A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT

Yesterday I had the blessed experience of being in the presence of a dedicated public servant.

It’s really SOMETHING for me to write that because I’m usually cynical about so-called “dedicated public servants”.  For some reason, most who are hailed as “dedicated public servants” are liberal Democrats.  In all honesty, though, there are conservatives and Republicans who proudly wear that moniker.  I’m pretty cynical about it because usually “dedicated public servants” are dedicated only to feeding their egos, making money, and (as Howie Carr would say) getting “hack” jobs for their relatives.  But yesterday, I really WAS with a dedicated public servant.  That dedicated public servant is the relatively new Framingham Town Manager, Mr. Julian Suso.

I almost wrote that I met him yesterday, but that would not be true because I did meet him a couple of months ago at a “Framingham Downtown Renaissance” meeting.  I’ve also exchanged e-mails with him- shortly after that.  And, I’ve seen Mr. Suso walking around the downtown Framingham area engaging people in conversation.  In the five months that Suso has been Town Manager, I’ve seen him “out and about” in public interacting with “real” people much more than I’d EVER seen ANY previous Town Manager do.  In fact, come to think of it, I don’t think I ever saw a previous Town Manager out kibitzing with the common folk in downtown Framingham!

Suso was the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Framingham Interfaith Clergy Association  (we call it “F.I.C.A.”) which this month took place at Plymouth Church U.C.C. in Framingham Centre.  A number things strike you about Suso.  He’s NOT a New Englander.  He hails from Ohio.  I must admit I had reservations about the Town hiring a Non-New Englander to be Town Manager.  New England is such a different and distinct region that many times outsiders just cannot understand us and cannot work successfully with us.  In Suso’s case, it’s actually a plus!  He’s got an infectious smile and a warm and positive demeanor.  He says he prefers listening to talking, and I think he really does.  He really wants to bring people together.  He really wants Framingham to be the best community it can be.  How can I tell?  It’s hard to explain, but that’s how I read this guy.  He’s not phony.  He’s very genuine.  And he DOESN’T have that hard, detached “edge” that so many people from metro-Boston and metro-New York have- because he’s NOT from here!

Suso really did LISTEN to us.  Around the table were Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish clergy (as well as Bah’ai and others) of “all stripes” but we were all in unity in our criticisms of the “powers that be” in Framingham...the bureaucracy, the stupid rules and regulations, the inconsistencies, the rudeness, the attitude that all churches and non-profit agencies in Town should just go away.  We voiced that loud and clear.  He listened. And he really heard us.  He believed us.  How do I know?  Again, it’s hard to explain, but I’m telling you, the guy believed us.

Suso has committed to coming back in a few months, and to meeting with us periodically.  I think that’s great.  I told him I’ll pray for him.  And I will.  He will need it.  There will be those “good old New Englanders” in and around the Memorial Building who’d like him to just look the other way and “play ball”.  I think Julian Suso could be used as a catalyst for great things in Framingham.

I hope you’ll join me in praying for him!

“Blessed are the peacemakers:  for they shall be called the children of God.”  (Matthew 5:9)