Monday, December 8, 2008

Joan Menard and her $45,000 Caddy

A recent article, "Free rides for pols" in the Boston Herald indicated that our State Senator, Joan Menard is one of the politicians they investigated for paying for their personal vehicles out of their campaign contributions while also collecting taxpayer-funded travel stipends.

In what the article referred to as "an ethical gray area," Menard used her campaign funds to cover her $862-a-month Cadillac STS while she still collected $3,240 in per diems funded by the taxpayers.

A 2001 Office of Campaign and Political Finance memo states: “By law, a political committee may not pay for any expense which is otherwise paid, provided or reimbursed by the commonwealth such as a legislator’s per diem for mileage.”

Not surprisingly, Menard's office did not return the reporter's calls for an explanation.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Two questions: 1.) Has she turned 80 yet? 2.) When can we vote her out of office?

Anonymous said...

Well they covered the issue of the square renaming, send this one to the Herald and let's see if they touch Menard, an ardent Bob Correia supporter during the last campaign, and I hear her aides get nice cushy jobs with Correia like Election Commissioner and City Administrator...

Anonymous said...

You know with everything going on in this city lately and the mayor's campaign war chest, don't you think it is time for campaign finance laws to be changed? I think they should all be audited.
Why would you want to pay 300K + to be mayor ?

Anonymous said...

They NEVER retire, look at the previous old mayors and their politician friends coming out of the woodwork. We need a new generation and some new blood in this city.

Anonymous said...

They NEVER retire, look at the previous old mayors and their politician friends coming out of the woodwork. We need a new generation and some new blood in this city.

They get VOTED IN. Fall River has the representation it WANTS.

shamrock said...

No one ran against Menard so it wasn't a huge surprise that she got re-elected

Anonymous said...

No political hacks get the representation they want mr brillhante

Anonymous said...

So, Menard DIDN'T win her last election?

Anonymous said...

Defensive aren't you greg & adam

Anonymous said...

Defensive aren't you greg & adam

I;'ve never voted for Joan Menard because she is not particulkarly smart or competent but I know that she stays in because she gets the most votes and because the complainers on these blogs can com-lain but can't organize or influence anything. You want her out? Don't whine. Organize

Anonymous said...

The whiners on this blog can't influence anything? Hmm, didn't someone just get exposed for trashing the memory of a war vet?

Anonymous said...

Maybe there won't be a need to organize with all the ivestigations into illegal conduct by politicians in boston and for example Illinois.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone asked joanie about her wanting the brightman street bridge re named after the owner of the old somerset lodge???

Anonymous said...

First of all her "aides" have degrees which include BA and MA as well as working on law degrees so they are more than qualified than the 50 plus percent of fall river who are illiterate and can't graduate ffrom durfee. You guys can vote her out of office anytime. oh but i forgot, Fall Riverites can't read well and therefore don't vote.

Anonymous said...

mr brillhante have you paid all your propety taxes on your housing yet??