Ridiculous and embarrassing, to the entire city and constituents that they are SUPPOSED TO SERVE. They are not supposed to serve their own purposes with side deals, backroom negotiations, wreaking of political loyalties and alliances, all of which were evident and on display last night. They knew their votes weeks ago, the whole thing was not suprising and a total farce. They should be ashamed.

The spot should go to the voters choice of the next highest vote counts, Mr. Barcikowski. This also should be how all appointments are handled in the future, in my opinion.

Oh for heaven's sake just pick Lucy. Enough with the all-(old)-white-males. Geesh. Frankly, I'd prefer to see the Council more accurately reflect the entire populace. What about half female, and reps from different ethnic groups in town? I've lived here ten years, and all I see is the continuation of old, entrenched cliques running everything, with just a handful of people with their fingers in EVERY pot and strings they pull on EVERY group and issue. It's time to ditch that model. OVERtime.

I threw my name into the mix to try to speak up for a more youthful demographic. Sadly, the powers that be are only interested in preserving known commodities and couldn't discuss any compromise. This is precisely why I wanted to give a fresh perspective to the Council, but it is unlikely I would be afforded the opportunity. The community will rally behind new faces come fall with this deadlock hanging over heads. Very disappointed by last night.

It's not just a matter of "youthful" versus "old," Chris. It's really about a small cohort of people who, either in Council or in the various orgs. in town, running everything regardless of any new voices of any kind getting heard. It's really tiresome, and eventually people of quality simply stop trying to swim upstream all the time. I know I have. The investment of emotion and talent simply stops being worth it.

Of course they did. The same people who refused to put the CPA on the ballot because the voters said no to it 5 years previous are now pushing for an interim candidate who the voters said no to last election. I may not agree with everything individual councilors believe, but I'd expect them to at least not roll over on their stated beliefs about the will of the voters in favor of some backroom deal.

I hope the voters of Salem remember just what Sargent, Sosnowski, Siegel, Ryan, and Prevey think of them.

And if you think it was embarrassing to go through 300 ballots worth of gridlock, just imagine want a return to Pinto would mean - more yelling, stubbornness, and childish behavior on the council.

Ridiculous! This council drives me crazy!!!

The main issue here isn't about the candidates themselves, or about new blood vs. old, male vs. female, voted out vs. almost voted in, or CPA opposition or support - it is about control of the Council by the Mayor, so she can continue Salem on its path toward becoming a bedroom community like Lynn, increasing the amount residents, affordable housing, and rental property. The Mayor controls city planning, which green lights development. As reported in the local media, the Council has sought to limit the city planning's powers to prevent them from allowing developers to exceed city restrictions on population density and zoning use. Those restrictions exist to ensure traffic, crime, character of the city, and residential quality of life are not adversely affected by development. If the Mayor gains control of the Council, you can expect your quality of life to be negatively impacted.

This council needs to be entirely replaced! They have stood in the way of progress, played the "good old boy" game with city issues and can't get things done when needed. Ridiculous!

The entire city is full of unstable whack jobs....look at the staff at library ....did you know they talk to them selves...apparently about you when walking by.....it time to reduce the liquor stores in salem

If the council can't do it then it should default to the highest vote getter in the last election,It's that simple and should be that way to start with.

They should be embarrassed, the entire City of Salem should be embarrassed. I can not believe there are fiver City Councilors that are supporting Mr. Pinto. The same former City Councilor that was removed from office via the popular vote. I can not believe they are going to have to spend more time debating this issue. Clearly there has to be some diversity on the council, Lucy is the most reasonable choice. At least she was able to give an honest answer last night when she was asked if she would seek reelection after the completion of her term. Mr. Pinto danced his way around that answer as he did at most council meetings..

Yes, defaulting to the highest vote getter in the last election makes a lot more sense. It would be the voice of Salem's citizens, not a mere 5 or 6 networking buddies. These positions rarely open up, so why all this nonsense?

Should have come down to heads or tails after the 10th ballot deadlocked.
We are not choosing the President of the United States here.
Either that or, better still, go with William L.
I can't believe these 10 councilors were willing to give up so many hours of
late night television for this nonsense!

Is it too late to nominate Honey Boo-Boo to fill the vacancy?

I don't understand what happened after the 10th vote deadlocked? Why didn't they adjourn at that point and come up with another plan?
Go secret ballot.

It is embarassing but a clear microcosm of the governmental impotency that is running the country into the ground. The voters said no to Mr. Pinto so why is he even on the list? He may be a perfectly good candidate BUT the voters said no. When will politics return to "representation by the people, for the people. and of the people." Hold a special election and let voters pick the new Councilor--it wouldn't take 200 elections for us to make a choice.

Mayor Kimmy looks the worst in all of this. She runs the city like a dictatorship and has poor results (schools, streets, parks, taxes).

The idea of getting creative got squashed pretty quickly. It is apparent that something needs to change and that change needs to occur as a change to the Charter itself. So, this never, ever happens again. I too am liking the idea of the highest vote getter in the last election automatically getting the appointment. That makes sense and it gives the voters a voice. Other cities/towns do that, why not Salem?

Pinto had his turn and was voted OUT by the majority..i don't see the problem..seems like the only thing they're good for is giving themselves raises..embarrassed, oh ya

Furey should only get half a vote.

All you people should be thinking of Football and if the Patriots will be there. Just Saying.

Sorry if I sound "Racist"

The respect I had for those five, went right out the window Tuesday evening.

Sargent and Siegel will not be getting my votes in the upcoming election. Pinto was soundly rejected by the voters in the last election and there was a reason why he lost. For the council to try to put ANYONE back on the council, UNELECTED, who was rejected by the voters, is a slap in the face to the electorate and it made me feel that my votes didn't even matter.

The City Charter needs to be changed to allow for a direct election by the voters for ANY vacancy on the City Council, individual ward and at-large. If the current council will not do that, then the voters of Salem need to elect decent people, who will.

Today's Salem News - page 2, article heading "Next", quoted Pinto as saying: "...I think it's a council divided, and for good reason - people don't want to be dictated to."

It certainly sounds like we, the voters, ARE in fact, being dictated to - by virtue of five councilors wanting to put an individual back on the council, after that same person was soundly REJECTED by we, the voters.

There are more importaint things in this world than who takes a seat in Salem! Does anyone else keep up with world earthquakes. less than an hour ago an earthquake struck , a 7.5 94km W of Craig, Alaska, all the tsunami warning buoys are bouncing from Alaska to California to Hawaii. Who cares who's in office in Salem when there are more exciting things going on in the world!

As for the Mayor and her faithful followers,today I see Jason Silva is leaving and last week we learned Viscay is also leaving. Those on the council who are opposed to most of what the Mayor has done are now seeing her own administration moving on and they should remain committed to changing the direction this city has been going.

Not as funny as city workers trying to enter email accounts.. and hiring nieghbors to sift through mail.. I don't care time to sing

Only for Washington.. . .its payday

I guess your name explains what your trying to say.

With all this jibberjabbing going on here, the one thing you all have to admit is we have the best looking Mayor in the state. Just saying.