I thought Cary Weston was for a new and progressive Bangor? Thats what he stated to al of us. This move sounds just like the same old Bangor Good Ole Boys Club to me. Mr. Stone could use his fiscal talents to benefit the City Council even if he wasn't Chairman. So what was the big push to make him chairman, when there already was a viable and progressive candidate. Just a childish power play by David Neally and "The Boys".

It's going to be interesting to watch how this all unfolds....

Especially given the city manager position issue.

This guy actually made a payroll for years..for people who pay taxes he should be the guy you want taking the leadership role rather than someone who wants to be everything to everybody, which is impossible..

What is the "process by which the new chair was elected" that Blanchette was disappointed with? The votes are collected, counted, then majority wins.

This was a great and long overdue selection. Great choice.

Does it change the whole "vision" thing or is the council going to sit down somewhere else and decide that before bringing it to the people. I am sure Ed Barrett would be interested in what the vision will look like. We have one candidate according to one councilor and somebody else gets elected. One wonders just what is going on with our city council.

I'm not sure how much impact the Council Chair has in the scheme of things. His is still only one vote out of nine. The bigger issue will be the 4-3 voting blocks. That little fact will dictate how things are going to go in Bangor as we move forward.

er, one vote out of seven.

Must be that new math, huh? Sheesh.

Congratulations, Mr. Stone.

IMHO: Bangor is better served by a pro-business rather than a pro-tax City Council.

There are nine councilors, not seven.

My word, I am so out of it today.... nine it is, indeed.

Sheesh. More coffee!

I think we need to organize some kind of citizens initiative to get this city council under control. I'm tired of the good old boy politics that are happening. I'm also tired of the city council electing (appointing?) it's own leader. That should be a decision for the voters.

I TRIED TO MAKE MYSELF CLEAR - BUT YOU IDIOTS WHO VOTED FOR BLANCHETTE GET WHAT YOU GET - SAME OLD SH IT - SHE IS QUALIFIED - BUT DOES NOT HAVE THE CITZENS OF BANGOR FOREMOST - NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER COUNCIL STUCK IN GRIDLOCK - I'M COUNTING ON HAL WHEELER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND STAND UP FOR REAL CHANGE DURING HIS LAST TENURE - READ MY LIPS --- VOTE OUT JOE PERRY = GEEZE ---GET RIGHT NEXT TIME -

I feel the councilors did themselves a huge disservice by not electing councilor Hawes as chair (a position which she held successfully 2 years ago). She is a great asset to the city of bangor...too bad some of her fellow councilors can't recognize that.

Thinkaboutit - your best friend Hal voted for Hawes along with Blanchette and Palmer. So are you counted in the "idiot" crowd as well or did Hal forget to call you and ask who he needed to vote for?

Last I checked - Joe Perry isn't a Bangor Council member.

How's this new direction workin' for ya?

citizens initiative, bangorian? really? if youre so tired of bangor politics, then run for council yourself. stone was elected by the people of bangor just like all the others, so the people have already taken initiative, you sound like a whiney old hippie.

There's a lot of talk about good ole boy politics and back room deals, but no evidence to support it. If Hawes was just mayor two years ago, why the rush back to the position? Let someone else have a go. Once again, the "tolerance and diversity" crowd has none for people with whom they disagree. Too often they act like the grouchy curmudgeons they accuse those on the other side of being.

I guess I fail to see what the so called "tolerance and diversity" crowd is in this case? Care to explain, please?

In response to Council Hawes being in a "rush" back to the position - because she is nearing the end of her 2 consecutive terms on the council, and therefor will have to "sit out" the next election, I can understand wanting to run for the position to keep the CIty of Bangor moving in the right direction. Not to say that Councilor Stone may not do a good job as chair, but Councilor Hawes has already proven that she can guide the city, so why shouldn't she be able to be chair again? The way I see it, Councilor Hawes shouldn't feel the need to step aside from being a candidate just because someone who hasn't been chair wants to be.

