame but themselves.
http://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_23163919/dracut-campaign-swing-could-bring-charges )
Bill McMahon (left), and Dracut Selectwoman Cathy Richardson
Dracut campaign ‘swing’ could bring charges
Dracut school board member: Selectman’s beau assaulted me at post-election party
By John Collins
jcollins@lowellsun.com
Updated: 05/03/2013 07:32:30 AM EDT
DRACUT — In the town where former Selectman George Malliaros called politics a “blood sport,” election night nearly became fight night at the Sports Zone.
School Committee member Dan O’Connell said he has filed a formal complaint asking police to bring assault-and-battery charges against Bill McMahon, the longtime companion of Dracut Selectmen Chairwoman Cathy Richardson, as a result of a physical skirmish between O’Connell and McMahon during a party for School Committee member-elect Betsy Lynn Murphy at the sports-themed bar at 1734 Lakeview Ave. Tuesday night.
“(McMahon) initiated the episode,” O’Connell wrote in a text message to The Sun. “He was intoxicated and took a swing at me. I pushed him back to defend myself… The police were called, and (McMahon) left before (police) even got there.”
Several witnesses interviewed by The Sun said as a result of physical contact with O’Connell, McMahon toppled down the steps located inside the bar’s main entrance, but was back on his feet moments later.
Due to the potential for legal action, McMahon declined The Sun’s offer to tell his side of the story, according to Richardson.
Dracut Deputy Police Chief David Chartrand said the department’s dispatcher received a call from someone at the Sports Zone about 10:47 p.m., Tuesday.
“The caller reported a disturbance, some sort of altercation,” Chartrand said. “Our officers responded and began an investigation which is still continuing at this time.
We’re gathering witness statements, tying to sort through and figure out what really occurred.”
No determination can be made on whether criminal charges are warranted until after the investigation is completed, Chartrand said.
A number of well-known Dracut politicians and residents had gathered at the bar after results were announced to celebrate the victory of first-time candidate Murphy, who topped the ticket in the School Committee race with 3,100 votes. Possible witnesses to the altercation between O’Connell and McMahon who were present included: Murphy; and fellow School Committee members Joe Wilkie and Michael McNamara; former School Committee member Mary Gail Martin; state Rep. Colleen Garry; Dracut Action for Education President Rich Cowan; and Richardson.
At the time McMahon entered the bar with Richardson, O’Connell was engaged in a three-way conversation with Wilkie and Garry, witnesses Cowan and Martin said. While Richardson made her way around the gathering, shaking hands and hugging many patrons, and offering congratulations to Murphy and McNamara, McMahon was communicating with O’Connell in an unfriendly manner, Martin and Cowan said.
“What I saw was that Mr. McMahon was there not very long before he approached the three people speaking (O’Connell, Wilkie and Garry) and made a comment that, clearly, by the looks on their faces, wasn’t a nice comment,” said Martin.
From there, McMahon, who O’Connell, Martin and Cowan said appeared to be highly intoxicated, distanced himself from O’Connell in the bar, with both men maintaining eye contact in a hostile manner, according to Martin.
Cowan said he took note of the hostility between the two men, and made a failed attempt to intercede when McMahon neared O’Connell a second time minutes later while making his way, unsteadily, toward the exit.
“What happened was (McMahon) made a gesture on his way out of the building, then (O’Connell) walked toward him and did not ignore it but called (McMahon) out on his gesture,” said Cowan. “The person who was called out on their gesture (McMahon) took a swing.”
Martin and Cowan said O’Connell raised a hand in response, sending McMahon tumbling down the front steps.
“Bill did seem to be pretty intoxicated when he came in, and had he not been I don’t think he would have fallen down the stairs,” said Martin.
When asked if McMahon’s punch landed anywhere on his person, O’Connell responded by text, “No comment.”
Though O’Connell publicly expressed his disappointment in a Facebook post Tuesday night that Richardson won re-election to the Board of Selectmen, O’Connell stated he believed McMahon’s animosity toward him originated during the recent joint meetings between the School Committee and selectmen in which O’Connell’s proposed $2.9 million override of Proposition 2 1/2 became a source of division between the two boards.
“(McMahon) was less than cordial at those meetings,” O’Connell stated in a text.
Wilkie did not return a call seeking comment.
Garry also filed an eyewitness report for police on the incident, but declined to comment.
“I may be called as a witness. Therefore, I hope you understand, I don’t feel it’s appropriate to discuss it while the complaint is pending,” Garry texted The Sun on Thursday.
Garry, who prevailed in an often bitter general-election battle with Richardson to retain her 36th Middlesex District seat in November, also declined to confirm a Sports Zone patron’s report that Garry made the 911 call to police on Tuesday.
Martin, a former 24-year Dracut resident who served on the School Committee for almost two years before moving to Tyngsboro in 2009 said McMahon has gained a reputation in town as someone who has had run-ins with Richardson‘s political foes before.
“Mr. McMahon did start some stuff up with somebody a couple of elections ago at the polls, so I guess people are frustrated with getting bullied by him,” said Martin. “He’s pushed people past their limits, and I can’t blame them (for filing a police report).”
Cowan and Martin each expressed regret that the Sports Zone altercation may have marred Murphy’s big night, and an otherwise civilly contested town election.
“It was sad to see that people are so upset and feel so threatened by each other on a personal level in the midst of an important debate that needs to happen,” said Cowan. “That debate being, what level of funding do the kids of Dracut deserve to provide them a proper education?”
One Bad Decision Away From Homelessness 