Hogan kicks off campaign for mayor
By Doug Grindle Community Reporter

Marlborough - Marlborough mayoral candidate Patrick Hogan kicked off his bid for the city's highest office July 13 at Speakers Nightclub, surrounded by more than 50 friends and supporters who were entertained by a jazz band.

Patrick Hogan delivered a brief pep talk to the crowd.

"We're going to turn Marlborough around," he said. "It's going to be a place you want to live and a place you can be proud of."

Campaign workers signed people up for lawn signs and as volunteers, collected signatures to place Hogan on the ballot, and collected donations.

Patrick Hogan expects the campaign to cost $15,000 to $20,000.

"The campaign will go as far as the money will take you," he said.

The event serves as a foundation for the future campaign. By figuring out what volunteers are willing to do, those organizing the campaign can chart the best use of those resources. According to Hogan, his campaign will use lawn signs, T-shirts and people holding signs.

Patrick Hogan's father, James Hogan, serves as campaign treasurer. He said the campaign will need seven or eight core volunteers, with more needed for special events.

"For parades, you've got to have up to 20 or 30 people," James Hogan explained. "Elections you need 30 or 40 people"

Their goal is to garner 4,000 to 5,000 votes on Election Day. There are about 20,000 registered voters in the city.

Friends attending the event said because the candidate has lived in Marlborough his entire life, that may help to get out the vote.

"There will be a good turnout because he spent his life here," said Billy Meyers, who grew up with Patrick Hogan.

Patrick Hogan has been a patrol officer on the Marlborough Police Department since 1996. He was a dispatcher for four years before that, and in the police reserve since 1990, he said. He also worked for the city as a teenager, painting fire hydrants.

Patrick Hogan is also the president of the patrolman's union. The union is currently negotiating a contract with the city, and is the last union to settle its contract.

He said he will run the campaign around a few major issues, centering on fi- nancial management and revamping parts of the city administration, and said he would aim to make city government more responsive to the residents.

Patrick Hogan is running against the incumbent, Mayor Nancy Stevens. Should a third candidate file paperwork, a primary runoff would be needed.

The campaign kickoff event was attended by past and future candidates for elected office. Michael Rigney, who ran for mayor during the last cycle, said he is weighing whether to support Hogan, but is not going to support Stevens. Rigney was knocked out of the primary when he ran against Stevens and former mayor Dennis Hunt.

Rigney said a city official holds an advantage by being known to voters.

"I think voter recognition has got a lot to do with it," Rigney said.

He also said candidates must beware the stereotyping that tends to occur in campaigns.

Ward 7 resident Dan Landers, who is expected to run for the City Council seat currently held by Richard Towle, also attended. Landers said he is weighing his options rather than endorsing anyone at this time.

"It's too early for that," he said.

The campaign event was also meant to signal that Patrick Hogan's candidacy is a viable one, and to begin to get people focused on the race.

"Right now the major hurdle is the recognition that there is an election going on," campaign worker Anthony Abdal-Khabir said.

"A lot of people come here to see if this is a serious campaign, and it is," Patrick Hogan said.

The election will be held Tuesday Nov. 6.