Some interesting quotes from this afternoon's WADK Open Forum show with Thomas Wigand, PCC attorney. No writethru. All quotes were captured off the air in real time; I'm happy to correct anything I got wrong, use the contact link on the left to let me know.

Assertion: "Seemed to be a little deal making going on behind closed doors."

They were supposed to "Face it by providing a strong defense." Why not Gavin? Town Attorney pictured on election nights with Democrats.

"The defense threw the case, in my opinion." About Denise Myers: "I saw the attorney looking back for directions."

"For example, one of the witnesses was basically putting on a speech, and the judge interjected. Counselor, speaking to the counselor representing town, excuse me, school committee. Town's attorney should have been objecting to the speech."

"Financial expert hired by town. Witnessed them wink at the school committee's lawyer. Could mean a lot of things, none of them good."

"Cut school committee's request in half... if had asked more questions, would have ruled entitled to no money. Some of you may believe I'm exaggerating. If school committee's numbers were as dire, and were such a slam dunk, why did they hold their meetings behind closed doors. If their numbers were on the up-and-up. Wouldn't they have wanted the townspeople to witness?"

"They were playing with the numbers, moving things around. You be the judge. Doesn't pass the smell test."

"SOS people... i submit they are being played for suckers by other forces. Not with their knowledge or consent."

"Vladimir Lenin, in the early years of the Soviet Union was asked to describe his followers in the West. 'Useful idiots.' Charles Levesque is using SOS as useful idiots."

Caller: "Never have seen opposing attorneys talking with one another. One of the former school committee members was present, she stated that members of the school committee had submitted suggestions for reductions in the budget. Superintendent had denied that there had ever been suggestions for reduction."

Wigand: "Town's defense was hijacked" by the contingent supporting schools.

Caller: "Disturbing that we've gone from town meetings to" behind closed doors "Do we have any say on whether the amount of money budgeted is affordable or even rational?"

Wigand: "No, we have no say, in effect. The judge, on the standing issue, was applying precedent. The whole premise of PCCs argument was that the judge should make an exception because we thought the Town Council would not adequately defend, and guess what? We were right."

Commercial break

Wigand: "Standing refers to the right of somebody to appear as a party." PCC standing should have been accepted bc TC was trying to "end run and trash it. Town didn't defend; voice of taxpayers was not heard."

Caller: "Unlike the general elections" Tent meeting was about who could get people to show up.

Wigand: "The SOS people staged a walkout. What that tells me.."

Caller: "In a real election, that wouldn't happen."

Wigand: "If they walked out, that tells me it was evenly matched." Moots the argument that people couldn't turn out. (thank you caller)

[Half-hour of me chatting with Wigand redacted] Commercial break.

Caller "Think we've heard the first shot for the next election from the Democrats new candidate for the school committee."

Wigand: "It's fair to be called on to defend my position."

Caller: "We had a council that did not support going to court. We had no representation coming from the attorneys -- it was like open season on the school budget. Judge came to best decision he could"

Wigand: "When the judge is asking tougher questions than the lawyers, you know something's rotten in Denmark."

Caller: "Caruolo action was held like a club over the heads of the people of Portsmouth."

Wigand: "TC President was trying to be an honest broker -- let's give credit where credit is due." (thank you caller)

Wigand: "Portsmouth forces of status quo" Compared to a Yugo. "Portsmouth and it's school system looks good in the same way a Chevy Nova looks good." US Chamber of Commerce study; RI Schools bringing up the rear. Portsmouth schools -- terrible. SOS supporters -- while you think you're getting a good education, you're getting played for suckers."

Wigand: Cites Levesque quote in yesterday's ProJo. "Went on the Board of Elections site. Guess who's donating to his election? Teachers." Vacation, sick days -- "They only work 9 months of the year." "It's all about the children," he says sarcastically. (additional benefits and pension calculation discussion.)

"I submit to you that this is what the funding crisis is all about," not education.

Commercial break

Wigand "Two more points about Levesque. PCC wanted trial, not stipulated agreeemnts. On Feb 15, Levesque introduced bill to take future Caruolo acts to Dept. of Education. Keep Feb 15 in mind. Second bill -- the determination of commissioner can be appealed to Superior Court. The SC can appeal, the Town can not. On the same day, introduced a bill to allow SC to hire their own lawyer. A gift."

Caller: "The so-called experts should have been questioned. Everybody remembers Enron. Those companies -- their books had been audited by world-class auditors, and lo and behold, they weren't on the up-and-up. Sarbanes-Oxley."

Wigand: "I don't necessarily compare the Portsmouth School Department to Enron." But accountants can come up with any answer they want.