Governor’s Councillor
Mary-Ellen Manning
What Others Have to Say about Mary-Ellen
Over the course of her tenure as Governor’s Councillor, Mary-Ellen has received a lot of positive media coverage for the stands that she takes.
Here are some of the comments made in newspapers about her:
In 2010, Manning has been endorsed by the Salem News and the Lawrence Eagle Tribune!
Despite his Republican affiliation, William Barabino, who is a Candidate for Governor’s Council in a different district, said he has complimented Manning for her vocal comments about judges. "If they don’t make the cut, she says it. I would try to be the same way." Barabino said. Melrose Free Press, October 26, 2006. For story: livepage.apple.com
Referring to her as “The Governor’s Council’s Gauntlet,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly said: “An eight-member elected panel called the Governor’s Council is the only thing that stands in your way now. You can already feel the fibers of the robe on your shoulders, but you face questioning from a constitutionally-created committee that can—in theory—dash your judicial hopes in the course of one cruel afternoon. And this, you see, is where you meet Mary-Ellen Manning. Manning, is a practicing lawyer who can usually be found as an advocate in the Probate and Family Court. But on the Governor’s Council, Manning is the devil’s advocate, the most outspoken of a group that has taken Governor Mitt Romney and other officials to task for their judge-appointing patterns.” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, From the Publisher, May 29, 2006.
“Cheers to freshman Governor’s Councillor Mary-Ellen Manning for splitting with her colleagues . . . . Manning rightly maintains that candidates for the second highest court in the commonwealth should be above reproach.” Salem News Editorial, January 19, 2001.
Calling Mary-Ellen “a voice in the political wilderness,” the paper went on to say: “There have been other women to serve on this council before her, but few have been as outspoken or as willing to buck the majority. Manning did herself and her 5th District constituents proud once again . . . .” Salem News Editorial, May 11, 2001.
The Boston Globe referred to Mary-Ellen as “a lone wolf on the Governor’s Council” and noted that her lone vote against an appointment to the Parole Board “highlights the role that Manning ... is taking on the council as she refuses to play the inside political game.” Boston Globe, Political Notebook, March 25, 2001.
“Good for Mary-Ellen for having the gumption to vote against the pension and for having the chutzpah to call the pension what it is—a rip off of taxpayer money and a complete joke.” The Peabody Citizen, Tanner City Report Card, August 14, 2002.
“Manning rightly questions the method by which this pension was granted....She is apparently one of the few elected officials to have concluded that taxpayers are reaching the end of their rope when it comes to financing lucrative early-outs for those on the public payroll.” Salem News, Newburyport Daily News and Lawrence Eagle Tribune, Editorial, August 12, 2002.