Unusually for me I did what I said I would and went searching for the mythical Andy Dumas. Fortunately he turned out to be the owner of Poor Boys so I was able to get a sense of the man as well as well and drunk, ah, the things I have to do as an “ace reporter”.
Andy Dumas turned out to be every bit as good as his pamphlet, in fact a lot better. He was originally an American born in Dallas, Texas and to be honest it’s worth spending and evening at his bar just listening to his stories from that period of his life.
As a potential councilor he was a complete revelation; encyclopedic knowledge of Hastings combined with common sense, the classic American “can do” attitude and a sense of humor, whats not to like?
I spent a couple of hours at Poor Boys talking to him and others around the bar (its that sort of place) and not once was he evasive or in any way like the classic politician we have come to know and loath in this country.
He is taking on Godfrey Daniels in the election. I have met Godfrey once, my abiding memory of that occasion was, after hearing my opinion that we should strengthen democracy by having many more referendums he said, with the tone of a kindly school master, “Steve, that would be too expensive”. Within a short period of time his party was spending billions “bringing democracy to Iraq” against the obvious wishes of the majority of his fellow citizens. He was a nice man but that remark alone summons up the patrician attitude of the rulers who always know best.
Back to Andy, hes got my vote and I suggest if you’re interested in voting, and you should be, you get down to Poor Boys and check him out in the flesh – democracy and drinking, you know it makes sense!
Andy Dumas, the man, his bar and a snack.
