By Lynne Hendricks
In his acceptance and thank-you speech at the Ale House, Mayor Thatcher Kezer gave a shout-out to all of his campaign supporters, but singled out above all others his treasurer and longtime friend Brent Paulhus, who has helped Kezer get acquainted with Amesbury voters from his first campaign in 2005. While the locally well-known Paulhus has been suffering some setbacks in his struggle with Lou Gehrig's disease, Kezer noted how happy he was that Paulhus could attend the campaign's victory party.
"When I started this whole journey four years ago, I called up an old buddy of mine — a childhood friend," said Kezer of Paulhus, a Newburyport native whom Kezer met in judo class when the two were teens. "I knew him as a kid. He trained me when I was delivering pizzas after college. We kept crossing paths our whole lives."
When the first-time politician decided to throw his hat in the ring for mayor, the notoriously gregarious Paulhus was living in Amesbury and took him around the town introducing him to the vast number of people he knew.
"He knew everybody," Kezer said. "I didn't know anybody."
It was an endorsement Kezer credits with giving him his start.
"Brent is a big reason why we're here," he told the crowd of celebrants amid cheers and applause.
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Last night was a tough night for mayoral challenger Alison Lindstrom, and not just because she didn't end up the winner in her race against incumbent Thatcher Kezer. Like so many residents in the region, Lindstrom spent the final two days of her campaign wrestling with the flu. Though she was careful not to get too close to her supporters, she held signs in front of Town Hall last night while pumped full of fever-reducing flu medicine. Win or lose, she said prior to the vote tallies, she was looking forward to going home and getting to bed after hearing the result.
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Though new District 6 Councilor Derek Kimball didn't have an opponent for the District 6 seat, he was out most of the day yesterday holding signs with his family members and proving he's ready and looking forward to serving on the Municipal Council.
"I can't wait to get started," said Kimball, who said he'll be spending the next two months familiarizing himself with his new job.
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With a room full of campaign staff and volunteers, as well as a slate of Municipal Council candidates who had secured their seats for another two years, there was some ribbing and sarcastic humor being tossed about at the Ale House. Referencing the assertion some have made that the Municipal Council agrees with him too much of the time, Kezer congratulated new council members Derek Kimball and James Kelcourse and facetiously told them they should be receiving their rubber stamps shortly.
"Welcome aboard, and we'll get your stamps ready for you," Kezer said, laughing.
Kezer also thanked Don Meskie for his work creating the mayor's campaign Web site, and referred to him as an excellent "Cyber-jouster" for Meskie's "great work on the blogs." Meskie is a frequent Kezer supporter who takes to task Kezer critics who comment on stories posted to The Daily News Web site.
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While it's commendable that they were out standing in front of Town Hall instead of at home playing Xbox, many found curious three teens who donned signs urging voters to "Vote for Elmo." Since poll workers hadn't released details on write-in candidates, it's unknown whether the three youths were part of an organized write-in campaign for the furry, red Sesame Street character. They touted the little guy's ability to deliver health care to the residents of Amesbury if elected. And they provided some colorful commentary for those who came out to vote.
