Boys behaving badly

FOR ANYONE left wondering whether Bob Hoey — the ex-lowell School Committee member who resigned Friday under relentless pressure for his use of an anti-semitic slur to describe a former School Department employee — is racist, The Column published this item in October 2018:

“THE RACE for North Middlesex Registry of Deeds has been sleepy so far. Then Bob Hoey opened his mouth.

During an appearance on WCAP radio last Monday, Ray Boutin, a Lowell real estate agent/appraiser who frequently uses the registry, plugged incumbent Richard Howe Jr., saying the son of the late Lowell mayor (Richard Howe Sr.) has modernized the office and made it more user-friendly.

Hoey, a Lowell School Committee member who is supporting challenger Karen Casella, called the station. He said Howe runs the operation like “Hitler.”

“I found that to be abhorrent,” said Boutin, then a Greater Lowell Technical School Committee member. “People must be held accountable for what they say and I think Hoey owes the incumbent an apology.”

Howe called the comparison “despicable.”

“Comparing anyone to Hitler is despicable given … what Hitler did and stood for and it’s particularly outrageous for an elected member of the Lowell School Committee to make that kind of comparison in any context,” he said.

Cassella — who works as a clerk in the registry — said she does not agree with the comparison and Hoey gets his information about the registry “from other retirees.”

“That was a bit harsh,” she said. “I don’t think anything should be called Hitler.”

Cassella said she did not hear the radio interview, but learned about it through a phone call from her mother-in-law.

“I said, ‘Oh my gosh. He’s gone a little bit too far,’” she said.

As is customary, Hoey did not return The Sun’s telephone call Friday seeking a comment.”

Hoey’s support for Casella carried a lot of weight… NOT. Howe went on to trounce his subordinate with more than 70% of the vote from the 10community district.

sun staff Report

TOO LITTLE, too late. That’s how the city’s political establishment reacted to Superintendent Joel Boyd’s statement on Hoey’s racism.

Mayor John Leahy sent out a statement late Wednesday evening.

City Manager Eileen Donoghue was out with a statement by noon Thursday.

Boyd’s landed at 1:30 Thursday afternoon, and it was assailed.

“I spoke with Committee Member Hoey one-onone this morning. I expect he will personally address his actions and actively engage in upcom