Joe Mulligan

Journal article......

Mulligans break new ground for Middletown council
Brothers join others elected in November in taking oath

MIDDLETOWN — The swearing-in of Middletown City Council resembled a Mulligan family reunion.

As Middletown Mayor Lawrence P. Mulligan said after the ceremony: “It was like Sunday at mom’s.”

When Joe Mulligan was sworn-in as an at-large city council member Tuesday night, his father, Lawrence Mulligan Sr., held the Bible, and his older brother, Lawrence, stood behind the council table.

Three of the four people standing in the room — all but Judge Joe Newlin — were Mulligans.

In January, the Mulligan brothers will become the first brothers to serve on Middletown council together, according to city records.

Ann Mort, accompanied by her husband, Dick, was sworn in as First Ward councilwoman, and Common Pleas Court Judge Noah Powers swore in Anita Scott Jones and Mulligan Jr., who were re-elected to their seats representing the entire city. All were elected in November to four-year terms.

Joe Mulligan, 36, seven years his brother’s junior, said he never dreamed growing up in Middletown that he’d serve on council, let along with his brother.

Lawrence Mulligan, the oldest of six children, said he’ll treat his brother with the professionalism he affords the other council members.

“He’s my brother, but there are times when he’s right and when he’s wrong,” Mulligan said with a smile. “I’m just proud of him for stepping forward.”

Joe Mulligan said the council’s biggest challenge will be accomplishing more with less revenue.

After he was sworn in, during his public remarks, he said it’s time to bring “the bright future we all want for the city.”

Later, during a private moment, he admitted “It’s not an easy time. We have to scrutinize everything we do.”

RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE A CHOICE JOE. YOU CAN REPRESENT THE PEOPLE AND HELP GROW THIS CITY IN A PROGRESSIVE WAY, CREATING JOBS FOR IT'S CITIZENS, BEING OPEN WITH THE CITY'S BUSINESS AND MAKING CORRECT, LOGICAL DECISIONS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THIS CITY OR........OR......YOU CAN FOLLOW IN THE PATH OF YOUR BIG BROTHER, THE MAYOR, AND SELL OUT TO THE MMF CLAN AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTINUED DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF THIS COMMUNITY. WHICH WILL IT BE JOE? WILL YOU DECIDE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, OR WILL YOU TAKE THE COURSE THAT MORT, YOUR BROTHER AND ALL THE OTHER MMF BOUGHT AND PAID FOR PUPPETS HAVE DONE? IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE YOUR HONOR, MORALS AND SCRUPLES LIE. IT IS A TEST FOR YOU AND YOUR CONSCIENCE. WHAT KIND OF PERSON ARE YOU, JOE?

I believe thay mmf is the puppet of city adminthey were surely pimped out last Tues.

Neil Barille wrote: Yep, the choice is as simple as that Joe -- you can pick correct, logical decisions to "represent the people" (a little redundant because by being elected he IS representing the people)....or in other words be Vet's puppet.  Or you can be brainwashed by the dark knights, take their unholy vow of destruction, and be a puppet of MMF.  It's as simple as that.

Neil babes.....

Are you so anal retentive that you think that because people are elected by their constituents, that they automatically represent the people? In case you haven't noticed, MOST elected officials, be it local, state or the federal level, couldn't care less about the frikkin' people until it comes time to ask them for their vote. God your naive. How in the hell do you know if Joe Mulligan will represent the people? He hasn't sat behind that council desk yet. No one knows what we're going to get from him as yet.

And Neil, ain't nobody my puppet bud. I don't have the clout to deem anyone my puppet here in town. Just a regular citizen wanting some honest, special-interest free treatment from the people running the city, that's all. You know the drill. Fix the roads, stop the games, stop kissing the MMF butt, etc. When I don't feel I have received it, they get the best my temper can bring. In other words, they get what they bring on themselves.

What the hell is wrong with you bud? Are you some city bought lost soul trying to be a wise a--?

Stanky wrote: Vet, you frequently refer to "the people" as if it is one big group who surely would disagree with actions of council and would, of course, agree with you. It seems to me a bit of wishful thinking.

Stanky.....the only thing that has saved council and the people in the city building from being dragged out and publicly lynched is the residents apathy. If they really got involved and saw what is happening to their money, their town and their hope of a decent future, they would have hung 'em a long time ago. IMO, most of the people in this city just flat out don't care what happens, no matter how bad it gets. They are either too busy with their lives to care, too stupid to understand what is happening here, or too naive as to think their city leaders are watching out for their best interests. The non-involved mentality of the populace is our worst enemy for some of us who still care about this city. I don't know how you go about making the multitude of people care and get angry enough to clean house and start over with leadership. That is needed or this town is destined to die.

I've been a little surprised at the number of people I've talked to that think downtown revival attempts are a good thing. Comments like "we've got to try something" or "that project (whether it is Cincy St., PAC, etc) sounds great and could really succeed". I usually don't give much of an opinion because I want to know why they think this way.

I think the percentage of people who WANT an involved/meddling city government is a lot higher than we care to admit, rather than a strictly market-based approach favored by Mr. Presta and others.