Show Me the Money

and I'll show you an Editorial. In case you missed it, the Cape Cod Times endorsed Demetrius Atsalis (D) Hyannis, today.

The Cape Cod Times, not known for their won-loss record in endorsing candidates, (they're batting about .500), came around to seeing the advantage of a local representative working together with leadership in the Statehouse to benefit the district (read, get our fair share of pork).

Blinded by their dislike for Tom Finneran, the Times took Atsalis to task 2 years ago for siding with the Speaker of the House in the Clean Elections debate. Never mind voters in his district had misgivings about the referendum, his allegience to the Speaker doomed Atsalis in the minds of the Times.

Now that the Speaker has departed from the pulpit, er, podium, the Times can focus on the real work being done in the legislature by Atsalis; $3.9 million for rehabing Main Street, Hyannis, $3.7 million for Hyannis Youth Center, among other funding. That's what they're supposed to be doing in the legislature.

Ironically, the Times contributed to Atsalis' effectiveness in these last two legislative sessions. Standing with the Speaker, while withstanding the Times onslaught 2 years ago, empowered Atsalis with the Leadership. He became Vice-chairman of the Commerce and Labor Committee and got the appropriations for his district.

This time around, Atsalis is fending off the Governor. Who knows, with Mitt Romney targeting him for defeat, maybe Chairman Atsalis can rewrite the education funding formula if he wins.

Recent Cape Cod Times Editorials at http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/edits