The Globe‘s Brock Parker takes note of former governor Michael Dukakis in a rare example of spending some political capital where he still has plenty of it: at a Brookline town meeting. He helped swing sentiment toward the appropriation of $1.4 million toward the restoration of the Carlton Street Footbridge:

Dukakis, a former Town Meeting member in Brookline, said Tuesday he had not spoken on the Town Meeting floor since he left the governor’s office in 1991. He urged the body to approve funding for the restoration of the footbridge so he wouldn’t have to continue looking at the “confounded wreck of a bridge” when he walks by it.

“For god’s sake, do it for me,” Dukakis said. “I’m not getting any younger.”

His speech grew a standing ovation, but a handful of opponents did speak against the project.