It’s Good to See Candidates Caring About the SouthCoast

In two weeks, it will have been 25 years since I was hired here at Fun 107.

In all of those years, I've seen a lot of things. I've heard promises from politicians about South Coast Rail for decades. I've heard promises about how much a casino will help the SouthCoast. I've heard about how politicians will fight to protect the fishing industry here on the SouthCoast. Heck, I've been here longer than this place has even been called the SouthCoast.

For as long as I've been here, I've never seen the amount of attention each of the candidates for U.S. Senate have given the SouthCoast over the past six months. Normally, if a candidate even graced the SouthCoast with his or her presence, they never made a return trip down Route 24 South until it was time to campaign again.

One thing that's been certain is that the SouthCoast has always played second – or, more accurately, third or fourth – fiddle to Boston and other regions of the state. Politicians have been consistently dismissive of the wants and needs of the SouthCoast. Is it really any surprise to anyone that there's a casino lit up today overlooking Boston Harbor and not New Bedford Harbor?

I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed with the time that was invested by both of the Democratic candidates for the U.S Senate this time around. Over the past six months, both Senator Ed Markey and Congressman Joe Kennedy have each made repeated campaign stops down here. They've talked to working-class people, had coffee and donuts at mom-and-pop coffee shops, and put in the time and energy into making the case that they really care about our area.

Time will tell if they really do.

Here's hoping their Waze app works AFTER the election on November 3.

Don't forget to vote today; polls are open until 8 p.m.

Look for Gazelle at 17 seconds into this Kennedy commercial: