Reformers, Rearview Mirrors, and a Not-So-Subtle Rebuke: A Dissection Beauregard’s 2026 Inaugural Address

On a cold January night inside the historic Methuen Memorial Music Hall, Mayor David “DJ” Beauregard delivered what was, on its face, a hopeful and forward-looking inaugural address. The room was full, the tone celebratory, and the setting symbolic as Methuen enters its 300th year. But beneath the optimism, the speech carried a sharper edge… one clearly aimed at recent behavior inside City Hall.

This was not a “thank you, let’s all get along” inauguration. It was a line-drawing exercise.

From the outset, Beauregard framed the evening as a turning point. He acknowledged the unusual nature of his first year in office, finishing out another mayor’s term under difficult circumstances, before declaring that “tonight is different.” That distinction matters. The mayor was signaling that the grace period is over. This is no longer a caretaker administration. This is ownership.

Much of the early address was spent firmly placing Methuen’s past in the rearview mirror. Beauregard did not mince words, blaming prior administrations and some past City Councils for “disastrous contracts, short-term thinking, and self-serving decisions” that drove the city “into a ditch” all while they sat front row. He invoked Kennedy, Twain, and history itself to reinforce a simple point: Methuen’s financial trauma was not accidental… it was man-made.

That framing is important, because it sets up the speech’s core. The mayor repeatedly returned to the idea that public office is stewardship, not entitlement. Methuen, he reminded the audience, belongs to its people… not the mayor, not the council, not anyone temporarily holding power. In a city where recent votes have raised eyebrows about who benefits from City Hall decisions, that message landed with purpose, unless it was blissfully missed by those returning councilors.

The speech then pivoted to accomplishments, and here the mayor stayed on solid ground. A $4 million surplus to close FY25, improved bond ratings, over 20 miles of roadway paved in two years by the end of 2026, and traffic safety projects underway. These are tangible, measurable outcomes, and Beauregard was clearly intent on establishing credibility before moving into more contentious territory.

Education featured prominently, both as a policy priority and as a political signal. The mayor highlighted improved collaboration with Methuen Public Schools, teacher raises, literacy initiatives both in the school and outside, and long-overdue facilities work. The emphasis on “breaking down silos” was notable given the recent turbulence between elected bodies. This portion of the speech felt less like a victory lap and more like a reminder: progress happens when institutions work together, not when they posture… a clear shot at the vote of no confidence.

Public safety and affordability followed, with references to dismantling human trafficking operations, expanding tax relief for veterans and seniors, and locking in lower electric rates through power aggregation. Again, the mayor leaned heavily on action over rhetoric.

But the sharpest language of the night arrived later, once the applause-lines were mostly spent.

Beauregard warned against “backsliding by defaulting to the old, tired, corrupt ways of doing things.” He reminded the newly minutes officials that they serve “the many, not the few, and certainly not themselves.” And he contrasted reformers with those who treat public office as a personal benefit rather than a public trust.

In context, it was hard to miss the target.

While the mayor never named the City Council directly, the timing of the remarks, coming on the heels of a controversial health insurance vote widely criticized as self-serving, made the subtext unmistakable. This was a public rebuke delivered with a smile, wrapped in civic language, and protected by the plausible deniability of generalities. In politics, that is often the most effective kind.

The mayor also took a moment to dismiss what he called the distortion of reality by social media, reminding listeners that “social media is not real life.” It was a subtle pushback against online outrage, but also a warning to those who mistake comment threads for consensus. Governance, in Beauregard’s telling, happens in budgets, contracts, and long-term decisions… not viral posts.

The closing third of the speech leaned into unity, faith, and moral clarity. Beauregard spoke openly about his religious background and tied it to leadership rooted in dignity, inclusion, and responsibility. He was explicit about rejecting hatred and dehumanization, and equally clear that leadership would not be conducted “from behind a keyboard” or through “cheap political points.”

Instead, he promised action.

As inaugurals go, this was less about setting a tone and more about setting boundaries. Beauregard positioned himself as the standard-bearer for “the reformers” and made it clear that not everyone currently in power necessarily qualifies. If nothing else, several independent recounts assured us that this message was not lost on Councilors Soto or Marsan as they were seen visibly perturbed as the Mayor basically called them out. Others in their circle seemed unable to even fathom a clap while the room burst out in applause.

One thing is clear after tonight: the mayor is no longer content to quietly manage around dysfunction. He put it on notice... politely, publicly, and on the record.

Let's go, Mr. Mayor!

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Written by: Dan Shibilia