Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas might want to update his re-election Web site.

The site is currently full of embarrassing old material which shows just how much things have changed in the city since he last ran for re-election.

For instance, under testimonials, there is a 2-year-old letter from Attleboro Redevelopment Authority member Max Volterra lavishing the mayor with praise for supporting the ARA and its projects.

"Kevin has never looked back, supporting us when we needed his help, having the courage to take risks along with us," Volterra wrote of the mayor.

That was then. This is now. Volterra recently resigned from the authority after months of fighting with the mayor and accusing Dumas of undermining those very same projects by withholding city funds.

In a new letter to The Sun Chronicle, Volterra wrote of Dumas: "I have lost faith in your trustworthiness."

Dumas also takes credit on the Web site for ARA's once-promising industrial park and downtown renewal projects, both of which are now marred by controversy and money problems.

On the education front, he boasts of getting the process under way for a complete renovation of the high school, which is approaching 50 years old. The roof of the high school is being replaced, but the renovation project has been quietly killed.

Dumas has removed the high school project from his capital improvements program and state officials say privately it is no longer being considered for funding. However, some say the city may renovate the high school in small sections.

Still, the web site claims:

"My administration remains committed to a comprehensive renovation of the Attleboro High School, and will continue to work together with Superintendent Durkin, the school committee and the municipal council as Attleboro moves towards the facilities and maintenance assessment process."

A little updating seems to be in order.

Popular democracy

Recent public opinion polls show voters are lukewarm at best to the idea health care reform, but favor the concept of offering insurance through the government, the so-called public option. But, Congress seems to be on the verge of passing the reform, but it is doubtful the bill will include a full-fledged public option.

In other words, Congress is headed toward giving people what they don't want and denying them what they do want.

The Washington Post-ABC News poll found 57 percent want the public option, but only 45 percent back the overall health care package.

CNN-Opinion Research put the figures at 61 approval for the public option and only 49 percent for health care reform.

Names in the news

Sue Blais of the Attleboro City Republican Committee says local volunteers collected more than 1,000 signatures for state Sen. Scott Brown's nomination papers.

Brown, R-Wrentham, is running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate and turned in 14,000 signatures recently. Ten thousand certified signatures are needed to get on the ballot, but candidates traditionally file many more in case some are disqualified.

Blais said most of the local signatures came from Attleboro.

JIM HAND covers politics for The Sun Chronicle. His commentaries appear in this space on Saturdays. Contact him at 508-236-0399 or at jhand@thesunchronicle.com.