The Value of Political Capital, Second Edition, Revised

"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a mayor?  Well after serving three terms as a mayor and being a local and regional government official for over thirty-five years I think I know.  So I wrote this book to pull the curtain back just enough to let you peak in and know as well. After you read this book you will know how political capital is used to make government work.  You will also learn that you can tell a lot about how a person will govern by the kind of campaign they run to win an election.  You will also see how circumstances can affect leadership and how public engagement can be a full contact sport.  What is it like working with unions and dealing with the press or managing a fragmented government? I have been fortunate in that my career has spanned over some very interesting times and events.  I was the first modern day Mayor for the City of Methuen after a charter change was approved to create a city form of government.  The way the city was governed changed dramatically and the way government officials interacted and made decisions had to adjust as well.  What happens and how does a city respond when one of your largest employers in your city, Malden Mills, is destroyed by fire?  How do you protect the jobs and the economy of your city?  What happens when your community has term limits and you need to leave before the job is done? 

It is a fascinating life with funny memories and memorable events that leads to a rewarding life.  I hope you enjoy the story."

Dennis DiZoglio was elected Mayor of Methuen, Mass., in 1993 with 74 percent of the vote, and reelected in 1995 and 1997 with 84 and 80 percent of the vote, respectively. He went on to become a Deputy General Manager with the MBTA, the fifth largest transit authority in the U.S., and the Executive Director of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, an agency serving more than 335,000 people.