I know Mr. Stone. I know his background and professionalism, character and who he is and what he has always stood for. Thanks for voting in the bet chairperson for the Council, BCC! Congratulations, Richard!

sorry...BEST chairman...(etc)

So which side if for the new arena and which side is against the new arena?

"The difference between Hawes and Stone is largely philosophical, and the result could be an indication of what’s in store for the coming year — a year Stone referred to as transitory." Transitory: So much for proper word choice.

I think it may be time for Pat Blanchette to get out of politics. To not stand and applaud Mr. Stone's election to the Chair position is downright childish.

Great choice for mayor. Having worked with Mr. Stone for a few years, he is intelligent, experienced and a true professional. Blanchette is disappointing, her behavior is immature and childish.

Well now, djohns calls Bangorian a "whiney old hippie". Keep in mind folks that this person that uses the handle, Bangorian, likes to comment on everything going on, however, he/she along with a few others, don't have the courage to sign their true names to their comments. Interestingly enough, some even choose to hide behind several such name tags. As written before, these folks lack the courage to claim authorship to their words of wisdom. Oh, I guess there is room for all of those out there, that continue some of the diatribes. Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer. larrytdoughty@yahoo.com..www.ourstory.com/larrytdoughty/

So let me get this straight according to the BDN Richard Stone is a fiscal conservative while Susan Hawes is more "Progressive" From context then one presumes she is the opposite of a fiscal conservtive. Therefore does that mean then that Ms. Hawes likes to spend lots of money? Glad she wasnt elected. I am disappointed in you Hal.

So, Member of Bangor City Council, what IS this new vision for the city (that is SO profound as to axe the City Manager)? Perhaps it would be the responsible thing to remove the mystery and inform your constituents about this new direction so the voters and taxpayers of the city could communicate THEIR wishes to you all.

‘Old Boy’ politics is not just concentrated, established influence within cliques of men. It is also within any “cliques” of the aloof-from-the-citizenry, “I-know-best-because-I-am-the-elected-authority” politician or bureaucrat.

With the national economy fundamentally different than in the recent past, and with an economic recession that, after its passing, WILL NOT be reverting to our pre-recession status quo this time around, the City of Bangor’s governance and economic development policies and initiatives, as well as the ways it meet the needs of its residents (or doesn’t), will need to change in profound ways in the relatively near term future. If the city council is going to forge ahead without openness and public participation it all looks like good old boy politics to me.

Voters, be involved!

Lawwy goes on the attack, but is after the wrong old whiney hippy. (LOL!!). I stopped posting here because I don't want my authorship associated with abject stupidity, gallows humour, unconstitutional assertions and positions, nor just plain meanness. When I have something to say, it'll be in a Letter to the Editor rather than here in the kindegarten. So, Lawwy, next time I'm in Brewer I'll make it a point to swing by and introduce myself. And that's the trouble with these pages. They are a sociologists dream - real feelings and opinions coming out - spewing hatred. The cross-section of posters here appears to be primarily unemployed losers and haters that have no understanding of law or societal mores. I think intelligent people will look back on this crap in a few years with a smirk.

Vichet, it doesn't matter whether Stone is a fiscal conservative. The chair of the City Council has no veto powers. The position is mostly ceremonial, with the only real power being the ability to appoint committees. Other than that, the chairman simply runs City Council meetings and plays captain of the cheerleading squad at city events.

Seems to be quite a lot of dissension and dissatisfaction with the way the Bangor City Council is run. Hard to know for sure unless one is there for the meetings. The Bangor "Mayor" title is mostly ceremonial, as I understand it. It does not signify nor mean exactly what Mayor does in many cities. Mr4. Stone seems to be respected by many so hopefully this will be a positive selection.

Which side supports building a new arena and which side does not????

I like old boy politics. The old boys seem to know what they are doing. Congratulations Mr. Stone. Pls keep our taxes down.

How does Stone feel about the new arena?