Morrissey Responds to Ethical Lapses in Kalisz Administration
Says Kalisz has squandered the public trust

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Jeff Batstone ~ 508.997.1805
August 4, 2005

Morrissey Responds to Ethical Lapses in Kalisz Administration
Says Kalisz has squandered the public trust

In response to recent news coverage of questionable ethical behavior by Mayor Fred Kalisz and his administration, Mayoral candidate Matt Morrissey released the following statement:

“As a citizen of New Bedford I am extremely disappointed by the revelations uncovered by the Standard Times in this morning’s newspaper. The story details that Mayor Fred Kalisz has been using campaign funds for his personal financial benefit.

In the story, we learn that Fred Kalisz has been using his campaign account to pay for an extended ‘life insurance policy… and extended property insurance policies.’ Kalisz's brother claims that he is somehow at risk in his elected position, which necessitates the expense from his campaign account. According to the State Office of Campaign and Political Finance, however, there is not a single elected official in the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts who uses his/her campaign funds for personal insurance benefits.

Is Fred Kalisz at more risk here in New Bedford than any other Mayor in the Commonwealth? Is he at more ‘risk’ than District Attorney Walsh, Attorney General Reilly, or Governor Romney? None of these individuals claim the need for campaign funds to pay for their insurance.

Perhaps most disturbing is Kalisz's attempt to blame the need for extra insurance on the working men and women of the New Bedford Police and Fire Departments. Shame on Mr. Kalisz.

As a citizen of New Bedford, I am even more alarmed by what appears to be a disturbing pattern of unethical behavior on the part of the Kalisz Administration.

Last week the Standard Times detailed the facts surrounding Fred Kalisz's friend, former city solicitor and top political advisor, George Leontire. The story questioned the Leontire/Kalisz relationship in the procurement of development projects within the city. The story also noted that Leontire allowed Kalisz to stay at his Florida vacation home for ‘4-5 days.’ The Kalisz/Leontire response is that Leontire will continue to play a significant role in Kalisz's campaign.

We can’t afford an administration that blurs ethical lines and puts the citizens of New Bedford in the backseat. We need an administration that distinguishes between right from wrong. We need an administration that can be trusted by the people of the city. And we need an administration that puts the best interests of the people first– and not the self-interest of the mayor’s advisors and friends.

With each new discovery of the Kalisz Administration’s operating procedures, it becomes more and more clear – we need a new Mayor.

As a candidate for Mayor, I am ever more motivated to join with the residents of New Bedford in putting an end to this attitude of privilege that exists in the Mayor’s office.

I want to restore trust, credibility, and accountability to the people of New Bedford and focus on the issues that matter to us most: Educational opportunity and improvement; public safety and jobs.

You may agree or disagree with the position a mayor takes on any given issue, but there are two things you should never doubt: you should never have to wonder whether the mayor is telling the truth and you should never have to wonder whether the mayor is protecting the public’s interest or that of some politically connected insider.

Serious questions have now been raised on both fronts when it comes to Fred Kalisz.